Electrical Safety Upgrade — Oak Drive

Project Overview

British Builders was appointed to carry out a full electrical safety and compliance upgrade at a residential property on Oak Drive. The property required several important improvements to replace outdated equipment, address safety concerns and bring the installation in line with current BS 7671 18th Edition requirements.

The works were managed as a wider electrical compliance package rather than a single repair. The scope included replacement of the old plastic consumer unit, installation of modern circuit protection, upgrades to fire and carbon monoxide detection, lighting improvements, bonding upgrades, shower supply rewiring, garden shed wiring safety works and mechanical ventilation to the kitchen and bathroom.

The existing outdated consumer unit was removed and replaced with a new metal, fire-rated consumer unit complete with RCD/RCBO protection to the circuits. This helped improve protection across the installation and formed a key part of bringing the property up to a safer electrical standard.

Fire safety was also improved through removal of outdated battery-operated alarms and installation of a mains-wired, interlinked alarm system. Smoke detectors were installed to the ground-floor hallway and first-floor landing/corridor, with a carbon monoxide detector fitted at the boiler location, all in accordance with the client’s instructions.

Additional safety and usability upgrades were completed across the property, including replacement of outdated light fittings, correction of unsafe DIY garden shed wiring, remounting of the cooker outlet, upgrading of main water and gas bonding, and rewiring of the electric shower supply using suitable 10mm² twin and earth cable.

Mechanical ventilation was installed to the kitchen and bathroom using Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Revive 7 extractor fans. The works were planned with asbestos safety in mind, avoiding disturbance of asbestos-containing ceilings and using external wall routes wherever practicable.

Scope of Work

• Initial attendance and review of approved electrical upgrade works
• Removal of outdated plastic consumer unit
• Supply and installation of new metal fire-rated consumer unit
• Installation of RCD/RCBO protection to circuits
• Removal of outdated battery-operated smoke alarms
• Installation of mains-wired interlinked smoke alarm system
• Smoke detector fitted to ground-floor hallway
• Smoke detector fitted to first-floor landing/corridor
• Carbon monoxide detector fitted at boiler location
• Testing and commissioning of alarm system
• Removal and replacement of outdated kitchen light fitting
• Installation of compliant LED kitchen light fitting or LED strip with diffuser
• Replacement of pendant light fitting with compliant fitting
• Replacement of bathroom light with suitable non-maintenance LED bathroom light
• Removal or safe correction of unsafe DIY wiring serving the garden shed
• Provision of suitable protection and isolation where required
• Upgrade and installation of main water bonding
• Upgrade and installation of main gas bonding
• Upgrade of main earth conductor to 16mm² CSA
• Remounting and secure fixing of existing cooker outlet
• Rewiring of electric shower supply using 10mm² twin and earth cable
• Supply and installation of kitchen mechanical ventilation
• Supply and installation of bathroom mechanical ventilation
• Installation of Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon Revive 7 extractor fans
• Fan setup for continuous low-rate operation with boost and overrun where possible
• Safe isolation and removal of old electric heater
• Final testing of completed electrical works
• Issue of Electrical Installation Certificate on completion
• Clean-down of work areas and safe handover

Challenges & Solutions

• Outdated consumer unit — The existing plastic consumer unit no longer met the required safety standard. It was replaced with a metal fire-rated unit with modern RCD/RCBO circuit protection.
• Fire safety improvements — Old battery-operated alarms were replaced with a mains-wired interlinked system, improving reliability and coverage in the agreed hallway, landing and boiler areas.
• Unsafe external wiring — DIY wiring serving the garden shed required attention. The supply was removed, made safe or rewired correctly with suitable protection and isolation.
• Bonding and earthing compliance — Main water and gas bonding were upgraded, and the main earth conductor was brought up to the required 16mm² CSA standard.
• Bathroom and kitchen ventilation — New extractor fans were installed to improve ventilation while planning the works to avoid unnecessary disturbance of asbestos-containing ceilings.
• Shower circuit safety — The electric shower supply was rewired using 10mm² twin and earth cable to provide suitable current-carrying capacity and regulatory compliance.
• Asbestos-aware working method — Works were planned in line with the asbestos survey, with no drilling, cutting or disturbance of asbestos-containing ceilings included within the scope.

Final Outcome

The electrical safety upgrade works were completed successfully, improving the safety, compliance and usability of the property. The old consumer unit was replaced with a modern metal fire-rated unit, circuit protection was upgraded, and the property’s alarm system was brought up to a more reliable mains-wired and interlinked standard.

Lighting, ventilation, bonding, cooker outlet fixing, shed wiring safety works, shower supply rewiring and electric heater removal were all completed as part of the wider compliance package. The kitchen and bathroom now have improved mechanical ventilation, while the main water, gas and earthing arrangements have been upgraded to meet current requirements.

All electrical works were fully tested on completion, and an Electrical Installation Certificate was issued. The property was left clean, tidy, operational and suitable to pass an EICR inspection.

Client Feedback

“British Builders completed the electrical upgrade professionally. The consumer unit, fire alarms, ventilation, bonding, lighting and shower supply works were all handled carefully, and the property was left safer, compliant and fully operational.” – Client