Apartment Wiring Replacement: A Complete Guide from Electricians
Old aluminum wiring is a ticking time bomb in your apartment. Over 30–40 years, insulation dries out and cracks, aluminum connections oxidize and loosen, and the load on the network has increased 3–5 times compared to Soviet standards (air conditioners, boilers, electric stoves, charging stations). The result is overheating, short circuits, fire. This article provides a complete practical guide to wiring replacement from the SDS team.
When Wiring Replacement is Mandatory
There are clear signs that the wiring needs to be replaced immediately:
- Aluminum wiring — in buildings built before 1990. Aluminum has a limited service life (20–25 years), oxidizes at connection points, and is brittle — it breaks when bent. According to modern standards (ПУЕ), only copper wiring is allowed for apartments.
- Frequent tripping of circuit breakers — they switch off without apparent reason or when powerful appliances are connected.
- Heating of sockets, plugs, switches — a sign of poor contact or insufficient cable cross-section.
- Smell of burning plastic — a critical sign of insulation overheating.
- Sparking in sockets or switches.
- Major renovation — if you are doing a "down to the studs" renovation, wiring replacement is mandatory.
- Increased power consumption — installation of an electric stove, boiler, air conditioner, underfloor heating, EV charging station.
Which Cables and Materials to Use
Cable — Only VVGng-LS
For fixed wiring in an apartment, only VVGng-LS (or NYM) cable is used — copper, with double PVC insulation, non-combustible (нг — non-flame propagating), with low smoke emission (LS — Low Smoke). This is a requirement of ПУЕ and ДСТУ standards.
It is forbidden to use for fixed installation: ShVVP (cord — only for connecting appliances), PVS (flexible cord — only for extension cords), aluminum cable AVVG, cable without "нг" marking.
| Consumer Group | Cable Cross-Section | Circuit Breaker |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | VVGng-LS 3×1.5 mm² | 10A, characteristic B |
| Sockets (general) | VVGng-LS 3×2.5 mm² | 16A, characteristic B or C |
| Air conditioner / boiler | VVGng-LS 3×4 mm² | 20A or 25A |
| Electric stove | VVGng-LS 3×6 mm² | 32A |
| EV Charging Station | VVGng-LS 3×6 or 5×6 mm² | 32A |
| Input cable (from meter to panel) | VVGng-LS 3×10 mm² | Input circuit breaker 40–50A |
Electrical Panel and Automation — The Heart of Safety
A modern apartment electrical panel must contain:
- Input circuit breaker (40–50A) — general apartment disconnection
- RCD / RCCB (residual current device) — protection against electric shock, 30 mA for socket groups, 10 mA for bathrooms
- Automatic circuit breakers for each group (lighting, room sockets, kitchen, boiler, air conditioner, etc.)
- SPD / SPD (Type II) — protection against impulse overvoltages (lightning, voltage surges)
- Voltage relay — protection against emergency high or low voltage (critical for apartment buildings with problematic networks)
Recommended automation brands:
- Premium: Legrand (DX³, TX³ series), Schneider Electric (Acti9 iC60N series), ABB (S200 series), Hager (MBN/MCN series)
- Mid-range: Eaton (PL6/PL7), ETI, General Electric
- Budget (with limitations): NOARK, IEK — acceptable for lighting, not recommended for critical lines
Recommended socket and switch brands:
- Premium: Legrand (Valena Life/Allure), Schneider Electric (Sedna Design, Unica New), Gira, Jung, Berker
- Mid-range: Legrand (Etika), Schneider (Asfora/Sedna), Hager (Lumina), ABB (Zena/Basic55)
- Budget: Viko (Karre), Makel, Lezard — acceptable for rental and budget renovations
Stages of Wiring Replacement
1. Design and Scheme
Before starting work, a plan for the location of sockets, switches, and lighting is drawn up, taking into account furniture and appliances. The number of circuit breaker groups, cable cross-sections, and the location for the electrical panel are determined. For an apartment of 60–80 m², 8–14 circuit breaker groups are typical.
