Why is my electrical fire risk assessment showing high risk?

What Does a High-Risk Electrical Fire Assessment Mean for You? Receiving a high-risk rating on an electrical fire risk assessment can be alarming, but understanding what triggered it will help you act quickly and safely. What It Usually Means A high-risk result indicates that one or more serious issues have been identified in your home's electrical installation. This doesn't necessarily mean a fire is imminent, but it does mean the risk is significantly elevated and must be addressed urgently. Common Reasons for a High-Risk Rating Ageing wiring — older rubber-insulated or lead-sheathed cables that have become brittle and prone to cracking No RCD protection — residual current devices dramatically reduce fire and electrocution risk; older consumer units may lack them Overloaded circuits — too many appliances on one circuit, causing cables to overheat Damaged or badly installed accessories — cracked sockets, loose connections, or DIY wiring that doesn't meet current standards No earthing or poor earthing — prevents fault currents from being safely discharged Outdated consumer unit (fuse board) — old rewirable fuse boxes offer far less protection than modern RCD-protected consumer units Unprotected wiring routes — cables routed through walls without conduit or at unsafe depths What You Can Safely Check Yourself Look for scorch marks, discolouration, or burning smells around sockets and switches Check whether your consumer unit has RCDs (switches with a Test button) Note if any sockets feel warm to the touch — this is a warning sign Avoid using extension leads as permanent wiring solutions What You Should NOT Do Do not attempt to investigate behind faceplates or inside your consumer unit yourself Do not ignore the rating and carry on as normal Do not use any electrical equipment that has been flagged as faulty When to Call an Electrician You should contact a Part P registered electrician immediately. Ask them to carry out a full EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). If any items were coded C1 (danger present), treat this as urgent — within 24 hours if possible. C2 codes (potentially dangerous) should be rectified within 28 days. An EICR will give you a clear, legally recognised assessment of your installation's condition.