Better to be safe than sorry!

Leesparkykent said:

This made me chuckle, Last paragraph in the image. This is in contactums advertisement in mays edition of professional electrician. The scaremongering has started lol!

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Sadly, a litigious culture that believes that their 'servants' owe them perfect and 'hazard free' service means that not to recommend a 'better' or 'best' course of action could leave the 'servant' at risk of litigation. We have long since forgotten that life is risky and natural laws are 'red in tooth and claw'! No one can insulate themselves from the risks inherent in life and, in my mind, should not think that they can be indemnified from all risk by others.

thing is, you might have a perfectly good plastic board, believe the hype, along comes roy rogers electrical, fits a new metalclad board for you, looks the part, goes up like a ******* overnight

At some point it will become law to have your private dwelling inspected every 10 years, either that or your insurers will make you do it!

SteveH40 said:

thing is, you might have a perfectly good plastic board, believe the hype, along comes roy rogers electrical, fits a new metalclad board for you, looks the part, goes up like a ******* overnight

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... but S, at least it won't leave a burning pile of melted plastic on the floor! ;-D

never mind safe than sorry. i'm sorry to see the way that our once respected trade has gone to the dogs where under qualified muppets can do sub-standard installs and the axe falls on the decent sparks .

Why everyone is so upset about the metal box regulation? Its a piece of switchgear and its supposed to last for as long as needed. I take metal
over cheap flimsy plastic anytime...

amlu said:

Why everyone is so upset about the metal box regulation? Its a piece of switchgear and its supposed to last for as long as needed. I take metal
over cheap flimsy plastic anytime...

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I can see what you are saying as metal is more robust but it is the reason for the introduction of the reg that I think some have an issue with.
A correctly installed plastic consumer unit will last just as long if not longer than metal (think damp walls)if installed correctly. It is the dumbing down of the industry as a whole that it is now expected there will be loose terminations and hence a fire risk with a new CU. I have never used a torque screwdriver and I have also never had a consumer unit melt off the wall. Correct training and experience gives you a feel for correct terminations and an understanding of conductor settle. I have seen so many tails with burnt connection due to incorrect tightness. Even with a torque screwdriver that would indicate correct tightness I can guarantee a wiggle will loosen the tail.
What next ? Silicone insulated cables to cope with the heat from loose connections and metal cased circuit breakers that won't melt when the cable is incorrectly terminated.

Your right about feel, it's something that comes with experience

They haven't even proof read it - the grammar is shocking. Daz

...and another thing,if these DBs' are so likely to combust,when are the regulations going to catch up with the construction of my fire-extinguisher?

...Plastic handle and plastic spout...its' an accident waiting to happen :yes: