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Why RCD protection matters at home
Electrical safety is essential in every home, and RCD protection is one of the most effective ways to protect your family from electric shock. A residual current device (RCD) constantly compares the current flowing out along the live conductor with the current returning along the neutral. If some of it is leaking to earth, for example through a damaged cable, a faulty appliance or a person, the RCD switches off the supply within a fraction of a second. It can also reduce the risk of fire caused by earth leakage.
RCDs matter most where water and electricity are close together: kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas, garages and gardens. The qualified electricians you compare through Kilowatts UK can tell you which of your circuits are protected and recommend the most sensible way to protect the rest.
What the Wiring Regulations require
New electrical work in homes is designed to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the current IET Wiring Regulations. For new work, it requires 30 mA RCD protection for socket-outlets rated up to 32 A, for mobile equipment used outdoors, for lighting circuits in homes and for every circuit in a room containing a bath or shower. The rules are not retrospective, so an older installation is not illegal simply because some circuits have no RCD, but an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) will say whether added protection is recommended.
Ways to add RCD protection
There are several options, and the electrician will suggest the one that suits your installation:
- A new consumer unit with RCBOs. An RCBO combines RCD and overcurrent protection for a single circuit, so a fault switches off only that circuit rather than half the house.
- A consumer unit with split RCD protection. Groups of circuits share an RCD; this is common but means one fault can switch off several circuits at once.
- RCD sockets or an RCD spur. A practical way to protect one location, such as a garden or garage supply, without changing the consumer unit.
The type of RCD matters too. Type AC devices are now restricted, because modern appliances can produce fault currents that a Type AC device may not detect; Type A is the usual minimum. Many households add RCD protection when they plan consumer unit upgrades or new outdoor and garden lighting, and arc fault protection with AFDDs can be added at the same time.
Part P, certificates and testing
In England, replacing a consumer unit or adding a new circuit is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. A registered competent person self-certifies the work, and you then receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate, or the work goes through building control. You should also receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). Smaller jobs, such as fitting an RCD socket on an existing circuit outside a bathroom, are usually covered by a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC).
Electrical Safety First recommends pressing the test button on each RCD every six months, and an EICR at least every 10 years for an owner-occupied home or every five years for a rented one. Booking home electrical inspections is a simple way to find out where you stand. If you are also thinking about renewable energy, the solar panel comparison tool for homeowners lets you compare installers for both jobs. Submit your project details, compare quotes from local electricians, or call Kilowatts UK free on 0800 009 6058.