Consumer units don't last forever. If your board is more than 20–25 years old, or shows any of the signs below, it's worth booking an inspection.
1. It's a wooden or plastic board with rewireable fuses
Pre-2000 boards with wire fuses give you no RCD protection. They're not automatically dangerous, but they don't meet modern safety standards.
2. Repeated tripping
Occasional trips are the RCD doing its job. Regular trips point to a fault somewhere in the circuit that needs finding.
3. Scorch marks or a burning smell
Stop using the affected circuit and call an electrician the same day. This is a fire risk.
4. You're adding solar, EV charging or a heat pump
New generation and high-load circuits often need a modern board with the right spare ways and protection.
5. A recent EICR has flagged the board
If a report codes your consumer unit C2 or FI, upgrading is normally the practical fix.