BG consumer units

[davesparks]

What a load of cobblers,the sort of misinformation that soon gets into every day sparking folklaw then gets written up by NICEIC as THE LAW.

Having spoken to the regional manager of BG at my local wholesaler last week on an open day come & see our wares type thing; I can pass on that BG have written confirmation from IET that there is no requirement for the front flap/lid to be hinged from the top.
They have conceded that there may be a requirement for the flap lid to hold in the shut position to complete & full metal faced enclosure. As has been stated BG achieve this by having retaining catches on the flap/lid when it is pushed shut where as others rely on gravity to drop the lid/flap.

Can you post up a copy of the written confirmation from the IET

I wouldnt trust the word of a reptile on comission

 

[SJD]

I've fitted a few BG Amd3 boards, I don't particularly like the lid hinged at the bottom, but I use this one if I need the main switch on the right - mainly because it is reasonably priced (cheap). When mounted high up, it is sometimes a pain to try and see anything due to the lid being in the way, unless you get out a step ladder.

I used to use Wylex for a RH main switch, a nicer board, but their Amd-3 boards are a bit pricy for the moment.

And I use an MK one if I need the main switch on the left - which has a much nicer lid hinged at the top.

However, I have noticed some places selling "metal" consumer units that are old pre-Amd3, and forgetting to mention they don't comply from Jan-16, leaving unsuspecting customers to get caught out.

 

[NDG Elecs]

What a load of cobblers,the sort of misinformation that soon gets into every day sparking folklaw then gets written up by NICEIC as THE LAW.

Having spoken to the regional manager of BG at my local wholesaler last week on an open day come & see our wares type thing; I can pass on that BG have written confirmation from IET that there is no requirement for the front flap/lid to be hinged from the top.
They have conceded that there may be a requirement for the flap lid to hold in the shut position to complete & full metal faced enclosure. As has been stated BG achieve this by having retaining catches on the flap/lid when it is pushed shut where as others rely on gravity to drop the lid/flap.

Yep I agree, cobblers it is in the sense there is no regulatory requirement. It comes under good practice in my view. Having thought about it where i heard it from was either general guidance from either NAPIT or one of the manufacturers (when Amd3 first came about).

Regarding the bit you say about the BG saying there may be a requirement is wrong though. In my view there is definately a requirement for the lid to hold in a shut position, otherwise the fire containment is not maintained. Wiring Matters article on this states the enclosure must form a complete envelope.

One reason I am not so keen on the bottom hinged BG CU, which I have only just become aware of, is Joe public could have a loose neutral tail causing RCD to trip. They may leave the flap down if the tripping is problematic for a few days before getting round to calling a spark. In the interim if a fire arose then the remaining steel enclosure is not much better than a chocolate teapot!

Having said all that, and despite my preference for steel CUs, I do not think insulated CUs should be effectively (for all intents and purposes) banned from domestic use.

 

[not clever]

Can you post up a copy of the written confirmation from the IET

I wouldnt trust the word of a reptile on comission

I shall get the Eyre & Elliston manager to chase up the BG fella to email a copy & by all means Ishall post it up.

 

[telectrix]

One reason I am not so keen on the bottom hinged BG CU, which I have only just become aware of, is Joe public could have a loose neutral tail causing RCD to trip. They may leave the flap down if the tripping is problematic for a few days before getting round to calling a spark. In the interim if a fire arose then the remaining steel enclosure is not much better than a chocolate teapot!

and a cow could fly past the window and fart the lid open.

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch | Domestic Consumer Units | NoLinkingToThis

it didnt have stock clearce when i brought it lol
metal back same plastic front

 

[Andy78]

What about a side hinged door ?

 

[gottahugenoggin]

20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch | Domestic Consumer Units | NoLinkingToThis

it didnt have stock clearce when i brought it lol
metal back same plastic front

At least they note it doesn't comply with amendment 3 in the spec's......I wonder if all the large retailers (one in particular) will bother?
" Please note that this Metal Consumer Unit is not compliant to Amendment 3 -2015 of the IET Wiring Regulations"

 

[SJD]

Screwfix do seem now to be clearing out the non-Amd3 boards, sometimes at good prices for the internals.

For example, a few weeks ago, I bought a BG "12-Way Split Load Consumer Unit 80A RCD & 100A Switch" discounted down to £12. The housing itself is ----ed away, but the 80A RCD would have cost me £19 had I bought it on it's own.

 

[PEG]

Yep,they are wearing out the hinges on my letter-box,sending word of all these "bargains"...

I use them sparingly,since a batch of faulty LAP switched fused neon plates,which only functioned when bent or deformed...lad on the counter said "What are you telling me for? ...email someone who cares..."

...I even brought an AVO in,to the counter,to demonstrate the issue...might as well have been showing an I-pod to a seagull :icon9:

 

[NDG Elecs]

and a cow could fly past the window and fart the lid open.

Now that I would like to see Tel!

And here's me thinking loose connections can cause fires!

 

[NDG Elecs]

What about a side hinged door ?

Or double doors with posh shiny handles!

 

[Richard Burns]

Mini roller shutter would be cool:Mr-T:

 

[NDG Elecs]

Mini roller shutter would be cool:Mr-T:

With a battery backed-up electric shutter! Bugger the powers gone off......now where's my remote control for that shutter....!

 

[richy3333]

It's somewhat disheartening to see so many references to cost/price as the lowest common denominator over CU choice. There should be no need to buy materials at sheds. If you can't get good deals at the wholesalers you're not screwing them down on price hard enough.

 

[Midwest]

BG 10-Way Dual RCD Metal Consumer Unit & 10 MCBs | Domestic Consumer Units | NoLinkingToThis

I'll go to the foot of or stairs......must admit didn't check that one out on the BG site, thought it was plastic cos' of the bottom hinged flap. Looks like they've copied the Hager design, but the other way up!

Think Beama have updated (well June 2015) their 'spin' on A3 CU's with this pdf;

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...pAbRL3dcAKq9ivQ6Ev5oyA&bvm=bv.108538919,d.ZWU

No mention of top mounted hinges, and their interpretation of 'similar switchgear assemblies'

 

[Midwest]

Except for the BG one in the link that is! I am starting to wander where I read the flap bit now...I know I didn't make it up!

With you on that, but now it seems that was the manufacturers 'spin' on the reg; MK 'with a top hinged door that prevents the door being left open after use, which could lead to a possible fire risk'.Crabtree 'Self closing, stay shut door'. Hager 'Unlatched to ensure the door is always left in the closed position maintaining the non-combustible integrity of the unit'.

Have BG become unhinged.

 

[Andy78]

I was in the wholesalers asking about hager AMD3 and saw a pile of BG metal consumer units.
"We got them in to try but they are all gonna have to go back"
"Why ?" I asked.
"The lids flap down and someone said that's not compliant"
"Who did ?"
"A customer I think"
"Yeah I heard that too" piped up another customer
"From who ?" I asked the customer
"Dunno but someone said"

Amazing how hearsay is taken as fact so easily.

 

[Spoon]

Maybe we could have a "myth busting" section on this forum.

 

[Andy78]

Maybe we could have a "myth busting" section on this forum.

In my experience that's already the whole blimmin forum !

 

[Midwest]

Half the manufacturers and bodies are responsible for perpetuating the myths themselves. Think that's why the reg was given 6 months, so that they can get their facts right.

 

[Midwest]

Just spotted this download on Wylex website;

http://www.electrium.co.uk/media/20151123152849_0_Wylex NMFS Inturnescent.pdf

Now I remember Hager exhibiting one of their 3A CU's (Elex Show, Harrogate 15), which had be subjected to a glow wire test; 'As you can see, no flames came out of the board, and no scorching to the cables (entering the CU)'. Just standard metal 3A CU, with no sealing around cable entries.

Fire retardant membrane cable entries, even non combustible metal blanks. Nice little earner Wylex :banghead:

 

[PEG]

...I know that there are many salesmen,i have had to listen to,that i would like to subject to a glow wire test...

...just to see if THEY,can remain compliant :thinking:

 

[Dave OCD]

Screwfix do seem now to be clearing out the non-Amd3 boards, sometimes at good prices for the internals.

For example, a few weeks ago, I bought a BG "12-Way Split Load Consumer Unit 80A RCD & 100A Switch" discounted down to £12. The housing itself is ----ed away, but the 80A RCD would have cost me £19 had I bought it on it's own.

Same here, I bought 2. :biggrin: