changing consumer unit from plastic one to metal

[Piotr1000]

THIS IS FOR ELECTRICAL NEWS ONLY

 

[pc1966]

Not necessarily.

While plastic is no longer allowed for new domestic installs since 17th amendment 3, if it meets all of the requirements for being a sound installation (see Best Practice Guide #3) on inspection/test AND you can still get compatible parts then you could just add another MCB/RCBO.

 

[Piotr1000]

Not necessarily.

While plastic is no longer allowed for new domestic installs since 17th amendment 3, if it meets all of the requirements for being a sound installation (see Best Practice Guide #3) on inspection/test AND you can still get compatible parts then you could just add another MCB/RCBO.

Thank you for the answer.One more thing,I know plastic cu is not longer allowed in houses or flats,but what about garages or generally outboildings,are plastic cu allowed in there?

 

[Strima]

but what about garages or generally outboildings,are plastic cu allowed in there?

As they're classed as part of a dwelling the CU cannot be plastic.

 

[pc1966]

I think any buildings that are part of the house (e.g. attached garage) or might have folk sleeping (e.g. furnished conservatory, etc), would be covered. A shed or similar fully detached area only used for occasional stuff (probably 2m or so separation?) might be OK, but ideally just stick to metal CU for any new stuff.

Someone else on here with more knowledge of fire regs, etc, than me might be able to give more info.

 

[Dartlec]

The reg in question (421.1.201) says "Within domestic (household) premises" for non-combustible CUs, but doesn't have a definition for domestic (household) premises in part 2 so make of that what you can.

Crabtree believe it to include:

Typical Domestic household premises would include single and multiple occupancy homes such as Houses, Bungalows, High Rise & Low Rise Flats, Apartments, Student lets, Sheltered Accommodation, Farmhouses, Houseboats, Static Homes, Home Office, attached Garages, Workshops and Detached Summerhouses etc.​

but that doesn't mean they are 100% right.

Detached garages/workshops are often better with metal fittings anyway due to robustness so it's probably safe to assume anything in or around a domestic house should be metal.

As already said though, adding a new circuit in an existing enclosure does not require it to be upgraded, provided you can do so safely - with compatible parts, etc.

It is actually still possible to use plastic CUs, but only if they are enclosed in a non-combustible cabinet or enclosure - and some are or were available, but often at more cost than putting a metal consumer unit in to start with.

Not sure myself whether the internal Mantel cupboards that are built into brick walls would comply as a non-combustible cabinet...that might be an interesting one to argue over whether a plastic CU would be acceptable in it....