The “brain” of your business’s electrical infrastructure. We design, upgrade, and install modern commercial distribution boards that ensure safety, compliance, and continuity.
In a commercial environment, the distribution board (often called a fuse board or panel board) is the single most critical component of your electrical system. It takes the main power supply and divides it into the circuits that run your lighting, sockets, servers, and machinery. If your board fails, your entire business stops.
At Yare Electrical, we specialise in heavy-duty switchgear and distribution board upgrades. Whether you run a small retail unit in Norwich City Centre or a large manufacturing plant in Norfolk with complex three-phase requirements, our NICEIC-approved engineers ensure your power supply is safe, balanced, and compliant with the latest BS7671 regulations.
Concerned About Your Old Fuse Board?
Is Your Distribution Board putting Your Business at Risk?
Electrical standards change constantly. A board installed 20 years ago will not meet today’s safety requirements (BS7671 Amendment 2). You may need an upgrade if:
- No RCD Protection: If your circuits don’t have Residual Current Device (RCD) protection, your staff are at risk of fatal electric shock. This is often an immediate fail on an EICR (Fixed Wire Test).
- Physical Damage or Heat: If the enclosure is cracked, or if you can smell burning plastic near the board, internal arcing is likely occurring. This requires immediate attendance from our emergency electricians.
- Obsolete Components: If your board uses rewireable ceramic fuses or brands of breakers that are no longer manufactured, finding spare parts during a power outage will be impossible, extending your downtime.
- Lack of Capacity: Modern businesses use more power. If you want to install air conditioning, new machinery, or EV chargers, your existing board may not have the “spare ways” or load capacity to handle it.
Technical Features of Modern Commercial Boards
We don’t just swap “like for like.” We upgrade your system to provide better protection and resilience. A modern Yare Electrical installation typically includes:
1. RCBO Protection (Circuit Discrimination)
In the past, one fault could trip a whole bank of circuits. We use RCBOs (Residual Current Breaker with Overload) which combine overcurrent and earth fault protection on every single circuit.
The Business Benefit: If a kettle is faulty in the staff canteen, only the canteen socket circuit will trip. The computers in the office and the LED lighting on the shop floor will remain on. This “discrimination” prevents minor faults from causing major operational disruption.
2. Surge Protection Devices (SPD)
Modern businesses rely on sensitive electronics—servers, POS systems, and automated machinery. These are highly vulnerable to “transient overvoltages” (spikes in power caused by lightning or grid switching).
We install Type 2 Surge Protection as standard in new commercial boards. This diverts excess voltage to earth, protecting your expensive hardware from being fried instantly.
3. Metering & Part L Compliance
For larger buildings, we can install Metered Distribution Boards. These allow you to monitor exactly how much energy specific areas (like HVAC or lighting) are using, helping you meet Part L of the Building Regulations and identify energy-saving opportunities.
Single Phase vs Three Phase Solutions
We tailor the equipment to your supply:
- Single Phase (SP&N): Suitable for small offices and retail units. We install robust metal-clad consumer units that are neat, compact, and tamper-proof.
- Three Phase (TP&N): For industrial units, warehouses, and large offices using 400V power. We install high-capacity boards (125A to 800A busbars) capable of handling heavy startup currents from motors and machinery. We ensure the load is perfectly balanced across the three phases to prevent supply issues.
Our Installation Process: Minimising Downtime
Replacing a distribution board requires turning off the power. We know that for a business, power off means money lost. That is why we offer a flexible installation service designed around your trading hours.
- Site Survey: We inspect your incoming supply and existing cabling. If the existing “tails” (main cables) are undersized, we will upgrade them.
- Design & Schematics: We plan the circuit chart, ensuring the right “Type” of breaker is used (e.g., Type C or D for motors that have high inrush currents).
- Out-of-Hours Installation: We can perform the swap-over during evenings or weekends. We aim to have the power back on and tested before your staff arrive the next morning.
- Certification: You will receive an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC). This is a legal document you must keep to prove to your insurance company and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) that your electrical system is compliant.
Sub-Main & Panel Board Upgrades
In larger buildings, the power doesn’t just go to one board. It feeds “Sub-Mains” which travel to different floors or outbuildings. We are experts in upgrading this backbone cabling and the large Panel Boards that control it.
If you are planning a commercial rewire or building an extension, we can calculate the cable armour sizes required to prevent “voltage drop” over long distances, ensuring your equipment at the far end of the site runs correctly.
Why Choose Yare Electrical?
We are not just electricians; we are commercial electrical engineers.
- NICEIC Approved Contractors: Our work is audited regularly to ensure the highest standards.
- Norwich Based: We serve the entire Norfolk region, from Great Yarmouth to King’s Lynn.
- Quality Brands Only: We install trusted brands like Hager, Schneider, and Eaton. We do not use cheap, unbranded imports that are prone to failure.
Get Your Electrical Infrastructure Checked
Don’t wait for a blackout to think about your switchgear. Contact Yare Electrical today on 01603 626400 for a free consultation or to book a site survey for your distribution board upgrade.