How often should a house be rewired?
56 Answers
Answered by SNC Electrical
30th January 2023
SNC Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There really isn’t a time frame of when a house should be rewired. There are various external influences that can have an effect on the wiring of a property. It’s always a good idea to have an EICR on the specified intervals and the results of that will indicate when to recommend a rewire. If your wiring is 40/50/60 years old and you decide to have a full modernisation makeover, then you may want to consider having a rewire at that point, to save you possibly having to undo all your hard work in the near future.
Answered by Beales Electrical
21st August 2021
Beales Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no set timeframe for when a house should be rewired. Generally a rewire is recommended if major alterations or remodelling are taking place or if the wiring is in a bad state and beyond repair. Any electrical installation should have an EICR before deciding whether to rewire unless you know for sure that a rewire is necessary. An EICR is called for at regular timescales depending on the type and use of the property - a residential home should have an EICR every 10 years or at time of purchase, whereas private rented accommodation should have an EICR every 5 years. Ensuring EICRs are carried out on time will give you up to date information on the state of your electrical installation and will give you the knowledge needed to know when to rewire.
Answered by Ldnpower
17th May 2021
Ldnpower answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house should be rewired when is becomes necessary For example deterioration of cables floods fire and smoke alarms If any of these circumstances it almost having problems and doesn’t work then you need to do something with rewire the house It is worth having your electrical wiring check or doin the EICR certificate
Answered by S&G Electrical Installations Limited
21st February 2021
S&G Electrical Installations Limited answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no set guidelines for rewiring your property but if your home is more than 20-30 years old it would always be best to get an EICR carried out to determine the condition of the electrical installation. If you are going to be carrying out a lot of refurbishment works such as a new kitchen/bathroom/extension this could also be a good time to have your house rewired as everything could then be done at once
Answered by Electric11
26th December 2020
Electric11 answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
In short as often as it needs it, this could be down to a number of factors such as installation degregation over time or change of use. by which we don't just mean a house changes to an office. maybe more sockets are required in a room or a combination gas central heating system is being removed and electric showers installed. full or partial rewire would the need to take place.
Answered by R.A C.ELECTRICS.
28th October 2020
R.A C.ELECTRICS. answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no set time limit to rewiring a house,however, cable breaks down over time and all circuits today need to be rcd protected.If the electrical Installation is 20yrs plus, it is advisable to have the property rewired. A periodic inspection should be done every 10yrs for home owner properties and every 5years for tenanted properties. This will give you a good idea of the condition of your electrical Installation.
Answered by Elec-craft Electrical Services
14th September 2020
Elec-craft Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
Modern wiring is PVC sheathed, PVC insulated and copper is used for the conductors. It lasts for many years. At one time in the 1940s and 1950s wires were manufactured using rubber and this wiring was known to be dangerous. Rubber insulated and sheathed wire became dry and brittle, especially if it got very warm under heavy use, and the danger was the dry and brittle rubber used to break away from the conductors leaving exposed live wire. This caused fires and fatal shocks if touched. Modern PVC wiring does not suffer from degradation in this way so the need to rewire is somewhat reduced.
Answered by Fenna & Company Limited
26th August 2020
Fenna & Company Limited answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is currently no set maximum guidelines for when a house should be raided, however if you have an older property +20 years with original wiring (usually old wiring colours such as red and black) it would be advisable to rewire along with any major refurbishment to the property such as a new kitchen or bathroom etc as the likely hood the current consumer unit would not meet current wiring regulations and or not be protected by RCDs for certain circuits.
Answered by Adams Electrics
20th June 2020
Adams Electrics answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There are no set guidelines as to when a property should be rewired. Just because your wiring’s old, it doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Many factors can affect the wear and tear of your electrical installation, including the materials used and how your property has been used. We would advise that a periodic inspection is carried out on owner-occupied properties at least every 10 years and every five years in rented accommodation. The test will certify whether the electrics in a property are safe and tell you if anything needs upgrading. You should carry out regular checks around the house on the condition of your cables, switches, sockets and other accessories. If you notice anything unusual - for example, burn marks on plugs and sockets, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling), fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping - get a registered electrician to check your electrics as soon as possible.
