C3s putting you in harms way ??

[Lister1987]

but those live parts are not exposed/touchable when the fuse is in position. i stick with my C2.

Apologies Tel, I read it as they were. In my defence I've got a nic big dental abscess on the god

 

[old man sparky]

All these posts, and like I said, all because the bloody pubs are shut.

 

[old man sparky]

but those live parts are not exposed/touchable when the fuse is in position. i stick with my C2.

Either way it fails so has to be sorted C1 or C2. The issues only really begin if a C2 is coded C3, and thats where you can get conflicts of opinion that do effect the results of the EICR ie satisfactory or unsatisfactory or as landlords see it pass card or fail card.

 

[Soi disant]

The issues only really begin if a C2 is coded C3

And vice-versa.

 

[old man sparky]

And vice-versa.

Not really.
If a Code 2 is rated as a Code 3. Your giving a potentially dangerous situation a lesser code. A code 3 as a code 2 whilst over the top, is not a danger. That's why I feel the C2 and C3 parameters need to be conclusive rather than down to an opinion.

 

[brianmoooore]

A C2 which should be a C3 is very much a danger - to the landlord's wallet.

 

[UNG]

Plastic consumer units. Another one !
You code 3 it, or no code required.
2 years later main switch overheats, goes up in smoke, and your being asked why you didn't fail the install until the fitting of a metal c/u had been carried out.

I have never understood why or when "e.g. metal" became "must be metal" and the alternatives have been overlooked, dismissed or ignored, I wonder how many plastic CU's that are in a perfectly suitable fire rated enclosure have been miss coded. Then again how many would recognise if the cupboard the CU was located in was fire lined to a ½ or 1 hour rating
If the main switch overheats 2 years after inspection then it was probably incorrectly installed or the inspection didn't include checking the security / tightness of the terminals and putting it in a metal CU is not going to stop that problem of it overheating

Again should an EICR include some elements of a PPM as well as the inspection, test and certification

 

[Soi disant]

2 years later main switch overheats, goes up in smoke, and your being asked why you didn't fail the install until the fitting of a metal c/u had been carried out.

How about because the Wiring Regulations, and hence the law, do not mandate it?

Or because the fact that at the time you did the inspection plastic CUs could still be installed in offices, shops, schools, pubs, restaurants, care homes, indicated to you that plastic CUs did not need to be replaced as a matter of urgency?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Does the legislation say "Metal" or "Flame proof" or even "Flame retardant"? Haven't got my copy to hand.

 

[UNG]

How about because the Wiring Regulations, and hence the law, do not mandate it?

The grey area is the PRS and how it appears to mandate compliance with the 18th edition

Or because the fact that at the time you did the inspection plastic CUs could still be installed in offices, shops, schools, pubs, restaurants, care homes, indicated to you that plastic CUs did not need to be replaced as a matter of urgency?

Nothing to stop them being installed in domestic now if they are non combustible or in a fire rated enclosure

 

[i=p/u]

Too much worry not enough wiring, pull your skirts up...

 

[Dartlec]

Does the legislation say "Metal" or "Flame proof" or even "Flame retardant"? Haven't got my copy to hand.

Non-Combustible is the phrase I believe - and an example is given of steel. No idea if the BS standard for CUs says something different now, but there's no reason in principle why they couldn't find a suitable plastic or other material that was non-combustible - I just suspect it would cost more so they went with the cheapest option.

It would be handy to have a non-combustible AND non-conducting material for TT installations.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Fibreglass is non-combustable and non-conducting, but would be expensive to manufacture compared to moulding plastic and stamping out a metal CU.

 

[i=p/u]

https://electrical.------.org/wirin...ble-enclosure-requirement-for-consumer-units/

The backs of boards should be sealed on reading this, and manufactures can bring new.materials to market if they prove non combustable.
Care homes and the.like ain't part of this even tho no differnece in my eyes ..

And over all they are blaming bad workmanship, but the work could of been good for 10 years prior to fire.

 

[snowhead]

https://electrical.electriciansforu...ble-enclosure-requirement-for-consumer-units/

Care homes and the.like ain't part of this even tho no differnece in my eyes ..

The difference with care homes is they are fitted with fire alarms, fire compartments and are under the control of persons who are not asleep (or shouldn't be).