Image showing effects of consumer unit fire!

Gavin John Hyde · Jun 10, 2018

This popper up on my twitter feed tonight, shows a house gutted in Greater London from fire due to a consumer unit fire.... Make sure you double check your terminations and installs and it can almost always be avoided if you do things properly.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Image showing effects of consumer unit fire!

Dillb · Jun 10, 2018

Fire brigades are noturious for blaming fires on electrical faults, without actually pinpointing exactly what it was so probalbly woryh taki g this with a pinch of salt.

As for telling us to double check tightness I would like to think that people do that as a second nature without actually having to think about it.

Adam W · Jun 10, 2018

Have you ever noticed how whenever there is a fire anywhere the fire brigade are always hanging around nearby?
Just saying...

Gavin John Hyde · Jun 10, 2018

Adam W said:
Have you ever noticed how whenever there is a fire anywhere the fire brigade are always hanging around nearby?
Just saying...

They always get into fights with them..they cant help it.

Gavin John Hyde · Jun 10, 2018

Dillb said:
Fire brigades are noturious for blaming fires on electrical faults, without actually pinpointing exactly what it was so probalbly woryh taki g this with a pinch of salt.

As for telling us to double check tightness I would like to think that people do that as a second nature without actually having to think about it.

I would like to think its 2nd nature too. See far too many loose wires though.

123 · Jun 11, 2018

I see far too many loose wires, and connections. Seen many a faceplate connections burnt out, and many MCB's, RCD's, Fuses etc burnt out. Never seen a house burnt down due to them though, or anything close.

elsparko · Jun 11, 2018

Dillb said:
Fire brigades are noturious for blaming fires on electrical faults, without actually pinpointing exactly what it was so probalbly woryh taki g this with a pinch of salt.

As for telling us to double check tightness I would like to think that people do that as a second nature without actually having to think about it.

not true, i was doing an eicr on a very new property that was about to be leased out, cooker mcb had about 15mm of copper showing above terminal, switched it off and gave it a little pull and out it came

only decent sparkies check their connections are tight

123 · Jun 11, 2018

elsparko said:
not true, i was doing an eicr on a very new property that was about to be leased out, cooker mcb had about 15mm of copper showing above terminal, switched it off and gave it a little pull and out it came

only decent sparkies check their connections are tight

You are an apprentice, why the hell are you doing an EICR???

elsparko · Jun 11, 2018

123 said:
You are an apprentice, why the hell are you doing an EICR???

because im very good.

cliffed · Jun 11, 2018

Well said

Pete999 · Jun 11, 2018

Dillb said:
Fire brigades are noturious for blaming fires on electrical faults, without actually pinpointing exactly what it was so probalbly woryh taki g this with a pinch of salt.

As for telling us to double check tightness I would like to think that people do that as a second nature without actually having to think about it.

Agree Dillb, we all used to check, but today? who knows what or who is doing electrical work?

Dillb · Jun 11, 2018

Pete999 said:
Agree Dillb, we all used to check, but today? who knows what or who is doing electrical work?

But hey a fire rated enclosure or DB will help solve the problem wont it

Midwest · Jun 11, 2018

Over the course of a working lifetime, connecting & double checking thousands, possibly millions of terminations, do you not think you might just leave the odd one or two loose?

We are all human, prone to make mistakes.

Pete999 · Jun 11, 2018

Dillb said:
But hey a fire rated enclosure or DB will help solve the problem wont it

Now you are taking the proverbial? best way would be to improve training.
Because in my opinion, poor training and Plastic Electricians are the main cause of consumers unit fires. Seems that the main thing these days is to make the install of CUs look pretty, cable tie all the conductors together, take pictures and post them on line, hoping they will get brownie points, rather than, ensuring the connections etc are done properly.
Saying that, doesn't mean it should look carp, but safety is the best option, By the way, good morning, have a good day.

littlespark · Jun 11, 2018

I did a board change a couple months ago - everything hunky dory.
Got a call back to same house last week, asked the guy what was wrong. He said the shower wasn't working. I asked what actually was happening with the shower?
"Some smoke" was the reply.

A "friend of the family" had changed the guys shower since my board change.
Cover off, the neutral was black instead of blue.... crispy and brittle insulation. A little tug and it just falls out the terminal block. Same with the c.p.c.
Pulled spare cable out the wall, new bit of block, reterminated, tested and everything good again.

Sorry, no photos. But it shows you how easy a loose termination can start overheating, and may, in the right circumstances, cause a serious fire.

Image showing effects of consumer unit fire!

Gavin John Hyde

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Dillb

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Adam W

Gavin John Hyde

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Gavin John Hyde

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123

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elsparko

123

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elsparko

cliffed

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Pete999

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Dillb

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Midwest

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Pete999

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littlespark

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