How to identify important switches in your fusebox

Fuse boxes are known within the electrical industry as consumer units, however many of our clients still refer to them as fuse boxes, so to keep things nice and simple, we will refer to consumer units as fuse boxes within our article.

Your fuse box is the hub of your home electrical system, so it is important that you have a basic understanding of how it works. Should your lights trip or you need to test your RCD or worse still an electrical emergency occurs, you will know what you need to do.

It is better to prepare yourself in advance rather than panic should an incident occur.

Your fusebox should be accessible

Firstly, it is important that your fuse box is easy to access. Commonly fuse boxes are located in outside cupboards, under stairs cupboards or hallway locations. Ideally you should be able to safely reach it. Avoid storing items around the fuse box, which can make it difficult to access should you need to. If your lights do go off in your home, the last thing you need to be doing is trying to move things around in order to find the fuse box!

Fusebox basics

There are three things that are useful to know about which you will find on your fuse box:

• Main Switch
• Residual Current Devices (RCD)
• Circuit Breakers (or fuses)

Next, we will explain in more detail what each item does and how it keeps you safe.

Main Switch

As the name suggests, the mains switch allows you to turn off the electricity supply to your home. It is worth familiarising yourself with the main switch in your fuse box as this is what you will need to use in an emergency. Some homes will have more than one mains switch, for example if you have electric storage heaters, in which case you may have more than one fuse box. The mains switch is the large red switch located on the left hand side.

Residual Current Devices (RCD)

The RCD trips a dangerous circuit by disconnecting the electrical supply instantly. It's action is far quicker than fuses or circuit breakers which only offer limited protection. In our opinion, every home should have RCD protection. Our last blog, why your home should have RCD protection explains the importance and the essential safety features of an RCD.

If your home has RCD protection, you will find the RCD test button on your fusebox. The button will be clearly marked with 'T' or Test. To ensure the RCD protection remains activated, it should be tested at least every 3 months. Pressing the Test button should activate the RCD instantly. If the electricity does not switch off, this indicates a problem, and you need to consult a domestic electrician in London.

Circuit Breakers

These are protection devices found in your fuse box that switch off a circuit if a fault develops. They are a similar size to fuses and are found in a row across the centre of your fuse box. They also offer more precise protection than a fuse. Should a fault occur the fuse 'trips' by turning the switch 'off'. Should a trip occur, simply look at your fuse box to see which switch is 'off' and simply switch it back on to reset it. However if the trip is a persistent problem, it is worth contacting an electrical contractor in London to take a look.

Older Fuse Boxes

Older fuse boards may have re-wirable fuses in place or circuit breakers. Re-wirable fuses have special wire that runs between screws. If a fault develops it burns and melts the wire which disconnects the circuit.

If your fuse box has a wooden back, cast iron switches or a mixture of fuses it is likely to require a replacement to ensure your electrical safety in your home is not compromised.

We always recommend upgrading your fuse box to one which has RCD protection even if your fuse box is more modern than what we have suggested above!

Remember a replacement consumer unit must be installed by a qualified electrician. Here at Fulcher Edwards we are committed to your safety and would always recommend that you consult a qualified electrician if you have any concerns about your electricity.

Why your home should have RCD Protection

When we visit our clients homes, we always advise on general electrical safety. It is part of our service and commitment to make homes in and around London electrically safer.

One recommendation we always give to our clients is to have an RCD fitted in their home if they do not have RCD protection already in place.

What is RCD Protection?

RCD stands for Residual Current Device and is fitted as standard to all new consumer unit (fuse box) installations. It is a sensitive switching device that quickly turns off electricity when danger arises to reduce the risk of death or serious injury.

The electricity is turned off in a fraction of a second and is far quicker and reliable than breakers and fuses. An RCD activates if you accidentally touch a live cable which could one day save your life. Electricity is not something we think about on a daily basis, particularly if we believe that everything is OK. It is easy to become complacent and that is where the job of the RCD comes in to play. We can all make a simple error, but don't let it cost you your life.

Why is an RCD so important?

RCD protection is a ground breaking development and has been responsible for saving many lives and preventing serious injuries. However, there is still more to be done as there are still 13 million homes in the UK which are still without any form of RCD protection. Clearly more needs to be done to inform householders on the dangers of electricity:

• One person dies and 80 preventable electrical fires occur every week in the UK
• Over 50% of households have not had their electrics checked within the last 12 months
• A third of UK residents are not concerned about electrical safety

What can be done?

