Describe the work
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Why upgrade an old fuse box?
Keeping your business safe, compliant and efficient starts with a modern fuse box. Older fuse boards may not provide the protection expected by today's Wiring Regulations, leaving you open to risks such as electrical fires, equipment damage or a poor inspection report. A commercial fuse box upgrade replaces old rewireable fuses or tired boards with a modern consumer unit or distribution board fitted with circuit breakers, residual current devices (RCDs) or RCBOs, giving fast disconnection when a fault occurs. That protects your staff, your assets and your reputation.
Built for commercial loads
Commercial properties often have higher electrical demands than homes, with computers, lighting, refrigeration or specialist machinery all drawing power at once. A modern board means circuits are properly protected, loads can be balanced (across phases, on a three-phase supply) and there is spare capacity for the future. Many businesses arrange an upgrade at the same time as rewiring work or routine compliance inspections, and some use the commercial solar comparison platform to plan for renewable generation at the same time.
The standards a new board is built to
New work is designed and tested to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the IET Wiring Regulations, which is now the only current version. That typically means 30 mA RCD protection for socket circuits rated up to 32 A, surge protection where the risk assessment calls for it, and, in some buildings, arc fault detection devices (AFDDs). BS 7671 requires AFDDs on certain socket circuits in high-rise residential buildings, HMOs, purpose-built student accommodation and care homes, and recommends them elsewhere. Where a business sits below flats, the electrician will check which rules apply to each part of the building.
For the business itself, the legal duty comes from the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989: electrical systems must be maintained so as to prevent danger. An outdated board is not automatically unlawful, but an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) may code its defects as C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous), which need putting right.
Risks of putting it off
The risks of not upgrading include system failures, unplanned downtime and insurance complications. Insurers may question a claim if an outdated installation contributed to an incident. A new board also gives flexibility: additional circuits can be added for EV charging, new equipment or upgraded lighting, so your premises keep pace with the business.
What the service includes
The service includes an initial inspection, safe isolation and removal of the existing board, and installation of the new consumer unit or distribution board. Every circuit is then tested and the work is recorded on an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), giving you the records you need for audits and insurers. Part P notification applies to homes in England rather than commercial premises, but the certification requirements of BS 7671 apply to both. If the meter, main fuse (cut-out) or incoming supply needs changing, that is arranged with your electricity supplier or network operator. Electrical Safety First recommends periodic inspection of business premises at least every five years.
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