Do these internally exposed meter tails require mechanical protection?

drewzh · Jun 30, 2023

Hi,

I was hoping someone with a little more insight might be able to shed some light on a potential issue I have, as I can't seem to find another example online where this specific question that has been answered.

What you can see in the attached photograph is meter tails (single insulated + sheathed), coming in to supply an EV distribution board. It seems from research that most installations are buried with additional conduits for protection, so I'm not sure what the specific rules are around clipped-direct meter tails.

The regs are a little hazy, but should these tails, being situated in a garage workshop, in close proximity to daily tool usage and storage, have further mechanical protection, in the form of metal conduit, or is this perfectly reasonable for a new install?

Many thanks in advance,
Drew

[ElectriciansForums.net] Do these internally exposed meter tails require mechanical protection?

littlespark · Jun 30, 2023

Insulated and sheathed cables are permissible for surface clipped, but if there is possibility of damage then should be further mechanically protected.

Being a new install, did they know what the room was going to be used for or did they assume “domestic” environment?

I don’t see an image, but might not yet have downloaded for me yet on 4G

Dustydazzler · Jun 30, 2023

Would have been nice to see those tails inside a bit of black copex

drewzh · Jun 30, 2023

littlespark said:
Insulated and sheathed cables are permissible for surface clipped, but if there is possibility of damage then should be further mechanically protected.

Being a new install, did they know what the room was going to be used for or did they assume “domestic” environment?

I don’t see an image, but might not yet have downloaded for me yet on 4G

Thanks. The garage is used for DIY work - working on cars, general wood-work and laser cutting etc. I use the tool chest surface for power tools (i.e, chop saw, grinders etc).

I don't want to appear to be awkward, but it just seemed a little 'in my face' to have, barring a 100A fuse, unprotected tails in front of me all the time, just to the back of the actual surface where I do most of my small jobs.

I did raise it with the guy at the time and unfortunately, he just dismissed my concern and said "this is how we always do it - I don't even carry conduit", so it was a bit of an awkward situation and as the job was almost done, I didn't feel like I had much choice but to proceed.

Think the image not loading is on your end as I tried another (not logged in) device and it's loading fine.

I've included another image below for what it looks like usually (usually a lot more messy!).

I guess the next question would be... the best way to protect them?

Cheers

drewzh · Jun 30, 2023

Dustydazzler said:
Would have been nice to see those tails inside a bit of black copex

That was my secondary suggestion to him, but again he shrugged it off as unnecessary and the conversation died there. My thought at the time was, 'unnecessary' maybe, but 'prudent', definitely.

James · Jun 30, 2023

Do they have a BS number printed on them?
are you sure they are not single insulated?

Dustydazzler · Jun 30, 2023

drewzh said:
That was my secondary suggestion to him, but again he shrugged it off as unnecessary and the conversation died there. My thought at the time was, 'unnecessary' maybe, but 'prudent', definitely.

Trouble is not everyone has standards , to me a fivers worth of black copex would have finished the job off nice, rather than just having the singles cleated like that...

drewzh · Jun 30, 2023

James said:
Do they have a BS number printed on them?
are you sure they are not single insulated?

No obvious markings (either inside or in the meter cabinet) on any of the tails, other than what's in the following images (00462 ?)...

Does the outer diameter give any clues as to whether these are single or double (single/sheathes that is)? I do think either way, I'd have expected it to have been brought into the box either from behind or in some sort of conduit. Not just for looks, but for safety given that it's a well-used part of the house.

drewzh · Jun 30, 2023

Dustydazzler said:
Trouble is not everyone has standards , to me a fivers worth of black copex would have finished the job off nice, rather than just having the singles cleated like that...

That's what struck me initially, as I personally have pride in my own work and tend to like things to look neat - it looks a bit of a mess. I did actually use the phrase "dogs dinner", which I don't think he appreciated

littlespark · Jun 30, 2023

My end with the image… it appeared later on.

Not very often to see core colours on the outer sheath…. Usually grey with the colour on the inner insulation.

Where are these tails going? Might have been more suitable to use armoured cable, as there’s smaller armoured cables coming out.

The “00462” I think is the metre marking from where the cable was taken off a much bigger drum. You might find “00463” a metre away.

As for protection now, a simple wooden box to cover it and the other cables would be enough…. But there’s a double socket in the way.

mainline · Jun 30, 2023

It looks as though they are double insulated flexi tails, hence the colour.

Meter tails or other insulated and sheathed cables, the basic insulation over the conductor and the non-metallic sheath are deemed to comply with the requirements for both basic and fault protection in Regulation 412.2 and hence don’t need to be installed in containment (unless required for mechanical protection). What this also means is that removal of the outer sheath to enable the colour of the core to be identified outside of a wiring accessory (e.g. a meter or service block) should not be done, as the cable will have been reduced to having basic insulation only.

I would be looking at if the tails run through the fabric of the building as to whether it needs some protection.

mainline · Jun 30, 2023

drewzh said:
No obvious markings (either inside or in the meter cabinet) on any of the tails, other than what's in the following images (00462 ?)...

Does the outer diameter give any clues as to whether these are single or double (single/sheathes that is)? I do think either way, I'd have expected it to have been brought into the box either from behind or in some sort of conduit. Not just for looks, but for safety given that it's a well-used part of the house.

View attachment 109160
View attachment 109159

25 mm² flexitails are 11 mm diameter, 16 mm² standard tails are 9.1 mm in diameter. Although there is going to be some variation in those numbers due to manufactures.

ipf · Jun 30, 2023

littlespark said:
.......But there’s a double socket in the way.

Looks like it might have been fed from it..........

Oh for a little effort. It looks rubbish.

rewireIT · Jun 30, 2023

In my opinion there's nowt wrong with the job. It doesn't look rough at all despite what others may think. Sure copex woulda looked better but there's nothing wrong with the install. Regs say they have to be clipped unless they're in containment and they are.

If this was installed under the stairs nobody would bat an eye. So....imo your bench is in the wrong place!

I would simply box round them if you're scared of nicking them with something. Bit of ply or something.

mainline · Jun 30, 2023

rewireIT said:
In my opinion there's nowt wrong with the job. It doesn't look rough at all despite what others may think. Sure copex woulda looked better but there's nothing wrong with the install. Regs say they have to be clipped unless they're in containment and they are.

If this was installed under the stairs nobody would bat an eye. So....imo your bench is in the wrong place!

I would simply box round them if you're scared of nicking them with something. Bit of ply or something.

It's terrible, I would be ashamed to put my name to that.

Do these internally exposed meter tails require mechanical protection?

drewzh

littlespark

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Dustydazzler

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drewzh

drewzh

James

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Dustydazzler

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drewzh

drewzh

littlespark

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mainline

mainline

ipf

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rewireIT

mainline

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