Answered by Adam Kirkham Electrical
9th June 2020
Adam Kirkham Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There are no set guidelines as to when a property should be rewired. Just because your wiring’s old, it doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Many factors can affect the wear and tear of your electrical installation, including the materials used and how your property has been used. We would advise that a periodic inspection is carried out on owner-occupied properties at least every 10 years and every five years in rented accommodation. The test will certify whether the electrics in a property are safe and tell you if anything needs upgrading. You should carry out regular checks around the house on the condition of your cables, switches, sockets and other accessories. If you notice anything unusual - for example, burn marks on plugs and sockets, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling), fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping - get a registered electrician to check your electrics as soon as possible.
Answered by Nick Mitchell Electrical
1st June 2020
Nick Mitchell Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no specific guidance on how often a house should be rewired. The need for a rewire should be determined by regular testing and inspection. This will allow an electrician to monitor the condition of the fixed wiring, taking into account it's age and the use of the installation. It will also highlight any possible deterioration which could lead to a dangerous situation.
Answered by 24/7 Electrix
29th May 2020
24/7 Electrix answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house should be rewired when it becomes necessary for it to be rewired. For example, deterioration to cables, floods, fires etc. In any of these circumstances it'll almost compulsory that you rewire your house. It's also worth having your electrical wiring check regularly to see if your cabling has deteriorated.
Answered by M.C.Smith Electrical Services
29th May 2020
M.C.Smith Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
How often you rewire a house depends on a number of factors. The important thing is to have it regularly inspected and tested at least every 10 years to see if the wiring has deteriorated in any way at all. If it has severely deteriorated, then it'll be worth considering getting at least a partial rewire or a full rewire.
Answered by Taylored-Solutions
28th May 2020
Taylored-Solutions answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There are no set guidelines as to when a property should be rewired. Just because your wiring’s old, it doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Many factors can affect the wear and tear of your electrical installation, including the materials used and how your property has been used. We would advise that a periodic inspection is carried out on owner-occupied properties at least every 10 years and every five years in rented accommodation. The test will certify whether the electrics in a property are safe and tell you if anything needs upgrading. You should carry out regular checks around the house on the condition of your cables, switches, sockets and other accessories. If you notice anything unusual - for example, burn marks on plugs and sockets, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling), fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping - get a registered electrician to check your electrics as soon as possible!
Answered by Ewelectrics
23rd May 2020
Ewelectrics answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house should be rewired when it becomes appropriate. - Homeowners should consider a rewire if they are undergoing extensive work as this will mean walls, ceilings and floors will likely be renovated anyway; allowing cable to be run and saving the intrusive work being done after decoration is complete. - Old wiring can be an issue with new fittings. Things such as unearthed circuits, unbonded water and gas mains, rubber cable and aluminium cored cable. Will all be considered as reasons for a rewire, some may be dangerous so an EICR (electrical Installation condition report) is used to determine the current state of wiring. - It may be the case that the wiring is adequate and no measures need to be taken immediately or that a fuse board (distribution board) upgrade will suffice to ensure the house is electrically sound.
Answered by Bryan Electrical Services Team LTD
11th May 2020
Bryan Electrical Services Team LTD answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house should be rewired only when it becomes necessary to do so. ie the installation has become unsafe or unsuitable for it's intended use/purpose, or as part of other refurbishment works or projects where it's easier and more convenient to carry out during the other works rather than at a later date regardless of the condition. An EICR should be carried out first to obtain the condition of the installation and a decision should be made from there.
Answered by PG Electricals
1st May 2020
PG Electricals answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
I your buying a house and the electrics are over 20 years old and you plan on doing a lot of work ie plastering rooms and putting in new kitchens and bathroom then I would defo recommend a rewire. or if the property starts having issue or they are dangerous and existing wiring is old the depending on how bad the issues are then I would again reccomend a rewire.