In order to reduce these shocking statistics, our recommendation from us here at Fulcher Edwards is to have an EICR carried out in your home by an electrical contractor in London. Following the electrician carrying out a thorough investigation on the condition of your home electrical installation, you will receive a report and recommendations which will keep your home in optimum safety electrically. If you currently have no RCD protection, this will form one of the recommendations in the report.

Remember that RCD protection must be installed by a domestic electrician in London who will ensure that the new consumer unit is fitted safely and correctly and the RCD is working as it should be.

Other things you can do to stay safe

If you are looking at lower cost ways to keep safe, you may like to consider plug in RCD protection. Plug in RCD protection costs as little as £10 on the High Street and the advantage of plug in RCDs are that you can plug in any type of electrical appliance anywhere in your home due to its portable nature. Commonly they are used in the garden to power appliances such as lawn mowers and hedge trimmers. This is because there is a higher chance of an accident occurring – you could accidentally cut through the cable.

It is worth bearing in mind that plug in RCD protectors only protect the appliance and the person using it.

Electricians will also carry out electrical work in London for you if you find the cost too high for a new consumer unit. This can include the fitting of RCD sockets in your home. By having a more permanent method of RCD protection installed, you will have peace of mind against the two biggest causes of electrical shock:

• Using appliances that are faulty
• Cutting or drilling through cables

Lastly, simply carrying out your own visual check of your electrics and appliances can be a life saver. Don't use any appliances, lights or switches that are faulty or have visible damage such as bare cable showing, cracks, breaks or other damage. Taking a few minutes on a regular basis can really be the difference between life and death.

What does Part P mean?

As London Electrical Contractors, we are often asked when carrying out quotation visits what it means to be Part P registered.

Now something that to electricians is an every day term, means to be honest, not very much to our customers. Although customers and the wider public are aware of the need to look out for Part P registration when selecting a domestic electrician in London, they do not understand what it means. We find that many clients think it is a qualification when in fact it is a Building Regulation.

We carried out a Google search to find out “what does Part P mean” and it is easy to see how the public are confused with the meaning of Part P. There is plenty of information for electricians which is full of jargon and understandably isn't going to mean very much to someone who is not familiar with Part P and what it means to them as a house holder.

So in our post today we are going to explain the meaning of Part P in a straight forward way and why it is important for you as a house holder.

What is Part P?

Part P is a building regulation set by government, that forms the statutory requirements for electrical work carried out in England and Wales. Part P was introduced in 2005 and amended in April 2013. The majority of electrical work carried out within homes falls within the scope of the Part P Building Regulations. This means that it is a legal requirement for these works to be notified to a Part P scheme provider who would then submit the information to their Local Authority.

This is where it is important (and in your better interests) to use a Part P Registered electrician as this will be your cheaper option. A Part P registered electrician means they self certify their electrical work through registration with a Part P scheme provider such as the NICEIC. This is far cheaper than consulting your Local Authority directly who will charge high fees (into the hundreds of pounds) to certify notifiable electrical work.

Carrying out your own electrical work

There are limited electrical works that you can carry out yourself, however here at Fulcher Edwards we do not recommend doing any form of DIY electrical work unless you are 100% confident. The type of electrical work you can do yourself is very limited and you can only replace like for like. In basic terms this means you can replace what is already in your home so long as no changes are made and you are replacing with exactly the same as what is there currently.

In April 2013, the government made some changes to Part P where notifiable jobs around the home have been reduced which now allows householders to carry out some electrical works in bathrooms and gardens. It is also possible to employ a non-registered electrician who can then seek Part P certification through another electrician who is Part P registered, however how this actually works is still being debated at government level and so there are very few electricians who would be happy to certify someone else’s work at this current time.

Why it is better to use a Part P Registered Electrician

Aside from the additional costs of seeking certification on electrical work done yourself, how do you know your work is safe? Using a Part P certified electrician is a win win situation. Firstly, the cost of putting right a DIY electrical job that has gone wrong can be far greater than using a Part P domestic electrician in London in the first place. Secondly, the work will be guaranteed against workmanship and product defects and you and your family will have peace of mind that the work has been installed and tested for safety. Lastly, carrying out work that is Part P notifiable is illegal. It can be easy to 'cross into uncharted territory' and attempt electrical work that is notifiable. There is a thin line between notifiable work and non-notifiable work particularly in high risk areas such as bathrooms. Having uncertified notifiable electrical work can cause problems should you choose to sell your home in the future and increasing numbers of home insurance policies will not pay out in the event of a claim caused by uncertified home electrical work.