2. Dismantling Old Wiring
De-energizing the apartment, dismantling old sockets, switches, junction boxes, and the old electrical panel. Old wiring in chases usually remains (it does not need to be removed if it does not interfere).
3. Wall Chasing
Cutting chases (channels in walls) for new cables. Chase depth — 20–25 mm for one cable, 30–40 mm for two. Chasing load-bearing walls (panel buildings) requires caution — horizontal chases longer than 3 m are prohibited, vertical ones are allowed.
4. Cable Laying
Cables are laid in chases or in corrugated pipes (PVC corrugated pipe). Corrugated pipe is mandatory: in plasterboard ceilings, in floors under screed, in wooden structures. Each group — a separate cable from the electrical panel to the consumers (without splices along the route!).
5. Installation of Socket Boxes and Electrical Panel
Installation of flush-mounted boxes (68 mm, plaster or concrete), mounting box for the electrical panel (surface-mounted or flush-mounted). The electrical panel is chosen with a minimum 30% reserve in the number of modules.
6. Electrical Panel Wiring and Connection
Connection of all cables to circuit breakers and RCDs in the electrical panel. Marking of each line. Connection of sockets, switches, light fixtures. Wire connections — only using Wago terminal blocks, sleeves, or crimping. Twisted connections are prohibited by PUE standards.
7. Testing and Commissioning
Insulation resistance check with a megohmmeter, RCD trip testing, phase/neutral/ground check in each socket. Preparation of the as-built electrical panel diagram. Handover to the customer.
Typical Mistakes When Replacing Wiring
- ShVVp or PVS cable instead of VVGng — these cords are not designed for fixed installation; their insulation cannot withstand prolonged loads
- Twisted connections instead of terminal blocks — twisted connections oxidize, heat up, and are the main cause of fires
- 25A circuit breaker for 2.5 mm² cable — a 2.5 mm² cable can withstand a maximum of a 16A circuit breaker. A 25A circuit breaker will "fry" the cable before the protection trips
- Absence of RCD — a 30 mA RCD for socket groups is mandatory. Without it, electric shock in the bathroom can be fatal
- One group for the entire apartment — if the circuit breaker trips, everything is de-energized. Minimum: separate groups for each room, kitchen, bathroom, lighting
- Aluminum + copper without an adapter — direct connection of aluminum with copper creates a galvanic pair that corrodes and heats up. Only via Wago terminal blocks or bolted connection with a washer
Cost of Wiring Replacement in Kyiv (2026)
| Apartment | Cost (works + materials) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| 1-room (35–45 m²) | from 25 000–40 000 UAH | 6–8 groups, electrical panel, 15–20 points |
| 2-room (50–70 m²) | from 35 000–55 000 UAH | 10–14 groups, electrical panel, 25–35 points |
| 3-room (70–100 m²) | from 50 000–80 000 UAH | 14–18 groups, electrical panel, 35–50 points |
The price depends on: the number of points (sockets + switches), the complexity of chasing (concrete is more expensive than brick), the brand of automation and fittings, the need to replace the incoming cable.
FAQ
When is wiring replacement needed?
Aluminum in houses built before 1990, frequent circuit breaker trips, heating of sockets, burning smell, major renovation, increased power.
Which cable?
Only VVGng-LS: lighting — 1.5 mm², sockets — 2.5 mm², air conditioner — 4 mm², stove — 6 mm². Prohibited: ShVVp, PVS, aluminum.
How much does it cost?
1-room — from 25 000 UAH, 2-room — from 35 000 UAH, 3-room — from 50 000 UAH. Contact SDS for an accurate calculation.
Conclusion
Wiring replacement is an investment in your family's safety for 30+ years. Do not save on cable (only VVGng-LS), automation (Legrand, Schneider, ABB), and installation quality. A properly designed electrical panel with RCDs, voltage relays, and SPDs will protect against electric shock, fire, and voltage surges.
SDS performs turnkey electrical wiring replacement in Kyiv and the region. From design to project handover with a warranty of up to 3 years. Contact us for a free estimate.