Menu
It can be sometimes difficult to tell if you need a rewire just by looking at the consumer Unit and accessories. The bulk of wiring is usually hidden within the fabric of the building so we can perform what’s called an EICR to better ascertain the condition of the wiring. A lot of the time, you may have a fairly modern consumer unit, but your wiring may not have been changed. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not safe, however its always best to get a professional to take a look if you’re unsure.
Generally speaking, though, if your wiring is 25 years or older it’s good to think about a rewire, particularly if you’re planning on decorating in the near future. If you have an old consumer unit with rewire-able fuses, or a consumer unit without any RCD Protection, it may also be time to think about having a look at making your electrics safer.
New wiring colours were brought into use in 2004 and so any wiring that is Brown and Blue with solid copper cores and a PVC outer sheathing is of more modern era and will most likely not need re wiring, unless it has been installed poorly.
Older wiring with Red and Black Insulation is a minimum of 20 years old. This can test okay during an EICR however, we often recommended considering:
Even older wiring of around 60 years is made of VIR or Vulcanised Indian Rubber and this can be extremely dangerous as the insulation perishes over time so simply crumbles away, leaving exposed live wires open to touch. We strongly recommend this type of wiring is replaced so as to remove any possible dangerous situations and give you peace of mind!
