Switchboard & distribution upgrades

Context

The board is where an installation is judged. Legacy boards were sized for a different era of load: no induction cooking, no heat pumps, no vehicle charging, no dense IT. An upgrade is not simply a new enclosure — it is a re-appraisal of supply capacity, circuit separation, protective devices, labelling and future headroom.

Signs that assessment may be needed

• 01Rewireable fuses, or a board with no residual current protection
• 02No spare ways left for new circuits
• 03Cracked, corroded, overheating or unlabelled boards
• 04Frequent nuisance tripping caused by too many loads sharing a circuit
• 05Planned load additions such as vehicle charging, a heat pump or new plant

None of the above should be investigated by opening equipment, testing live circuits or resetting protective devices repeatedly. If any of it involves heat, smoke, water or a shock, read the safety guidance before anything else.

General scope

• —Assessment of existing supply, main switch, earthing and bonding arrangements
• —Circuit schedule design with proper separation of lighting, power and dedicated loads
• —Board replacement or extension with appropriately rated protective devices
• —Accurate, durable circuit labelling and an as-installed schedule
• —Testing and certification of altered circuits in line with applicable requirements

How the work runs

1. 01SurveyExisting board, earthing and load profile are recorded.
2. 02DesignA circuit schedule and device selection are proposed in writing.
3. 03CoordinateOutage windows are agreed; supply work is arranged where needed.
4. 04InstallThe board is replaced and circuits are transferred methodically.
5. 05CertifyTesting, labelling and documentation are completed and issued.