One of the questions I get asked fairly regularly is whether having a plastic consumer unit will cause a property to fail an EICR. There’s a lot of confusion about this, so here’s a straight answer.
Will a plastic consumer unit fail an EICR?
No — not automatically. Having a plastic consumer unit is not, by itself, a reason to fail an EICR. What matters is the condition of the unit and whether it still meets the standard it was installed to.
That said, if your plastic consumer unit was installed before 2016, it doesn’t comply with the current BS 7671:2018 wiring regulations (which require consumer units in domestic properties to have a metal enclosure). You probably won’t get a fail code for this alone if the unit is in good working order — but you may get an advisory note recommending an upgrade. I’ve heard of electricians failing properties for this reason, but that’s not correct under current standards.
Why metal is better
The reason the regulations changed is straightforward: plastic burns. If a fault causes a fire inside the consumer unit, a plastic enclosure will fuel it. Tests by the London Fire Brigade have shown that metal consumer units contain fires much more effectively — keeping them from spreading into the rest of the building. Consumer units are often located near doorways and escape routes, which makes this particularly important.
What landlords need to know
Landlords in England are required to have a valid EICR every five years. If the report comes back with a Code 1 (immediate danger) or Code 2 (potential danger) issue, that needs to be fixed within 28 days. A plastic consumer unit in good condition is unlikely to trigger either of those codes — but it may come up as a recommendation (C3). Upgrading is advisable, but it’s not currently a legal requirement unless there’s an actual fault.
Should you upgrade?
If your consumer unit is old, plastic, and showing signs of wear — scorch marks, breakers that don’t stay reset, or a persistent smell — then yes, replacing it makes sense on safety grounds regardless of what an EICR says. If it’s plastic but in good condition and relatively recent, it’s worth having a qualified electrician look at it and give you an honest view rather than just going by the material.
If you’re unsure or want to book an EICR, get in touch and we’ll take a look.