How will I know an electrician is Part P Registered?

The basic thing to look out for before contacting an electrician is a logo of the main scheme provider. Here at Fulcher Edwards we carry the logos of NICEIC Domestic Installer and NICEIC Approved Contractor. Either of these logos are fine as are the logos of other scheme providers. Whilst it is a criminal offence to display a logo of a scheme provider whom an electrician is not registered with, unfortunately this can happen. So our recommendation to anyone looking for a Part P registered electrician is to check directly with the scheme provider that the electrician is actually registered with them. This can be done on line or via telephone. We highly recommend you do this before employing the electrician to carry out work in your home.

Finally, always ensure you receive your Part P certificate following completion of the electrical works. This is often given at the end of the job following payment or follows in the post a few days later.    

How Safe are your home electrics?

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we consider home electrical safety as much our concern as your concern. In fact, the electrical industry as a whole works together to ensure key electrical safety messages are delivered to house holders and business owners alike.

Electricians have the main role in ensuring awareness of electrical safety in the home. We believe that every householder deserves to know what they need to do to make their home electrically safe. Of course some homes have very good electrical wiring and other homes need to be improved. However, even with the best electrical wiring, you are still putting yourself in danger if you are using dangerous electrical appliances. Unfortunately in many of our clients homes across London, we see householders taking electrical risks on a daily basis.

How can I make my home electrically safer?

One of the key messages in our blog post today is to call an electrician if you have any doubts about the safety of your electricity. Any good domestic electrician in London will be very happy to assist. It is better to solve an electrical problem when you first become aware of it then to let it develop into something that will be costly to repair. It is also important to ensure you and your family stay safe from risk of shock and electrocution. We visit clients who have concerns about all kinds of things from gaps behind sockets to lights that trip.

There are also three simple measures that you can take in your home that will ensure that not only is your home up to date electrically, but also you have the peace of mind that you are safe.

• Does your consumer unit have RCD protection? If not, it will be worth your while upgrading.

• Have you had an electrical inspection in your home? If you are a home owner, you should have one carried out at least every 10 years. An electrical inspection is known as an EICR and is rather like a health screen for your home. It can detect potential problems before they become an issue.

• When having electrical work in London carried out, always use a registered electrician. As your local NICEIC electrician in London, we are registered to carry out work to the highest standard and will certify work on completion.

What about my electrical appliances?

This is a very good question. The use of electrical appliances are often taken for granted and unfortunately we see all too many people taking frightening risks with appliances. We have seen electric radios in showers, electric fan heaters plugged into sockets in bathrooms, cables taped together on vacuum cleaners. Scarily, the customers know what they are doing is dangerous but feel that if they're careful they'll be OK. Some of them have been taking risks for so long it has become habit!

It only takes a little common sense to ensure the electrical appliances you use are safe. As a starting point, only use appliances you are happy to use. Second hand appliances or those that you do not own and that haven't been pat tested should not be used at all.

Before using any appliance, always ensure that the plug and cable are free of damage and no bare wires can be seen. Always ensure that appliances are free from dust and other debris and are maintained in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Always ensure that filters from hair dryers, tumble dryers, vacuum cleaners etc. are emptied and cleared regularly.

There is a brilliant App from the Electrical Safety Council that can be downloaded onto a Smart phone or Android which allows you to carry out electrical safety checks in every room in your home. It highlights any potential dangers for each room and provides instructions on how to rectify any non-technical issues. Where more serious electrical issues are found, the App advises to call upon a registered electrician.

We think the App is a great idea and would highly recommend using it for your own home. It is completely free and productive way to improve electrical safety in your home – or just to confirm that everything is as it should be.

Make a change today

By downloading the App here. There really isn't anything to lose. Should you find yourself in need of electrical services in London, always ensure they are registered electricians before proceeding with any electrical work in your home.

Making the most of unused space in your home

According to research carried out at the end of 2011, growing numbers of electrical contractors in London were reporting increasing numbers of enquiries from customers wanting to convert unused areas of their home into useful living spaces.

