Alan Broom is an 18th-Edition–certified specialist in surge protection and wiring accessories and has been with electrical supplier Contactum since the summer of 2014, bringing over a decade of hands-on expertise to the industry.
Here, Alan shares his years of experience and insights as to why investing in good-quality circuit protection shouldn’t be undervalued:
Circuit protection should actually cost more
At a recent trade show, a contractor told me that MCBs were “a bit expensive.” The irony was that he was holding a large coffee from a well-known coffee chain that cost more than the MCB he was referring to. That coffee was gone in the duration of our conversation.
Circuit protection products are built to last decades, comply with stringent safety regulations, and could very well prevent a fire in the home or workplace. It got me thinking: where does the real value lie?
When we talk about circuit protection, we’re not dealing with luxury items or passing fads. We’re talking about Consumer Units, RCBOs, MCBs, and AFDDs that must meet strict requirements set out in BS EN 61439-3, BS EN 61009, BS EN 60898, IEC EN 62606, and BS 7671. These aren’t optional standards; they’re the backbone of electrical safety in the UK. Meeting them properly doesn’t happen cheaply. It demands high-grade materials, rigorous testing, quality control, and continuous development to keep up with evolving safety expectations.
Commitment and pride in standards come from years spent learning the trade from my father – often accompanying him on jobs during the weekends and school holidays. Those experiences instilled a respect for good tools, safe practice, and the importance of doing things properly – lessons just as relevant in circuit protection manufacturing as on-site installation.
Contractors understand the importance of doing a job right the first time, and it’s the same with circuit protection. Choosing products purely on price might save a few pounds upfront, but the potential cost of failure – in time, call-backs, or even safety – is far higher.
Those who work on the tools appreciate this instinctively. The name of the game is to do the job properly, safely, and with a smile on your face. It’s not about chasing the cheapest component, but selecting equipment that delivers safety and reliability.
There’s also the matter of longevity. A compliant, well-made protective device is designed to perform consistently for years, if not decades. You don’t have to recharge it every night or swap it out every 18 months. Viewed over its lifetime, the cost is not only reasonable, but also excellent value. The upfront price might look higher, but spread across years of protection, it comes out at pennies a week – less than your streaming subscription or, dare I say it, your daily caffeine fix.
So, the next time someone says circuit protection devices are too expensive, ask them how much they value reliability, reputation, and their customers’ safety compared with their morning cappuccino. One may last ten minutes; the other could last a lifetime.
I can only hope that future generations will carry that approach forward. One where quality workmanship and appreciation for properly engineered circuit protection helps ensure the industry remains professional, safe, and sustainable.
As professionals, we all have a role to play in raising standards and ensuring safety isn’t compromised for the sake of a lower price tag. Every quality installation contributes to a safer, more reliable industry – one that clients can trust and respect. By investing in proven, compliant circuit protection, you’re not only protecting the end user; you’re helping set the benchmark for what ‘good’ looks like in electrical work. It’s about more than components; it’s about craftsmanship, accountability, and pride in delivering work that stands the test of time.
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