Answered by MRBE Ltd T/A MRB Electrical
1st May 2020
MRBE Ltd T/A MRB Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
Houses should only be rewired when it is necessary. This may be due to the electrical installation being in a poor or dangerous condition, or might be to facilitate a refurbishment/upgrade of the property. It may be necessary to specify a time period for rewiring a residential property under specific circumstances, but generally speaking it will depend on the current condition and the future intended use.
Answered by KCHS Electrical Services
5th April 2020
KCHS Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no set time for a house to be required as it all goes down to the initial installation and the upkeep of the installation itself. It is best to do Electrical inspection condition reports (EICR) in a regular basis to cede the condition of the current wiring itself. Other factors may you may want to consider is the present need of electrical outlets, light and other necessities that you may need. A competent person would be able to tell if your current needs are ok with your infrastructure already in place. I would often say after 20years you may start seeing deterioration on the integrity of the installation itself, although I’ve seen 40 years old installation hold up well and give excellent readings when tested. A good ballpoint would be every 25years or if you are close to that time and doing major renovations to the house itself , it may be the best time as you would not have to disturb the house a few years down the line for a rewire, meaning more plastering and decoration.
Answered by Gifford’s Electrical Limited
3rd April 2020
Gifford’s Electrical Limited answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
Generally every 25 years but an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5 to 10 years would give you a good indication of how the installation is fairing you.
Answered by CED Electrical
2nd April 2020
CED Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
25 years is the general recommendation, but it depends on some varying factors, eg; what type of cabling was used on the previous wiring, what additional wiring has been done over the years, quality of any work done over the years, whether or not a property has or is being extended significantly enough to warrant a rewire.
Answered by Martin Kaine
1st April 2020
Martin Kaine answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
Normally every 25 years, really depends on the installation in the property, it’s recommended to have a condition report every 5 years,if you have additional work done to the existing installation it’s a good idea to get minor reports done so you know it’s up to date, doesn’t matter how big or small the job
Answered by macdc electrics ltd
29th March 2020
macdc electrics ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
The best way to know this is by hiring an approved electrician to come to you’re property and carry out an electrical installation condition report. You can find a list of approved contractors on the NICEIC website. Once you have this completed the company will be able to advise you on the current state of you’re electrical system, and if there are any remedial works needing completed.
Answered by Evans Electrical South Wales
27th March 2020
Evans Electrical South Wales answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
They say every 25 years which is sometime impossible to achieve. First thing to do is get an Electrical Installation Condition Report on the property so you can understand the quality of the wiring have been to some properties that are 40 years old and had amazing reading for its age, and on the other hand have been to properties that have been wired 20 years ago to a poor standard and the readings are appalling. EICR is always the first option.
Answered by Thorne Electrical Contractors
25th March 2020
Thorne Electrical Contractors answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
It’s dependant on the wiring system and how it was originally installed and what’s happened to the installation since it was first installed . A good installation can easily last 50 years. It’s when people that mess around with electrics that don’t know what they are doing when they ruin the installation and instead of salvaging it’s best to rewire
Answered by Ledda Electrical Contractors Ltd
23rd March 2020
Ledda Electrical Contractors Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no easy answer for this. But I would advise to have your electrics tested (every 5 years) in a domestic premises. Over time all installations degrade but it differs depending on wiring methods, cables used etc. Having a test is the best way to find out if there are any problems or to have an idea on how long until it could do with a Rewire.
Answered by Jr Elec
23rd March 2020
Jr Elec answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no real answer to this as there is no law that requires it (at the moment, there is roomers that this will be brought in as law) but it is recommended that a dwelling is at least tested every 10 years to ensure everything is safe and kept up to current regulations. If the electrician's test results come back as being concerning they will inform you of the actions that need to be done. If a dwelling is rented it is recommended that it is tested every 5 years or after a tenancy change. As a professional I would say a re-wire is recommended every 25 years.
Answered by Electrical & Safety Compliance Solutions Ltd
12th March 2020
Electrical & Safety Compliance Solutions Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no hard and fast rule for how frequent a domestic dwelling will require requiring. As a broad guide it can be anything from every 5-50 years and beyond. The factors that will influence this will include workmanship and quality at time of installation, type of use, frequency of maintenance and testing and number of additions made to this system and by whom.
