Fuse board change with rear entry mounted on wood

Gringoking88 · Feb 4, 2018

Hi all,

I'm looking to change my board at home and wanted some advice on the most practical way for cable entry please.

I was thinking to do rear cable entry, through the rear knockout but wanted to know if this is acceptable as it is mounted on wood. This would seem a lot more practical and neater than having loads of glands along the top. Or doing what it is has now which is just a load of nockouts.

Let me know your thoughts please.

M

View attachment IMG_20180204_133155.jpg

Strima · Feb 4, 2018

Employ a local electrician to do it for you. The installation will be tested and correctly certified and building control notified if in England or Wales.

Midwest · Feb 4, 2018

Strima said:
Employ a local electrician to do it for you. The installation will be tested and correctly certified and building control notified if in England or Wales.

The OP's profile suggests he/she is a trainee electrician.

Midwest · Feb 4, 2018

Wylex & Hager manufacture spacer units for their respective CU's to facilitate rear cable entry.

Gringoking88 · Feb 4, 2018

Thanks all for you replies.

I am registered with NICEIC as a domestic installer. I just don't do very much work tbh as its not my full time job. I mainly became registered as it was cheaper to get registered and do the necessary qualifications than employ someone to do work in my house I also enjoy practice things greatly . Hence the question to utilise some of your knowledge please .

Many thanks,

M

Gringoking88 · Feb 4, 2018

Midwest said:
Wylex & Hager manufacture spacer units for their respective CU's to facilitate rear cable entry.

I was thinking of doing a cut out and feeding the cables from behind, the boards as this is a void.

ipf · Feb 4, 2018

I mount consumer units on ply wood, stood off on two vertical battens, cut a slot in the back and then cut a smaller slot in the timber...no need to grommet and everything rear entry....never had the slightest problems, even with NIC inspectors regarding tails.

Gringoking88 · Feb 4, 2018

ipf said:
I mount consumer units on ply wood, stood off on two vertical battens, cut a slot in the back and then cut a smaller slot in the timber...no need to grommet and everything rear entry....never had the slightest problems, even with NIC inspectors regarding tails.

Brilliant. That answers the question, many thanks.

Spud28 · Feb 4, 2018

Good question, I don't do alot of domestic but actually have one to do next week. I thought that the metal consumer units were meant to assist containment of heat. Is cutting a slot in the board breaching the containment capacity? Interested in this as was planning to drill, grommet and intumescent seal any holes?

Gavin John Hyde · Feb 4, 2018

I showed a CU change on my last assessment, it was forward from the wall on a board the gap behind (approx 2 inches)was closed off on the bottom with a strip of timber and the top of the small void behind was upto ceiling height. When you think about it, it is no different to a stud wall. I used intumescent sealant around the joins and where the CU met the sheet board. No questions were raised by the assessor. I had the tails coming in from underneath with a gland. everything else came in via the back.

Have a read of this Q & A of the Day - Is mounting consumer units on MDF board a fire risk? - https://www.voltimum.co.uk/articles/q-day-mounting-consumer-units-mdf

PEG · Feb 4, 2018

Gringoking88 said:
Hi all,

I'm looking to change my board at home and wanted some advice on the most practical way for cable entry please.

I was thinking to do rear cable entry, through the rear knockout but wanted to know if this is acceptable as it is mounted on wood. This would seem a lot more practical and neater than having loads of glands along the top. Or doing what it is has now which is just a load of nockouts.

Let me know your thoughts please.

M

View attachment 40630

Hi,What is the reason for changing this board? It looks like it has not been in long...or its had a valet

Midwest · Feb 4, 2018

I heard differing reasons for introduction of A3 CU's. Firstly it was to try & contain any fire, then it changed to removing any additional source of fuel for a fire. Wish they'd make up their mind.

None of the guidance however, suggests any cable entry holes should anything other than the applicable IP rating as prescribed in BS7671. If you think about, there's a big flappy thing on the front, that's unlikely to contain any fire.

Amp David · Feb 4, 2018

PEG said:
Hi,What is the reason for changing this board? It looks like it has not been in long...or its had a valet

Why not just upgrade the non protected circuits

telectrix · Feb 4, 2018

Gringoking88 said:
Hi all,

I'm looking to change my board at home and wanted some advice on the most practical way for cable entry please.

I was thinking to do rear cable entry, through the rear knockout but wanted to know if this is acceptable as it is mounted on wood. This would seem a lot more practical and neater than having loads of glands along the top. Or doing what it is has now which is just a load of nockouts.

Let me know your thoughts please.

M

View attachment 40630

i would keep that CU. change some of the MCBs on the right hand side to RCBOs ( or fit a second RCD) wherever required to bring it up to 17th ed. and tidy up that cabling. looks like it's been through a blender.

The Ghost · Feb 4, 2018

I think looking at the location, if I were to change the board I would certainly change the location. That looks damned difficult for any kind of work where it is. As to back entry, I do worry as the CU most have a gigantic square knockout which in my view could defeat the fire containment effectiveness of the CU if not done in the right way.

Fuse board change with rear entry mounted on wood

Gringoking88

-

Strima

-

Midwest

-

Midwest

-

Gringoking88

-

Gringoking88

-

ipf

-

Gringoking88

-

Spud28

-

Gavin John Hyde

-

PEG

-

Midwest

-

Amp David

-

telectrix

-

The Ghost

News and Offers from Sponsors

Similar threads

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

YOUR Unread Posts