One of the questions we get asked regularly is whether having a plastic consumer unit will cause a property to fail an EICR. The answer depends on where the consumer unit is located — and that distinction matters more than most people realise.
Will a plastic consumer unit fail an EICR?
Not automatically — but location makes a significant difference to how it should be coded.
Consumer units installed before 2016 don’t comply with the current BS 7671:2018 wiring regulations, which require domestic consumer units to have a metal enclosure. The reason is straightforward: plastic burns. If a fault causes a fire inside the unit, a metal enclosure contains it far more effectively than plastic — tests by the London Fire Brigade have demonstrated this clearly.
The escape route distinction
This is where many EICR reports — and a lot of customer confusion — originate. The classification code for a plastic consumer unit isn’t fixed: it depends on where the unit is installed.
- Plastic consumer unit not in an escape route — typically coded C3 (improvement recommended). The unit doesn’t meet current standards, but in good working order it doesn’t represent an immediate or potential danger. There’s no legal obligation to replace it.
- Plastic consumer unit in a hallway, under a staircase, or in any room that forms part of the means of escape — C2 (potentially dangerous) is the correct code. If the unit were to catch fire, it would do so in the escape route itself, preventing occupants from getting out. This is a genuine risk, not a technicality.
We see a lot of EICRs where the consumer unit is in a hallway and has been coded C2 — and customers who’ve received those reports are often told by someone else that the code is wrong or that the inspector is just trying to generate work. In most cases, the C2 is correct. A plastic consumer unit in a hallway or escape route is potentially dangerous because of where it is, not just what it’s made of.
If your EICR has come back with a C2 for a plastic consumer unit and you’re unsure whether the code is accurate, it’s worth checking where the unit is located before disputing it. Our guide to EICR classification codes explains how C1, C2 and C3 should be applied.
What landlords need to know
Landlords in England are required to have a valid EICR every five years. Where the report comes back with a C2 observation — including for a plastic consumer unit in a hallway — remedial work must be completed within 28 days. A C3 carries no legal obligation to act, but upgrading is advisable for the safety reasons above.
Should you upgrade?
If the consumer unit is plastic and located in a hallway or escape route, yes — the C2 code is there for good reason and the work needs doing. If it’s plastic but in a less critical location, it’s still worth upgrading given that metal units are now standard and the cost of doing it when other work is being carried out is relatively low.
If you’ve received an EICR with a C2 for a plastic consumer unit and want a second opinion, or you’d like us to carry out the remedial work, get in touch.