Answered by Nd electrical
2nd March 2020
Nd electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is not really a time frame on when a house should be rewired, it all comes down to safety. An eicr should be carried out first and the results should determine whether the installation complies with the current bs7671 or not and if it is fit for purpose. As the regulations change something that was classed as safe before could now fail an eicr.
Answered by MFS Electrical
27th February 2020
MFS Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no prescribed lifespan for modern cabling and as long as your home has been rewired in the past 25 years and has been maintained and inspected by professional electricians chances are they may not need rewired for a number of years to come. When alterations are carried out there may need to be upgrades or replacement fuse boxes or consumer units but these may not necessarily mean that the property needs rewired. More importantly Inspection and Testing should be carried out by professional Electricians with Inspection and Testing qualifications to ascertain the condition of the wiring and assess its suitability for continued use.
Answered by 1 Call Electrical
27th February 2020
1 Call Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
It depends on what cable was used and the condition it's in. Modern cables should last 60+ years. An EICR carried out by a qualified electrician would let you know the condition of your cables and your equipment. Most of the time it's how the cables were fitted in the first place that can cause issues.
Answered by Parsley Electrical Ltd
24th February 2020
Parsley Electrical Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
If a property has not already been rewired within the last 25-30 years, the chances are it will need upgrading at least in part in order to bring it up to current standards. The wiring may be potentially dangerous and may not be able to cope with the demands of modern living. If you plan major remodelling work that constitutes a material alteration as defined by the Building Regulations, it is likely that you will need to rewire part, if not all, of the property, including upgrading the consumer unit (fuse box) if you are extending your home, or converting a loft or garage, this will constitute new work and therefore all of the new wiring will have to conform to Part P: Electrical safety, and all existing wiring will have to be improved to ensure that it is able to carry the additional loads safely, it is earthed to current requirements and that cross bonding is satisfactory. Parsley Electrical can carry out an EICR and determine if you're property requires a rewire call on 07896622520 or email: info.parsleyelectrical@gmail.com
Answered by Hodgson Electrical
22nd February 2020
Hodgson Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A rewire could be required once installed over 25 years. It all depends how well the wiring system has been maintained and the condition/ quality of the cables. The best way to find this out is a electrical installation condition report (EICR) Another tell tail sign of old wiring is a old style fuse board with fuse wire rather than MCBs A rewire is a very disruptive task and I would always recommend considering a rewire when buying a new home if you think the wiring may be old as it is a lot easier therefore cheaper to rewire an empty house and the mess made to decoration isn’t as inconvenient.
Answered by AJR ELECTRICAL SERVICES
19th February 2020
AJR ELECTRICAL SERVICES answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no specific time frame. If the installation does not comply with current regulation then a rewire is required, especially if you plan on having any additional electrical work carried out on the installation. If the house has the old style rewireable fuses at the Consumer unit the 9/10 it will need a rewire .
Answered by Baggaley Electrical Services
18th February 2020
Baggaley Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
If your home is more than 40 years old or so and has not had any major rewiring done in that time, then it may require a rewire to make sure its safe. Signs that your wiring may be old is if the cabling is covered in fabric or rubber rather than uPVC, and if the consumer unit (often called the fuse box) has large ceramic switches. If you suspect your wiring is old, you can ask an electrician to do a full inspection of your wiring to recommend any work that might need doing.
Answered by Routley & Lemon
14th February 2020
Routley & Lemon answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house should be rewired if it fails an Electrical Installation Condition Report, if there's a change of use, i.e. more electrical power is needed because of a change of hands, for example or the power output of the property no longer meets the requirements of the user and therefore needs to be rewired to suit.
Answered by R Harris Electrical Services Ltd
3rd February 2020
R Harris Electrical Services Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
It really depends on the quality of the installation and how regularly it has been maintained. Manufacturers of pvc twin and earth will say 40 years before significant degradation of the wiring. However careful consideration should be taken to follow the installers instructions between electrical inspection condition reports. Having regular testing carries out on your installation will show and prevent any significant degrading of the wiring system.
Answered by Hemmings Electrical Services Ltd
13th January 2020
Hemmings Electrical Services Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
I don’t believe there’s an exact timescale that a specific Electrical installation should be re-wired. It’s all down to how well the installation is maintained and monitoring the condition regularly. Signs of over heating, random tripping of RCD’s etc are a good indicator that your installation will need re-wiring. Having condition reports done at the correct intervals is the best way to prolong an installation!
Answered by Keynston Services
2nd December 2019
Keynston Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
The standard answer seems to around 25 years, but that figure has been bandied around since I was a boy. And a lot has changed since then, materials, household demand, equipment numbers and power consumption. I would say that if there are signs of damage (such as overheating or heat damaged joints), excessive changed & additions, long-term use of extension cables and / or changing internal arrangements within a house then it is a good idea to rewire. A change of ownership might be a good time to review the wiring and the consumer unit and decide whether an upgrade is required.
Answered by Complete-wiring-solutions
24th November 2019
Complete-wiring-solutions answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house rewire should last 20 or more years, sometimes as long as 40 years, but eventually the insulation on the cables will begin to breakdown and you will need a house rewire. You can have your wiring checked by an electrician. However there are not actually any set guidelines for how long a re-wire will last, it’s more to do with how your property has been used and the materials used to carry out the wiring. A lot of older rewires will have used materials which today are deemed not suitable such as lead cabling or tough rubber sheathing. This is why a lot of the advice you will read suggests that you may require a re-wire if your electrics are over 20 years old. This will then ensure your property is up to current regulations.
Answered by GL Electrical
9th November 2019
GL Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There are no set guidelines as to when a property should be rewired. Just because your wiring’s old, it doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. Many factors can affect the wear and tear of your electrical installation, including the materials used and how your property has been used. We would advise that a periodic inspection is carried out on owner-occupied properties at least every 10 years and every five years in rented accommodation. The test will certify whether the electrics in a property are safe and tell you if anything needs upgrading. You should carry out regular checks around the house on the condition of your cables, switches, sockets and other accessories. If you notice anything unusual - for example, burn marks on plugs and sockets, sounds of ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling), fuses blowing or circuit-breakers tripping - get a registered electrician to check your electrics as soon as possible.
Answered by AJS Essex Electrics
5th September 2019
AJS Essex Electrics answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
The average age for a rewire depends on the cable. PVC twin and earth are expected to last 25 years but that doesn't add in factors like damage or overheating. you would need a electrical installation condition report to determine if you need a rewire. The report will point out faults and non compliance to the regulation at the time. sometimes you will find that the cable seems fine and you just need to upgrade certain items. A rewire is determined by the customer at the end of the day.
Answered by RIGS Electrical
12th August 2019
RIGS Electrical answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
The average lifespan of an electrical installation is approximately 25-30 years. However, installations beyond this age are not necessarily in need of a rewire. In reality most installations I visit are in excess of 35 years old. At this point I would recommend a regular schedule of inspection and testing (Electrical Installation Condition Report) to verify the ongoing safety of the electrical installation (think of this as an MOT for the fixed wiring within your house). This will identify any faults within the installation and highlight any potential issues arising between scheduled EICR’s.
Answered by STS ELECTRICALS NORTH EAST LIMITED
28th June 2019
STS ELECTRICALS NORTH EAST LIMITED answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
The condition of the current installation should be observed carrying out an EICR the age of the wiring and condition 1950s there is a strong chance it will have rubber insulation on the wiring which will perish and start to break down and is likely to fail an insulation test and unlikely to have earthing in the lighting, and the consumer unit which for domestic install should be carried out every 10 years, there are many different opinions about how often you should rewire a house: After a specific time period usually about 25 years. When a specific problem requires the householder to replace the wiring
Answered by Hayer Electrical Ltd
15th June 2019
Hayer Electrical Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
Depends on the condition of the overall installation. Normally anything wired in new should really have at least a 25 year shelf life. However it the current installation is old it does not mean it needs rewiring. As long their are no faults on the circuits and the cables are in good condition then all good imo.
