BEAMA Safety Checklist - Consumer Units
08 August 2025
A consumer unit to BS EN / BS EN IEC 61439-3 is a particular type of single-phase distribution board defined by its specific conditional short-circuit rating of 16 kA. It is principally for use in household premises when supplied from a house service cut-out with a maximum 100 A fuse-link. This safety check-list outlines simple measures to help you to safeguard against being deceived into buying counterfeit or non-compliant products. Non-compliant products can present significant risks to people and property and
carry serious consequences for the distributor and installer of such products. Non-compliant products may not provide protection against fire or electrocution,
potentially resulting in lethal consequences. Choose your electrical consumer unit with care.
The use of individual components such as MCBs and RCDs complying with their respective product standard(s) does not indicate their compatibility when installed inside an enclosure. The product standard BS EN / BS EN IEC 61439-3 contains the performance and safety requirements for the integration of devices and components into an enclosure for household and similar installations. It covers subjects such as temperature rise tests to safeguard against overheating and a specific UK test in annex ZB / DD which requires a 16 kA conditional short-circuit test qualifying it as a consumer unit, together with certain constructional requirements.
