Understanding the Risks and What You Can Do to Protect Your Home Your switchboard is the electrical control centre of your home — and it’s often out of sight, out of mind. But if it's outdated or overloaded, it could be putting your family and property at risk. At Make Safe Oz, we’ve seen how a neglected switchboard can become the ignition point for electrical fires, particularly after storms, water damage, or DIY wiring disasters. This blog helps you understand how to spot the warning signs, what a compliant switchboard should look like, and how our team handles urgent repairs safely and quickly. Why Switchboards Matter Your switchboard is where all the electrical circuits in your property are controlled and protected. It distributes power to lighting, appliances, heating and cooling — and if something goes wrong, it’s the switchboard that’s supposed to trip the circuit. Modern switchboards include: RCD safety switches that trip the circuit during a fault Circuit breakers (instead of old-style ceramic fuses) Proper earthing and labelled circuits Safe, fire-resistant enclosures Older switchboards may lack all of the above. That’s where risk increases. Signs Your Switchboard May Be a Fire Risk Not sure if your switchboard is safe? Here are some red flags: 1. Ceramic Fuses Still using old-style rewireable fuses? These don’t trip as quickly as modern circuit breakers and can lead to overheating. 2. No RCD Protection Every power and lighting circuit should have a safety switch (RCD). If not, you’re exposed to serious shock and fire risk. 3. Burn Marks or Smell Brown marks, melted plastic, or a smoky smell from the board are signs of overheating. This is urgent. 4. Flickering Lights or Tripping Circuits Frequent outages or flickers could indicate overloaded or failing circuits. Your switchboard might be struggling to handle the load. 5. Water Damage After floods or leaks, switchboards often need full replacement — moisture inside is a serious fire and shock risk. 6. DIY or Unlicensed Wiring Messy wiring, unsecured breakers, or no circuit labels often mean unlicensed work — and danger. What a Compliant Switchboard Looks Like A compliant switchboard under current Australian standards includes: Safety switches (RCDs) on all final subcircuits Clearly labelled breakers Neatly arranged cabling Insulated, fire-retardant backing Modern casing with no visible rust or wear It’s not just about function — it’s about safety. The switchboard protects you from fire, electrical shock, and appliance damage. When to Call Make Safe Oz If you’re ever unsure about your switchboard — especially after a storm, fire, or power surge — don’t wait. Our in-house team of licensed electricians responds 24/7 to electrical make safe jobs. We can inspect your board, isolate the danger, and repair or replace the system safely and to code. We handle: Emergency switchboard isolations Water and fire-damaged replacements Full rewiring and safety switch upgrades Insurance reporting and compliance certificates We don’t use subcontractors. Our licensed sparkies arrive with the right gear, assess the risk on the spot, and communicate clearly with insurers to fast-track your claim. Final Word: Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs If you’ve been putting off switchboard upgrades or inspections, now is the time to act. Many fires we respond to started because of outdated or faulty switchboards — and most were preventable.