Areas such as garages, lofts, garden sheds and attics are being used to create spaces such as offices, bedrooms and play areas to not only add value and improve living standards in the home, but also to take into account the increasing numbers of people having flexible working patterns.

House holders and businesses alike are seeing the benefit and cost savings of home working and the uptake of off site office space is falling in favour of home working. Garages and lofts that have traditionally been used to store cars and old household items are now being put to better use as our homes begin to enter the modern age – and new ways of thinking.

Why appoint electrical services in London?

Generally speaking, providing power to your new space is one of the main considerations at the planning stage of your project. The electrical requirements will of course vary according to what your plans are for the space. Here at Fulcher Edwards we strongly recommend that you consult a qualified Part P registered electrical companies in London to discuss what your requirements are before proceeding with decorating and furnishing your new space.

We have seen an instance where heavy machinery was being used with the incorrect cable size in use. The cable was also airborne and simply hung between the house and garage. Is it essential that all cable and wiring is installed by an electrician whether indoors or outdoors. Of course, cable installed outdoors is also open to the elements even when buried underground, so it is important that the job is carried out correctly in order to avoid fire and electrocution.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, our electrical services in London cover everything from project conception to after care. We are more than happy to advice on your electrical needs for your new space and provide electrical installation design advice which will ensure you get the most out of your new space. We carry out all types of electrical installs in both homes and businesses and on completion issue you with an electrical certificate. This is a Part P requirement and the certificate will be needed if you decide to sell your home in the future.

We are also NICEIC registered and one of the main benefits of appointing an NICEIC electrician in London is the re-assurance of knowing that you are in safe hands. We are part of the Domestic Installer Scheme which is the NICEIC's approval for contractors undertaking work within the scope of the Part P Building Regulations.

If you want your new space to last a long time.....

Then our advice is to ensure your project is carried out properly to begin with. One of the best ways of ensuring your materials and space is going to stand the test of time is to find out what type of guarantee is on offer from the trades people carrying out the work. That way should anything fail (and unfortunately faults do occur from time to time) you have the peace of mind that you are covered by a guarantee. All reputable trades people offer a lengthy guarantee on their work so if no guarantee is offered, that would be a cause for concern.

The survey back in 2011 also revealed that customer prefer hard flooring to carpets as hard flooring is likely to last far longer than a carpet and spills and dirt can be managed far more easily.

Finally, don't leave electrical work too late

We have seen many instances where customers have finished off their home improvements complete with new carpet and wall paper to find that they have an electrical problem. Of course, this does not automatically mean that the wall paper needs to come back off, but it has been known.

Our top tip in our article today, is to ask your domestic electrician in London to carry out a test to check the condition of your electrical installation in your home. The test is known as an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report.) It is very well worth having this test done as not only will you have the peace of mind that everything is safe, it will also avoid an expensive mistake being made when your project is complete when discovering that there is a problem that means taking off your new wall paper in order to repair it!

Whatever your plans, whether they are simple or complex, don't forget about your electrics! 

How Fulcher Edwards are staying ahead of the competition!

We are delighted to announce that we passed our SAFEcontractor Accreditation last week and have just received our certificate!

SAFEcontractor truly defines Fulcher Edwards as the ultimate London electrical contractors, and confirms our commitment to the highest standards of Health and Safety.

Of course, following high standards of Health and Safety is imperative. Not just for the purposes of carrying out electrical work in London safely but also for the safety of our clients. We follow the most up to date regulations and we have been assessed as such by SAFEcontractor one of the fastest growing Health and Safety Accreditation schemes in the UK.

Many large organisations as well as smaller organisations use SAFEcontractor status as a way of re-assuring clients that they are using the services of a company who take Health and Safety seriously. Some clients insist on using only SAFE contractor accredited organisations and here at Fulcher Edwards we do not blame them in the slightest.

Surely Health and Safety is taken care of nowadays?

It's a nice thought but unfortunately it is not the case. Construction still remains a high risk industry and accounts for 10% of major reported incidents according to HSE statistics. SAFEcontractor also reveal an alarming headline in their news where a construction firm has been recently fined following a house collapse after a digging a trench. Luckily the tenants were not at home at the time and there were no injuries. However, the company concerned demonstrated a serious lack of Health and Safety awareness whilst carrying out a straight forward task. Beware! What may seem like a reputable company may actually put your life at risk.

