When this template fits
This RAMS is for the electrician replacing a domestic or small-commercial consumer unit (fuse board) — usually because a client, landlord or principal contractor wants an upgrade to a board with RCD/RCBO protection and a certificate to follow. It suits the qualified electrician swapping an old board on an occupied or part-occupied property who needs to show their H&S manager or building control that the work is done dead, notified under Part P and proved safe before re-energising.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 4 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 6-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
The scope covers isolating the existing installation, recording the existing circuits, removing the old consumer unit, mounting and wiring the new board, and carrying out the BS 7671 inspection and test sequence before re-energising. Work is carried out dead with the main switch off and, where the cut-out can be safely isolated, the supplier's fuse withdrawn under agreement. It does not cover live work on the supply side of the meter, meter changes, or DNO cut-out work, which are the supply company's responsibility.
Sequence of works
- 1Record the existing circuit arrangement, label cables and check the earthing and bonding before disturbing the board.
- 2Switch off the main switch, withdraw or isolate the supply fuse by agreement with the supplier, and lock or cap the isolation so it cannot be restored.
- 3Prove the installation dead at the tails with an approved voltage indicator checked against a proving unit before and after.
- 4Remove the old consumer unit, checking the mounting surface and any backing board for asbestos before cutting or drilling.
- 5Mount and wire the new board, transferring circuits to the correct RCD/RCBO ways and confirming conductor sizes and terminations.
- 6Carry out the BS 7671 dead-test sequence, re-energise under control, complete live tests and issue the certificate and Part P notification.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Electric shock from removing the old board before the installation is proved dead
Who’s at risk: Operatives
- › Switch off the main switch and isolate the supply fuse by agreement, then lock or cap so it cannot be restored
- › Prove dead at the tails with a GS38 voltage indicator checked against a proving unit before and after
- › Treat the meter tails and supply side as live at all times — they are not isolated by the main switch
Disturbing asbestos in the backing board or fabric behind a board in a pre-2000 property
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Occupants
- › Check the age of the property and inspect the mounting surface before cutting or drilling
- › Stop and arrange a sample or refurbishment survey if a suspect backing board or insulation is found
- › Mount the new board on a fresh non-combustible backing rather than disturbing suspect material
Re-energisation of the supply by an occupant or other trade while the board is open
Who’s at risk: Operatives
- › Keep the isolation under your sole control with a lock and a caution notice at the cut-out and meter position
- › Tell occupants and other trades the power is off and must not be restored until you say so
- › Re-prove dead at the point of work if you leave and return to the board
Back-feed or a borrowed neutral keeping a supposedly dead circuit live
Who’s at risk: Operatives
- › Prove dead on every conductor at the board, not just the incomer, before disconnecting
- › Identify and separate any shared or borrowed neutrals between circuits before transferring them
- › Confirm there is no alternative supply such as a generator, inverter or PV before starting
PPE
- ✓ Insulating gloves rated for the working voltage when handling tails
- ✓ Arc-rated face protection for work at the board
- ✓ Safety footwear with toe protection
- ✓ Disposable mask and coveralls if suspect dust is disturbed at the mounting surface
Competence
- ✓ ECS card with the relevant electrician grade
- ✓ 18th Edition BS 7671:2018+A2 qualification
- ✓ Inspection and testing competence (C&G 2391 or equivalent) for certification
- ✓ Registration with a Part P competent person scheme, or building control notification arranged
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › Lock-off kit and caution notices for the main switch and cut-out
- › Approved voltage indicator and GS38 proving unit
- › Multifunction installation tester for the BS 7671 sequence
- › Insulated screwdrivers and a torque screwdriver for board terminations
- › Temporary task lighting for working at an unlit board position
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ That the method proves dead at the tails and treats the supply side as live, rather than relying on the main switch alone
- ✓ That an asbestos check of the mounting surface is included for older properties before any cutting or drilling
- ✓ That re-energisation and live testing are a controlled step after a satisfactory dead-test sequence, with a named person certifying
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
Can I isolate a consumer unit without the supplier withdrawing the cut-out fuse?
The main switch isolates the consumer unit's outgoing circuits but not the meter tails or the supply side, which stay live throughout the job. Best practice is to arrange isolation of the cut-out fuse with the supply company so the tails can be worked on safely, and to treat anything upstream of the main switch as live if that is not possible. Pulling a supplier's fuse without agreement is not your equipment to work on, so the RAMS should set out who isolates the cut-out and how the tails are proved dead before the old board comes off.
Why does this RAMS flag asbestos on a simple board change?
Older consumer units are often mounted on a timber or insulating backing board, and the fabric behind them in pre-2000 properties can contain asbestos. Cutting, drilling or breaking that material out to fit a modern board can release fibres into an occupied home. The method therefore includes a check of the mounting surface before any disturbance and a stop point if suspect material is found, so a routine upgrade does not turn into an uncontrolled asbestos exposure.
What regulations apply to consumer unit replacement?
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (regs 4 and 14), Building Regulations Approved Document P (notifiable domestic electrical work), BS 7671:2018+A2 (IET Wiring Regulations) are the main ones, alongside HSG85 Electricity at Work: Safe Working Practices, Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (pre-2000 boards and backing). The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.