Amendment 3

[Hawk]

Am I correct in saying that plastic consumer units can be used in commercial premises?

 

[Blademan_98]

We have used metal CU's in industrial installs for years

 

[Dave OCD]

Of course metal clad would be the necessary choice in industrial applications but if I was for example rewiring a small shop I'd most likely choose an insulated unit.

 

[snowhead]

I mean if they're concerned about plastic consumer units catching fire surely it doesn't matter what premises it's in. Seems a load of p##s to me!

Commercial premises almost always have fire detection /suppression systems.
And are generally inspected more often,
And have identified secure fire escape routes.
And more.

 

[telectrix]

Commercial premises almost always have fire detection /suppression systems.
And are generally inspected more often,
And have identified secure fire escape routes.
And more
And Electrical Trainee's tend to stick to domestic
.

corrected that for you.

 

[Blademan_98]

Indeed where I work:Every 5 years for electrics
Every 2 years by the fire service
Internally every year by me

 

[Risteard]

Why does it not apply to commercial premises?

Because the Electricity at Work Regulations requires adequate maintenance etc. would be at least a large part of the reason.

Anyway, in a commercial premises I would generally expect to see a proper (steel) TPN distribution board and not a rubbish plastic single phase domestic one.

 

[telectrix]

playing devil's advocate here..... on a EIC, there's a little box whereby one can enter departures from BS7671. ( these are departures where the safety of the installation is not compromised by such a departure). ​therefore a plastic CU, properly installed, with tight connections can be fitted and noted as a departure.

 

[Risteard]

playing devil's advocate here..... on a EIC, there's a little box whereby one can enter departures from BS7671. ( these are departures where the safety of the installation is not compromised by such a departure). ​therefore a plastic CU, properly installed, with tight connections can be fitted and noted as a departure.

You would want deep pockets to make that claim though...

 

[Leesparkykent]

playing devil's advocate here..... on a EIC, there's a little box whereby one can enter departures from BS7671. ( these are departures where the safety of the installation is not compromised by such a departure). ​therefore a plastic CU, properly installed, with tight connections can be fitted and noted as a departure.

Yes but a departure is something that doesn't strictly comply to 7671 but offers the same level of safety as compliance. Meter man comes along changes the meter, gives the tails a good tug when fitting new meter and consequently loosens the tails in the top of the main switch.... If the board then caught fire do you think a court would see that as a departure offers the same level of safety as compliance?

 

[telectrix]

haha. i'd like to think that he'd rip the CU off the wall before he loosened one of my terminations. i always give the tails a bloody good tug some 10 minutes after installing. generally find that with the settlement of the strands, a good turn or more is reqiured to achieve a tight connection. bet they don't teach that on a 5 week course.

 

[Adam W]

I always thought the reason we had these part P qualified domestic installers who are only supposed to be doing domestic work is that they can install pre-designed circuits out of the onsite guide - it's sockets and switches, and maybe a cooker switch and electric shower.

Commercial and industrial work can throw up more specialist requirements such as designing containment systems beyond chasing into bricks or fishing behind plasterboard, volt drop can be a real issue, and the installation could be used for any variety of different purposes beyond someone living there.
As such the situation may arise where it would be more practical to install a plastic enclosure; maybe there is a lot of moisture in the air - maybe salt or chlorinated water, maybe it's in an otherwise damp area or somewhere which will be subjected to water jets either during operation or for cleaning. That would be for the skilled electrician to decide on a case by case basis - it's too simplistic just to ban them in case they're installed by unskilled people.

 

[andyb]

It seems that I dozed off after a liquid lunch and woken up 12 months earlier with this thread.

 

[telectrix]

the earth goes round in circles once a year. what's special about the forum that it should deny the law of physics.?

 

[Geordie Spark]

haha. i'd like to think that he'd rip the CU off the wall before he loosened one of my terminations. i always give the tails a bloody good tug some 10 minutes after installing. generally find that with the settlement of the strands, a good turn or more is reqiured to achieve a tight connection. bet they don't teach that on a 5 week course.

I do hope you're tightening them to the Manufacturers Specification with your Torque Screwdriver! :leaving:

 

[telectrix]

I do hope you're tightening them to the Manufacturers Specification with your Torque Screwdriver! :leaving:

i have a spell problem. is torque spelt I.M.P.A.C.T?