Answered by Thomas Chaney Electrical Services
2nd June 2019
Thomas Chaney Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
In my opinion a house should be rewired every 25-30 years. However I have come across properties that are way over this time period and the cabling is still in good condition. The key to the time period is the quality of the equipment used in the system when it was installed. Poor quality cable means it won’t last as long once energised.
Answered by Megaohm
31st May 2019
Megaohm answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
Its no rules however this highly depend from condition of the installation. How often was altered or done some additions. Major focus is on inspection every 5yrs Exceptions are for schools and other special locations such as caravan. Domestic occupied by owner should be done every 10yrs. Mentioned inspection will determinate what needs to be done to keep installation up to the current standards and regulation.
Answered by Orman Electrics
18th May 2019
Orman Electrics answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no schedule for a rewire. This would come down to the instillation itself and outside Influence It is recommended that a rented domestic property is inspected every 5 years or change of tenancy. Domestic property occupied by owner every 10 years and commercial properties every 5 years. This inspection ( condition report) will determine if a rewire , partial rewire is needed.
Answered by CT Sparks Ltd
3rd May 2019
CT Sparks Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
there’s no Real rule on a schedule of rewires A lot is determined on how well the installation was done in the first place. Electrical installations installed since the 70s in pvc cable had a recommended life of around 25 years. Domestic Installations should be inspected every 10 years which will identify any degrading of the cabling. Commercial premises should be inspected every 5 years. There’s a lot of older installations still in use that are In a potentially dangerous condition
Answered by Karl Chamberlain Electrical Services
17th April 2019
Karl Chamberlain Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A house should be checked every ten years, most electricians recommend 5 years. This is due to ever increasing demand on existing wiring. Its not always the state of wiring that is the cause of concern for faults or fire hazards. some times its down to shoddy workmanship, DIYers altering and adding sockets etc. connections coming loose. A house wired in 1980s, which has had no alterations may not need rewiring for another 20 years. But if Extension leads are being used due to lack of sockets etc, this could be a sign, that this house is not keeping up with the demand of todays requirements and therefor a rewire would be needed . Recommendations that 3 twin sockets are needed as a minimum requirement for todays houses.
Answered by Smart Vision Electrical ltd
24th March 2019
Smart Vision Electrical ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
A domestic installation would ideally be rewired after 25 years or so, If you keep having issues with certain circuits or are having major works done to a property. Where older installations have been chopped, changed and added onto over time, it would be best to replace with new and perhaps reduced circuit size to reduce possible issues in the future. If you are to be having any work done on a property it’s always a good time to think about a rewire.
Answered by Electri-Call-Us
23rd March 2019
Electri-Call-Us answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
PVC/PVC cables or twin and earth cables have been around since the 70’s these are easily identified as they are stranded cables as opposed to the later PVC/PVC cables that use a solid core conductor. VIR are a vulcanised rubber insulated single cable with a cloth material outer covering run in a metallic black conduit, Then you have black rubber cables. If you have any of the last 2 cable types then your property is definitely in need of a re-wire. PVC/PVC cable was regarded as having a working life of 25Yrs. The best way to tell if your electrical installation is still in a safe condition is to have electrical inspection condition report with detailed written observations and tests carried out, these will vary in price depending on number of circuits but will be between £100-£180, don’t be tricked by companies offering visual inspections as these will not be a comprehensive or thorough inspection but merely based on the type of fuse board and accessories to give an indication of age and condition. Inspections now have to be carried out to the current edition of the regs and reports are based on this criteria. Items are coded C1 immediate danger present, exposed live parts etc, this will result in either the fault is made safe/isolated immediately either by disconnection or removal of fuse on affected circuit. Danger notice issued. C2 potential danger this means that immediate danger is not present but under a fault condition danger could arise. Either of these will result in an unsatisfactory grading of installation. C3 means that there is a non compliance to the current regulations but it is not an immediate or potential danger risk, it is merely an advisory recommendation to bring the installation up to current standard. Example of this would be an RCD protected insulated non AMD 3 metal board made from non combustible material. After testing if wiring is still in good condition rather than re-wiring a fuse board change to a modern AMD 3 board with RCBO protection may be a more affordable alternative to provide latest safety. RCBO protection offers RCD protection of individual circuits so a fault on one circuit will only affect the circuit with the fault rather than tripping the RCD controlling multiple circuits. Surge Protective Devices became a requirement in January 2019 if the risk calculation requires it based on geographical location, overhead supply cables, TT earth electrode, & risk of lightning ground strikes. AFDD or Arc Fault Devices are not as of yet a requirement only a recommendation so you Do Not have them as part of a new consumer unit. AFDD currently are retailing at £120 ea so the cost of a board change jumps from £400/£450 to £1500 for a 10way board.
