Not specifically aimed at landlords, the third amendment to BS 7671:2011 (IET Wiring Regulations Seventeenth Edition), was published in January 2015 and includes a new regulation requiring consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies in domestic premises to have a non-combustible enclosure.
The wording of regulation 421.1.201 is as follows:
Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall:
(i) have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material, or
(ii) be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.
NOTE 1: Ferrous metal, e.g. steel, is deemed to be an example of a non-combustible material.
NOTE 2: The implementation date for this regulation is the 1st January 2016, but does not preclude compliance with the regulation prior to that date.
How does it affect landlords?
Any installation designed on or after 1st January 2016 must comply with the new regulation. There is no requirement to replace an existing consumer unit while carrying out an inspection and test of the installation however, the electrician may be required to attribute a relevant classification code depending on the location of a combustible consumer unit more details of which can be found here.
Further Reading: