amendment 3 metal consumer units for domestic

[thekingiam]

Just read a blog stating all cu in domestic to be fire retardent is this true and does that mean all cu to be metal

 

[urbanmonkey]

Fair enough, they lied to us all were dooooooomed....

Do you have the truth then, out of interest?

A bit miffed as to why they would get 150 sparks in a room, and then lie to them, when a couple of guys on t'internet know the whole truth.

Am i being naive?

 

[trev]

Fair enough, they lied to us all were dooooooomed....

Do you have the truth then, out of interest?

A bit miffed as to why they would get 150 sparks in a room, and then lie to them, when a couple of guys on t'internet know the whole truth.

Am i being naive?

I remember being told by a scam inspector that RFCs were going to be banned when the 17th was introduced. He assured me that this was definitely going to happen.

 

[Plonker 3]

A bit miffed as to why they would get 150 sparks in a room, and then lie to them, when a couple of guys on t'internet know the whole truth.

Got to justify the fees to you somehow.

 

[urbanmonkey]

Somebody actually raised that point tonight. I just don't get why they do it, why not just be straight with us.

 

[Plonker 3]

Because you wouldnt pay it if you knew the truth.

 

[Knobhead]

Just wish I’d remembered to go to the talk in Nottingham, I could have had a laugh.

 

[netblindpaul]

Right, for the umpteenth time, no, new CUs and switchgear do NOT need to be metal.
However, it will need to be 'fire retardent' from January 2016.
The 3rd Amendment comes into effect on July 1st 2015, but, due to manufacturers pressure, the requirement for fire retardent CUs has been put back to 2016.
It makes one wonder - if they are dangerous in 2016, why arent they dangerous now?

Anyway, there is also a new BS 61439 (iirc) coming in early next year, which will require CU plastics able to withstand (again, iirc) 950 degrees, rather than the current 650 degrees, and also be self-extinguishing.

So, all CUs will need to meet the new BS61439 early next year, which will also mean they will pass the new BS7671 fire retardent regs.

The requirements have changed since the DPC was issued.
All BEAMA members are going steel, their opinion as a trade body & their members is that only steel meets the intent of the reg.
Plastic material that meets the 960 deg glow wire test is no longer comsidered suitable by Amd3.
Yes all CU's will have to meet 61439-3 as of March next year, but the 960 deg material is not considered adequate to meet BS7671.
This was an eye opener for me when I saw it.
I had been working on 61439-3 compliance and the note 2 in the dpc which is no more.

 

[netblindpaul]

Yes!!!

i heard you then, I was there, in the audience I hasten to add.

 

[trev]

The requirements have changed since the DPC was issued.
All BEAMA members are going steel, their opinion as a trade body & their members is that only steel meets the intent of the reg.

No one seems even slightly concerned about all those plastic things that the metal box will contain or the PVC insulated and sheathed cables with are terminated in it.

 

[netblindpaul]

Please give a link to your ideas?

All correspondence from The IET has been about 'fire retardent', not 'metal'.
You read the IET forum, so know what has been said about it there.
Geoff Cronshaw has been quoted recently as saying "CU's will need to meet BS61439-3.." which will make them more fire resistant.

BEAMA have stated as a trade body, they & their members believe that only steel will meet the intent of the reg.
The 960 deg glow wire material spec has been removed from the latest version of the draft.

 

[shanky887614]

No one seems even slightly concerned about all those plastic things that the metal box will contain or the PVC insulated and sheathed cables with are terminated in it.

hmm, might go back to micc for fire alarms at this rate

 

[Plonker 3]

No one seems even slightly concerned about all those plastic things that the metal box will contain or the PVC insulated and sheathed cables with are terminated in it.

Not forgetting the material which encloses the MCB!

 

[netblindpaul]

As I said before that is total nonsense. Sure there are "some" situations where this is relevent but ALL plastic trunking or conduit - absolutely not and as for above ceilings - that is tripe.

That will depend on the fire rating of the ceiling, a suspended ceiling will require metal fixings.
A plasterboard ceiling, may require metal fixings above.

 

[Plonker 3]

hmm, might go back to micc for fire alarms at this rate

Will make the forum a intreting place if it was ever to make a mass come back, can see it now

"I have this cable which I have never seen before should I rewire the whole house?"

 

[netblindpaul]

Does that mean good bye plastic clips and ty wraps?

Yes, anywhere in an escape route, unless you have other fire resistant means of support, e.g. cables on top of steel traywork.