Top-grade Materials
Top-grade Materials | Electric Panel Upgrades | Electrical | Bristol
From charming Georgian terraces to newly built river-view apartments, Bristol’s homes each have their own character—yet they all rely on a dependable electrical heart. HEP’s top-grade materials electrical team revitalises that heart with precision electric panel upgrades, replacing outdated fuse boxes with modern, code-compliant panels engineered for today’s high-demand lifestyles. Our certified electricians arrive on schedule, protect your décor, and install premium components that maximise safety, efficiency, and future expansion potential.
Choose us and enjoy seamless smart-home integration, steadier voltage for sensitive electronics, and the peace of mind that comes from a lifetime workmanship guarantee. Whether you’re adding an EV charger in Clifton, a loft conversion in Bishopston, or a bustling home office in Bedminster, we tailor every upgrade to your property’s unique load requirements—so Bristol can keep buzzing without a flicker.
FAQs
Why should I consider upgrading the electrical panel in my Bristol property?
An upgraded panel (consumer unit) provides higher amperage capacity for modern appliances, incorporates state-of-the-art safety devices such as RCDs/RCBOs and surge protection, and brings your installation in line with the 18th Edition of BS 7671. This reduces fire risk, prevents nuisance tripping, and increases overall property value, while ensuring you can safely add high-demand loads like EV chargers, heat pumps or a home office.
How can I tell that my current panel is no longer adequate?
Common warning signs include frequent breaker trips, lights that dim when large appliances start, a fuse board that uses re-wirable fuses, lack of RCD protection, buzzing or hot breakers, or an installation date older than 20 years. If you’re renovating, adding circuits, or planning significant electrical loads, a pre-upgrade inspection is strongly recommended.
What makes your “top-grade materials” different from a standard consumer-unit replacement?
We install metal-clad boards with corrosion-resistant casings, 10 kA-rated copper busbars for superior conductivity, individual RCBOs for every circuit, integrated surge protection devices (SPD) and, where required, arc-fault detection devices (AFDDs). All components are made by tier-one manufacturers (Hager, MK, Schneider) and carry manufacturer warranties of up to 10 years, giving greater safety, durability and future expansion capability.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Bristol and how long will it take?
Prices typically range between £650 and £1,500. The exact figure depends on the number of circuits, whether surge or arc-fault protection is fitted, and any earthing or bonding upgrades that may be required. The physical changeover usually takes 4–8 hours, followed by 2–3 hours of electrical testing and certification. We schedule the work to minimise outage time and coordinate with Western Power Distribution if a supply isolation is needed.
Do I need planning permission or any permits for an electrical panel upgrade?
In England you don’t need planning permission, but consumer-unit replacement is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. As NICEIC-approved contractors we self-certify the work, notify Bristol City Council Building Control on your behalf and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and building-control compliance notice, saving you paperwork and additional fees.
Will I lose power during the upgrade, and how should I prepare?
Yes. Expect a power outage of 3–6 hours while we isolate, remove, and replace the panel. We recommend shutting down computers, fridges, freezers and sensitive electronics beforehand. If you require continuous power for medical or business equipment, let us know—temporary generator or battery back-up solutions can be arranged. Once the new board is energised we will test every circuit and clean up the workspace before restoring full service.