Rewiring Explained
Rewiring Explained
Rewiring a property can seem daunting, after all the safety of you and your family is paramount, but don't worry, we have always got you covered!
Faulty electrics can be a serious fire hazard. Let us break it down for you, every year in the UK there are:
- Over 20,000 domestic fires caused by electricity
- 2.5 Million electric shocks
- Approximately 350,000 serious injuries caused by electricity or electric shock
If your home was built before 1984 it may not have an earth cable. Earth cables work by draining the electricity and grounding it, preventing electric shocks. Cables used in properties that were built in this period were wired with aluminium cables, these cables are 55 times more likely to cause an electrical fire over a copper wire. We at BAWN Electrical Ltd know that the safety of your family is paramount. We can offer you a comprehensive survey to determine whether or not your home needs to be rewired. Book HERE for your survey now.
Do I need to have my home rewired?
If your home hasn't already been rewired in the last 30-35 years, then it is more then likely that the wiring needs to be upgraded, or at least in part to meet current standards. Out of date wiring can be potentially dangerous and may not be able to keep up with what modern living demands.
If you are having major refurbishment or remodelling which involves a 'material alteration' as defined by Building Regulations, a full or partial rewire may be required, including upgrading your Fuse Box (Consumer Unit).
If you are building an extension or converting part of your home, including a loft or garage then then only partial rewire may be necessary. This is because new building work will need new wiring which will need to conform to Part P: Electrical Safety guidance. In order to ensure that existing wiring is able to carry the additional loads, improvements will need to be made, including making sure your wiring meets Earthing requirements and any cross bonding is satisfactory.
If you are only extending or remodelling, the rest of the existing wiring does not have to be upgraded, with the exception of where any upgrading is required inline with energy efficiency requirements of Building Regulations, i.e. central heating controls.
Has my home been rewired?
You can tell if a house has been rewired recently by inspecting exposed parts of wiring and by having a look at the Consumer Unit (fuse box). If there is an old-fashioned-style fuse box, with big white ceramic-style fuses or black re-wirable fuses, then there is a strong chance that the property needs a full rewire.
Another tell-tale sign is different sockets and switches. Another sign is surface-mounted wiring and trunking, possibly indicating a previous partial rewiring.
Much older properties there can be old round pin sockets or original dolly switches, both of which are a good sign that a rewire is needed.
The final thing to look out for is the colour and style of cabling, which you can see in light fittings and around the Consumer Unit (fuse box). Modern electrical installations are wired in PVC insulated cable which is grey or white, and a modern consumer unit will have circuit breakers and residual circuit devices (RCDs & RCBO's).
Old rubber, fabric and lead insulated cabling should be replaced as a matter of importance. This type of cabling is prone to rot and break down leading to short circuiting - a major fire and electrocution hazard.
