Building regs for consumer unit

[Olijay2017]

We are buying a newbuild property and due to the regulations, we are told the consumer unit needs to go in the dining room (as boxes are on the external wall in that location).

As the room will be painted dark grey we want to hide the box inside a cabinet by removing the back from the cabinet and pushing it against the wall. The door of the cabinet will then give access to the consumer unit.

For this to work, we need the consumer unit to be 500mm from the floor in the dining room. We are being told that regs state the minimum is 1.4m.

Is this correct or are we being misled?

 

[telectrix]

recommended height is indeed approx. 1400mm, however, if you are buying a new build house, get the builders to put it somewhere else, cost is minimal compared to the cost of the house.

 

[Olijay2017]

recommended height is indeed approx. 1400mm, however, if you are buying a new build house, get the builders to put it somewhere else, cost is minimal compared to the cost of the house.

Thanks for the quick reply. We are being told that the external box MUST be in the specific place it is on the M&E plan and that the internal consumer unit needs to be very close to that. Am I right in thinking the meter box has to be placed in a specific location that is out of the builders hands?

 

[Midwest]

Or try one of these;

View attachment 35910

Apparently, you can get them in any colour, print, or photo you want

Hager Design 50; Design 50 - http://www.hager.co.uk/product-catalogue/energy-distribution/consumer-units/design-range-of-consumer-units/design-50/67847.htm

 

[telectrix]

meter box is generally sited according to your DNO's requirements as they are responsible for getting the supply to it. however, the Consumer Unit can be almost anywhere in the house though additional fused isolator may be required. ( downstairs toilet is a favorite location with many builders).

 

[Midwest]

Thanks for the quick reply. We are being told that the external box MUST be in the specific place it is on the M&E plan and that the internal consumer unit needs to be very close to that. Am I right in thinking the meter box has to be placed in a specific location that is out of the builders hands?

Having a consumer unit (CU) located some distance from the external meter box, is not unachievable, just needs a few extra things to be installed. Its better to have a CU fitted where it can easily be accessed for maintenance and resetting 'fuses' etc, than where its more convenient for your builder.

 

[Olijay2017]

meter box is generally sited according to your DNO's requirements as they are responsible for getting the supply to it. however, the Consumer Unit can be almost anywhere in the house though additional fused isolator may be required. ( downstairs toilet is a favorite location with many builders).

We are being told that according to new regs, a fused isolator cannot be used?

 

[Midwest]

New one on me?

http://www.electrium.co.uk/media/20151123152755_0_Wylex Domestic Switch Fuse Unit.pdf

 

[telectrix]

We are being told that according to new regs, a fused isolator cannot be used?

not heard that myself, but i don't have the latest edition, being semi retired.

 

[westward10]

We are being told that according to new regs, a fused isolator cannot be used?

Which new Regs.

 

[Olijay2017]

Which new Regs.

They said a fused isolator will not solve our problem as this will need to go in place of the consumer unit and will still be an ugly box on the wall and still needs to be set 1.4m high.

 

[Midwest]

We are being told that according to new regs, a fused isolator cannot be used?

To locate a CU some distance from the meter box DNO's may require a switch fuse (i.e. most DNO's would require one over distances of 3 metres). The example I gave in #8, would conform to the 'new' regulation in amendment 3 BS7671 (reg 421.1.201, within domestic households, consumer units or similar switchgear). The DNO's may not like such a large device in 'their' meter box. However, there is some dispute that such devices installed in an external wall meter box, does actually require to be A3 compliant.

 

[Midwest]

They said a fused isolator will not solve our problem as this will need to go in place of the consumer unit and will still be an ugly box on the wall and still needs to be set 1.4m high.

A switch fuse could be located in the meter box, with the DNO's permission/agreement.

 

[Midwest]

New one on me?

http://www.electrium.co.uk/media/20151123152755_0_Wylex Domestic Switch Fuse Unit.pdf

Or one of these, if its consider it has to be A3 compliant;

Excel 80A Fused Double Pole Main Switch | QVS Electrical Wholesalers - http://www.qvsdirect.com/excel-80a-fused-double-pole-main-switch?utm_source=google&utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_campaign=googlebase&gclid=CJ2QjvjW4NICFYoQ0wodCa4OQA

 

[Olijay2017]

A switch fuse could be located in the meter box, with the DNO's permission/agreement.

Oh really? I am starting to feel like the builder is just fobbing us off then. So we could potentially have a switched fuse in the meter box along with the meter that would allow us to take the consumer unit to anywhere in the house as long as it is downstairs? Thanks a lot for your advice on this one by the way.