Amendment 3 Regarding Fireproof CU's

[Vitesse]

Seeing as you guys have been so welcoming on my previous posts!!!!

What's the score regarding CU's in unattached buildings from the main house like sheds and garages that are fed from the main house CU?

The new regs say CU's in domestic dwellings (household) have to be fireproof or in enclosures. I know it's open to interpretation but what's your thoughts? Can we still install plastic CU's in remote buildings or will it be deemed to breaking the regs from January 1st next year?

 

[richy3333]

My understanding is nothing plastic in a domestic situation.

 

[Taylortwocities]

It is very clear and not open to interpretation
The actual regulation is below.
Note that it does not say "nothing plastic" and it does not say it must be metal. It says non-combustible material.

The very first page of your lovely (well-thumbed) regulations book tells you what the regs apply to. With reference to this topic:

i) residential premises………
later in that chapter (11) it defines the word "premises" to mean the land and all facilities including buildings belonging to it.

The new reg:


421.1.201 Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall:
(i) have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material, or
(ii) be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.
NOTE 1: Ferrous metal, e.g. steel, is deemed to be an example of a non-combustible material.
NOTE 2: The implementation date for this regulation is the 1st January 2016, but does not preclude compliance with the regulation prior to that date.

 

[shanky887614]

It is very clear and not open to interpretation
The actual regulation is below.
Note that it does not say "nothing plastic" and it does not say it must be metal. It says non-combustible material.

The very first page of your lovely (well-thumbed) regulations book tells you what the regs apply to. With reference to this topic:

i) residential premises………
later in that chapter (11) it defines the word "premises" to mean the land and all facilities including buildings belonging to it.

The new reg:


421.1.201 Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall:
(i) have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material, or
(ii) be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.
NOTE 1: Ferrous metal, e.g. steel, is deemed to be an example of a non-combustible material.
NOTE 2: The implementation date for this regulation is the 1st January 2016, but does not preclude compliance with the regulation prior to that date.

to be honest we will be back to using plastic as soon as a manufacturer makes a plastic board that complies with 61439-3.

they can print a hybrid plastic/metal on a hobbyist 3d printer so i recon most manufacturers are just miliking it for what it is.

 

[andyb]

It is very clear and not open to interpretation
The actual regulation is below.
Note that it does not say "nothing plastic" and it does not say it must be metal. It says non-combustible material.

The very first page of your lovely (well-thumbed) regulations book tells you what the regs apply to. With reference to this topic:

i) residential premises………
later in that chapter (11) it defines the word "premises" to mean the land and all facilities including buildings belonging to it.

The new reg:


421.1.201 Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall:
(i) have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material, or
(ii) be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.
NOTE 1: Ferrous metal, e.g. steel, is deemed to be an example of a non-combustible material.
NOTE 2: The implementation date for this regulation is the 1st January 2016, but does not preclude compliance with the regulation prior to that date.

It's not that clear, 'i' and the note you refer to does indeed define the word premises as you say, but this is laying out the scope of the reg's and what it covers. So yes the reg's relate to residential premises and the note tells us that by premises it means the land and all buildings.
However, 421.1.201 says that 'within' domestic premises, ie all the land and building, 'Households' require consumer units to be constructed of non-combustible etc etc.
So it's 'household' that this reg applies to, my thinking is that a seperate shed or garage is not a household.
Which if correct is good because I do not want to fit metal boards in a damp shed or garage.

 

[Taylortwocities]

to be honest we will be back to using plastic as soon as a manufacturer makes a plastic board that complies with 61439-3.

Doepke say they theirs complies http://www.doepke.co.uk/catalogue/Cat-pdf/conunits.pdf

So there's the first. Mind you, I would worry about the build quality, looking at all of the copper showing in the photo:ninja:

The text says "glow wire tests". I'll bet a lot of the existing plastic CUs would pass the glow wire test, and of course, the helpful IET do not define "non-combustible"

There is an intersting article in Wiring Matters that helps a bit - not a lot!

 

[cobrauk]

Not fitted a metal consumer unit yet, but please explain how they expect the holes to be fire proof as I do not see anything placed over the holes I would have thought they would cover all holes like these flush boxes sold with it built in 2 Gang Fire Rated Dry Lining Metal Pattress Recessed Back Box - 35mm - BXFG235 - QVS Electrical Wholesale Ltd
Or do they expect us to provide the fire proof pads ?

Intumescent pads over all exit holes I would expect to be fitted in the factory wouldn't you ?

 

[ruston]

to be honest we will be back to using plastic as soon as a manufacturer makes a plastic board that complies with 61439-3.

they can print a hybrid plastic/metal on a hobbyist 3d printer so i recon most manufacturers are just miliking it for what it is.

Hager already have one sale.

 

[shanky887614]

Hager already have one sale.

a plastic one? ive only seen there metal one

 

[ruston]

a plastic one? ive only seen there metal one

Yes I bought one last week.

 

[shanky887614]

Yes I bought one last week.

have you got a link or product code? my internet is hit and miss in benidorm

 

[Risteard]

to be honest we will be back to using plastic as soon as a manufacturer makes a plastic board that complies with 61439-3.

BS EN 61439-3 has replaced BS EN 60439-3 so all will be manufactured to that Standard. That would not make them acceptable without a non-combustible cabinet though unless the DB was also non-combustible as this is additional to the Requirement for it to comply with the new harmonised Standard.

 

[ian.settle1]

have you got a link or product code? my internet is hit and miss in benidorm

You sad ba$tard being on here if your away on holiday in Spain

 

[Spoon]

You sad ba$tard being on here if your away on holiday in Spain

He has no friends.....

 

[davesparks]

Not fitted a metal consumer unit yet, but please explain how they expect the holes to be fire proof as I do not see anything placed over the holes I would have thought they would cover all holes like these flush boxes sold with it built in 2 Gang Fire Rated Dry Lining Metal Pattress Recessed Back Box - 35mm - BXFG235 - QVS Electrical Wholesale Ltd
Or do they expect us to provide the fire proof pads ?

Intumescent pads over all exit holes I would expect to be fitted in the factory wouldn't you ?

They don't expect the holes to be fire proof, they don't expect any of it to be fire proof. The regulation only states that it should be made from a non combustible material or house in a non combustible enclosure

Non combustible does not mean the same thing as fire proof