What should I do if my consumer unit catches fire – Advice from Electriman, North London Electricians

A consumer unit fire is one of the most serious electrical emergencies you can face at home. Consumer units — also called fuse boxes — contain live busbars, MCBs, RCDs, and wiring connections that carry the full incoming mains supply to your property. A fire here can spread rapidly into the wall cavity and roof space.

What to do right now:

Get everyone out of the property immediately, including pets

Call 999 — tell them it is an electrical fire at the consumer unit

Do not open the consumer unit door — this introduces oxygen and can cause flashover

Do not use water — electrical fires require a CO2 or dry powder extinguisher, but even these should only be used if you have been trained and the source of ignition is clearly isolated

Do not re-enter the property until the fire service declares it safe

If the main isolator or meter tails cutout is accessible outside the property or in a safe location away from the fire, you may switch this off — but only without putting yourself at risk

Common causes of consumer unit fires:

Loose or incorrectly torqued connections on busbars or MCB terminals

Overloaded circuits with undersized protective devices

Faulty or counterfeit MCBs or RCDs

Old plastic consumer units that do not meet current fire-resistance standards

Vermin damage to cable insulation inside the enclosure

Water ingress from a leak above the unit

After the fire servi

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Electriman covers Mill Hill, Barnet, Finchley, Edgware, Enfield, Watford and surrounding areas. All work is Part P certified and fully insured.