accessibility to electricity meters and cut out fuses

roukel01 · Oct 5, 2012

A factory wants to install machinary which will completely block access to the main cut out fuses and meters
I know BS7671 covers accessibility, however I just wondered if there were any other regs out there that this would violate.

Thanks

lauriehurman · Oct 5, 2012

According to "electrician's guide to the building regs";
Electricity at work regulations 1989, regulation 4(2) prescribes the need for maintenance - and thus access.

plugsandsparks · Oct 5, 2012

As this is DNO equipment , dont have their conditions to hand, but i suspect there would be something in their regs that state the meters and fuses have to be accessible. After all how will they read the meter, change the meter or service the fuses?

NEZ2490 · Oct 5, 2012

I'm sure the meter reader will be happy. If he ever turns up that is ?

chrish_1977 · Oct 5, 2012

I had to quote for an extension once where the existing cut out and fuse board where 8ft up the wall in the garage, when I asked what happens when anything trips, the owner showed me his resetting tool (a walking stick), I found in the EAWR that it has to be accessible and safely too, needless to say he told me I didn't know what I was talking about. So priced myself out if it and walked away

NEZ2490 · Oct 5, 2012

chrish_1977 said:
I had to quote for an extension once where the existing cut out and fuse board where 8ft up the wall in the garage, when I asked what happens when anything trips, the owner showed me his resetting tool (a walking stick), I found in the EAWR that it has to be accessible and safely too, needless to say he told me I didn't know what I was talking about. So priced myself out if it and walked away

Came across an installation the other day doing an EICR and the CU was completely blocked from opening by a joist installed to carry a garage door runner ?