What to look for

To help ensure your safety when looking for electrical services in London, look for SAFEcontractor Accreditation. We also suggest that you ask to see the certificate before proceeding with any work, it will look like the one in our photo. SAFEcontractor is well known throughout the electrical industry and currently has over 18,000 contractor members, so if your electrical contractor in London hasn't heard of SAFE contractor, we recommend you walk away. Remember, safety first!

Who are SAFEcontractor?

SAFEContractor is a leading health and safety pre-qualification assessment scheme, who are dedicated to promoting higher standards of competence and compliance through the provision of relevant industry specific and tailored health and safety assessments for all professions and sectors.

The SAFEcontractor scheme is now used by many large organisations as a way of obtaining competent contractors.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we recommend that you insist on SAFEcontractor if you take Health and Safety as seriously as we do.

Are you a private Landlord in London?

Did you know that it is your responsibility as a private landlord to maintain electrical safety within your rental properties? Did you also know that you can be fined to failing to ensure the electrical safety of tenants within your properties? If you know about these fines, you are in amongst only 1 fifth of landlords who are aware of them. Fines to maintain appropriate electrical safety can reach up to £20,000 as well as invalidating insurance on your property. Research into UK private landlords carried out recently by the Guardian revealed that 300,000 (21%) were unaware of such fines.

This is not all, just last week, a select committee of MPs made a recommendation that Electrical Safety Checks on privately rented properties are made compulsory and are to be carried out every 5 years. This is great news within the electrical industry. Organisations such as the Electrical Safety Council have long campaigned for Electrical Safety Checks to be brought in line with gas safety checks by making them compulsory. It makes perfect sense as electrical accidents kill 1 person every week and contribute to over half of all house fires in the UK. People who rent their homes are more likely to experience a house fire caused by electrical safety failings than people who own their home.

What Needs to be done to protect your tenants and your property

Currently 40% of landlords admit to not knowing what needs to be done when it comes to ensuring their properties are electrically safe with 17% of the UK's estimated 1.7 million private tenants complaining that their landlords have acted too slowly or not at all when problems with the property electrics has been reported to them.

The most effective way of ensuring your property is electrically safe is by having an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) carried out by an approved qualified electrician. Many landlords have an EICR carried out as this is the easiest way to prove that you have kept in proper working order the electrical installation within the property to ensure the safety of your tenants. Here at Fulcher Edwards we inspect the electrical installations in London properties on behalf of private landlords on a regular basis. Our NICEIC electrician in London will carry out 100% testing on your properties where possible.  What we mean by this, is that we will carry out testing in areas we can access.  For example, if there is a big unit in front of a socket, we would not move the unit if it was too heavy, however you can move any furniture beforehand to improve access.  Many electricians only test small areas, but here at Fulcher Edwards we pride ourselves on being thorough and like to give out customers the opportunity of obtaining 100% testing of their electrical installation.  We carry out all testing  when it is convenient to you and your tenants. Once the testing is complete you will be issued with a certificate which is your proof of the condition of your electrical installation within the property. Should any element of the testing fail, we will issue a recommendation sheet along with a no obligation quote which you can compare to other London electrical services.

What else you can do as a landlord

Encourage your tenants to take an active role in their own electrical safety. If they use their own electrical appliances, tell them about the importance of inspecting cords and keeping the appliance in good working order. Also educate tenants on the dangers of overloading extension leads and ensuring the use of correct fuses.

You may also want to consider electrical testing in your London properties by having PAT testing carried out on appliances that you supply. Although not a legal requirement, it is another effective and easy way to ensure your tenants well being. Supplying the original instruction manuals with every electrical appliance and ensuring your tenants knows about them is also a great move.

Encouraging your tenants to report any kind of electrical problem no matter how minor promptly can also save a lot of hassle further down the line.

Conducting visual checks of the property regularly to check for broken or cracked sockets or exposed wires is recommended and can be done by anyone – they don't need to be a qualified electrician. A good way to ensure the visual check happens is to combine it with quarterly home inspections.

If you still need advice

If you are still not sure there are places you can go to which provide up to the minute information. The worst thing you can do as a landlord is ignore your tenants problem. Your local authority will be happy to give you advice on electrical matters and the Electrical Safety Council also has lots of useful advice which you can check out straight away on their dedicated website.