Answered by Udell Electrical Services
11th February 2019
Udell Electrical Services answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no hard and fast rule in terms of when a house needs a rewire. Many years ago rubber butyl cables were installed in houses. Over the years this cable disintegrates and becomes dangerous. If your property has rubber cables still in service then the house needs to be rewired as it’s a safety concern as there could be a risk of fire damage or electrocution due to touching live exposed cables. Newer PVC cables have been used for the last 20 or so years. These generally don’t disintegrate and are much safer than the rubber cables. With the above being said every installation is different and will have been treated differently over the years. It may have been subject to different outside forces such as DIY alterations or attack from rodents and such like. The only real way to determine the safety of the electrical system in your property is to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) carried out. The General recommendations periods to have a EICR carries out are listed below although these are just recommendations General house Every 10 years or after severe damage such as fire or flooding Rented properties (landlords responsibility) Every 5 years or change of tenancy
Answered by Electrical Innovations (Derby) Ltd
10th February 2019
Electrical Innovations (Derby) Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
This is all down to how well maintained your installation is. I always advise my customers that their electrics should be checked and if you are planning major works also consider how this will effect you long term. Anything over 25 years is certainly getting towards a needing regular updates to make sure it complies with the latest regulations, but also bear in mind that you never know what previous works were carried out and at what standard.
Answered by RJ Electricians Ltd
9th February 2019
RJ Electricians Ltd answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
We used to say around 25years due to the types of cable and connections in use however with the regulations getting firmer and safer as long as the property meets the criteria in the periodic inspection report there in no need to rewire the property. The periodic inspection reports show the condition of your property with the following codes:- C1 immediate danger ie exposed live parts which could cause injury or death C2 in a dangerous condition and could cause injury or death C3 needs improvement ie broken or cracked socket A tick indicates a pass
Answered by Edwards
8th February 2019
Edwards answered the question "How often should a house be rewired?"
There is no straightforward answer here, Guidance has previously suggested 25 years however installations do not expire. Guidance for a domestic installation is that it should be inspected & tested every 10 years privately, 5 years for tenanted properties or in both cases change of occupancy if that is sooner. Landlords must ensure the electrical installation is safe when a tenant moves in and is maintained in a safe condition throughout its duration, in HMO’s (houses of multiple occupation) there is a further legal obligation to carry out a 5 yearly EICR - Electrical Installation Condition Report. Electrical regulations are not retrospective, the inspection and testing procedure is carried out by comparing the installation to the latest regulations at the time of inspection, faults and deviations are coded as follows C1 Immediately Dangerous, exposed bare live cables for example C2 Requires Improvement, a broken switch or socket outlet with no exposed live parts. C3 Improvement Recommended, Missing RCD protection for circuits unlikely to supply portable or mobile equipment outside, with the exception of locations containing a bath or shower. FI Further Investigation, missing or borrowed neutral for a circuit. Any C1, C2 or FI coded items result in an ‘unsatisfactory’ Report being issued. Similar to an MOT failure. There is however no requirement to ‘rewire’ you could for example repair the defects. The number and severity of defects will inform the decision as to whether or not a rewire should be considered.