Does House built in 1960 Need Rewire?

[Rocky786]

Hi All,

We are about to buy a 1960 built 3-bed semi-detached. The upstairs bathroom was completely renovated in 2016 with new electrical installation (including isolation box just outside of bathroom) and a small Schnieder Easy 9 consumer unit placed by existing fusebox understairs (see picture).




We had an electrician around who stated the wires in downstairs utility are about 10 years old (visual inspection). He also visually checked the sockets in kitchen and said that, except for the absence of earth wire, the condition of wires looks OK.

However, the electrician did not offer to do a PIR, and instead looked at fusebox understairs and said I need rewire! He has quoted about £3300 +Vat to do the rewire.

Do the wires by fusebox look sufficiently OK?
Can we get a full consumer unit, change sockets and light and complete any work highlighted by a PIR?

We really want to avoid an unnecessaryrewire. We expect to live here for 10 years or more.

Thanks.

 

[Marvo]

Can you attach a photo or two of your fuse box? **edit** I didn't see the link to the picture.

Did he do any testing before he decided on a complete rewire?

If the wiring is rubber insulated or cotton wrap insulation then it probably would be a good idea to completely rewire. If the wiring is PVC and isn't showing any signs of degradation then it probably won't need a rewire.

 

[westward10]

Impossible to say from a distance you need an EICR carried out by a competent person.

 

[buzzlightyear]

We had an electrician around who stated the wires in downstairs utility are about 10 years old (visual inspection). He also visually checked the sockets in kitchen and said that, except for the absence of earth wire, the condition of wires looks OK.

However, the electrician did not offer to do a PIR, and instead looked at fusebox understairs and said I need rewire! He has quoted about £3300 +Vat to do the rewire.

Do the wires by fusebox look sufficiently OK?
Can we get a full consumer unit, change sockets and light and complete any work highlighted by a PIR?

you need to get EICR done first before any work carried out ,weather you think to have rewire.

 

[Marvo]

If it's your house and you're going to be there a while it would be good to install a more modern consumer unit with RCD protection for you and your family. I think that device may be a voltage operated leakage breaker although maybe one of the UK guys will confirm.

 

[Doomed]

Depends a bit on if you are thinking of doing anything else, and if it is 60's if the lighting circuit has a continuous earth (if it has one at all). Probably do need a new consumer unit.

 

[Midwest]

Yes the stuff is 57 tears old. You'll probably replace the windows, boiler, paintwork, etc. Only thing worth re using is the bricks & timber!"

 

[buzzlightyear]

except for the absence of earth wire,

where ,bonding ?

 

[westward10]

where ,bonding ?

I suspect the absence of an earth wire on the sockets is a trivial mention of no cpc to the back box.

 

[westward10]

If it's your house and you're going to be there a while it would be good to install a more modern consumer unit with RCD protection for you and your family. I think that device may be a voltage operated leakage breaker although maybe one of the UK guys will confirm.

It is difficult to get a clear image but it is possible.

 

[Rocky786]

Hi All,

Thanks for the informative replies.

We have two seperate electricians around and neither did any testing. One was ELECSA registered, while other was NICEIC resigstered.

A clearer image of the 'mini' consumer box is below. It states date of next inspection is May 2021, and that installation complies to BS7671 if that means anything?

 

[davesparks]

From the picture and age I would not be surprised if this installation is genuinely in need of a rewire. But cannot say conclusively without actually looking at it.

 

[Octopus]

Have a proper EICR completed , then you know for certain ..,,

 

[buzzlightyear]

looking at the pics, the brown old barker light consumer units need looking at .
weather new consumer unit was fitted 2016 or not .

 

[PEG]

Hi bud,not a chance of answering the original question,without proper test and inspection. To recommend a rewire,a competent electrician,should indicate exactly why that is his opinion. Being old,or short of four grand's worth of work,is not justification.

My own folk's property,was built in the sixties,and although it was wired in PVC t&e,many of the cpc's,were cut back or not connected. The wiring tested out fine,and much of the disruptive part of a full rewire,was avoided.

If all old things were bad,we'd have no use for nans,antiques and parliament.

 

[Midwest]

Even Parliament is getting a rewire!

OP, depends on where you want to spend your money. I'm currently working at a property, that's having a new kitchen & utility fitted for several thousands of pounds. A new gas boiler has been installed, and they spent nearly £800 on vertical radiators alone. They also had a new bathroom installed a few years ago. You get my drift.

So I'm altering the wiring for the kitchen & utility, which fortunately was part of a relatively new extension, with recent new wiring.

However, parts of the remainder of the house has wiring circa 1960, some of the lighting circuits have no earthing. I suggested to the owner to have a proper inspection & perhaps consider a rewire, work too much for me to do, so no conflict there IMO.

Reply, was well something we can't afford it, we'll get it done when we have too. I don't understand people spending thousands on renovating their homes, but don't want to get the basics right.

Cable manufacturers appear to guarantee the expected lifetime of their cables between 20-5o years BASEC - British Approvals Service for Cables - http://www.basec.org.uk/News/Basec-News/Life-Expectancy-of-Cables

So perhaps put off that new kitchen & consider a rewire.

 

[telectrix]

but they can't show off buried cables to the neighbours, can they?

 

[Midwest]

They can if it goes up in smoke

 

[telectrix]

maybe it's LSF.

 

[David M]

but they can't show off buried cables to the neighbours, can they?

And that's the crux of it most times!
If they get the heating upgraded they can show off their new all singing and all dancing boiler with 10 years warranty and energy efficiency of 95% which they have just paid a small fortune for. But re-wire, where's the fun in that? a few new socket & switch fronts and a new "fuse board" under the stairs... boring!

 

[Dave OCD]

Exactly , does nothing at all to enhance their status.

 

[Rocky786]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies - all very useful.

I am in my parents 1940's built house which had a rewire in 2003 (unfortunately, electrician did not give a certificate, but I watched the whole house being rewired).

The electrics still have an old wooden board with meter and some other things attached (see pics). What are these for?

 

[Pete999]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies - all very useful.

I am in my parents 1940's built house which had a rewire in 2003 (unfortunately, electrician did not give a certificate, but I watched the whole house being rewired).

The electrics still have an old wooden board with meter and some other things attached (see pics). What are these for?

Like IP at the top of the CU

 

[davesparks]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies - all very useful.

I am in my parents 1940's built house which had a rewire in 2003 (unfortunately, electrician did not give a certificate, but I watched the whole house being rewired).

The electrics still have an old wooden board with meter and some other things attached (see pics). What are these for?

on the left of the board is the meter, on the right is the service cutout which contains the supply company's fuse, you also have a red link which appears to feed through the wall, presumably providing the electricity supply to your neighbours?

 

[Des 56]

I don't see a Tns connection or a Pme so possible TT
The consumer unit appears to have enclosed cartridge fuses
It seems to be a split load consumer unit with Rcd covering half the board

If I am correct,you may need work very soon,the non Rcd circuits may not be adequately protected

 

[davesparks]

I don't see a Tns connection or a Pme so possible TT
The consumer unit appears to have enclosed cartridge fuses
It seems to be a split load consumer unit with Rcd covering half the board

If I am correct,you may need work very soon,the non Rcd circuits may not be adequately protected

The TNS connection is via the braid connected to the Henley block just to the left of the cutout, the braid will either be clamped to the lead with a proprietary clamp or by a plumbed joint.

 

[Des 56]

Thanks I missed that braid and it was staring me in the face

 

[Dave OCD]

The outgoing live from the meter is a bit dodgy too , should have the sheath on the tails going right up to the terminals with no basic insulation on show.