Clarification on am3 CU's

[uksparks]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

sorry mate but any install needs to be done to new regs so you need to put it in a fire proof enclosure or replace to a metal board.

why not get an empty metal board and reuse existing breakers it will be a lot cheaper

Got a reg number on that please....

 

[stevethesparks]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

That was my way of seeing things, but just wanted to clarify. If changing/upgrading a CU, then it will need to comply. But when adding a circuit or many circuits, where would you draw the line? It just appeared ridiculous to have to replace a near enough brand new CU of which complied to 17th/2 when it was installed.
I don't think I've got the job anyway :nonod:
To my mind, if you advise the customer of what's what, and hint that they may want to have a fire proof enclosure installed to surround their CU, then job done.
Its a shame that the re-introduction of double screw terminals on anything 30 - 40> Amps wasn't implemented to the manufacturers instead.
ps please excuse the typo in my heading.

 

[Midwest]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

I concur with what Richard said #6. You may wish to inform you client of the reg change for CU's and let them decide, as long as they are aware it is not required. They may decided to replace CU if they are spending money on a rewire. I can see in the future, that plastic CU's will be seen by estate agents/mortgage providers as a reason to reduce the sale price of a property, along with avocado baths and woodchip wallpaper etc.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

Lets get this clear once and for all.
It is NOT the consumer units (metal or otherwise) that makes them dangerous.
Its the person or persons that install them that dictates such a condition.
Unfortunately the proverbial penny never really dropped with the so called decision makers, and that's why we are where we are with all this nonsense.
But then we are but humble electricians, who are we to question our superiors.

IMHO I think it is both Bald, poor workmanship and also the very poor standards of CUs built over the past couple of years.

The old BS 3036 panels I grew up on in domestic were made of wood, that surely must be as combustable as any plastic. But these never burst into flames at a side ways glance. They were solid well constructed units and lasted for 40yrs plus.

But the new boards untill this ammendment were just pants. How many of us broke the fixing pillar on an earth/neutral bar when tighting up a conductor, or broke the front cover and cracked the body because they were so thin and flimsy. They were cheap and nasty and aligned to people coming into the trade with very little training and knowledge....well the the results were there to see.

More and proper training should be a must, but instead of this ridiculous metal frame malarky......... pass legislation making CU construction of a better standard.

We have the same problems with telephone chargers brought into the UK, how long before chargers will have to be metal shrouded

 

[Octopus]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

IMHO I think it is both Bald, poor workmanship and also the very poor standards of CUs built over the past couple of years.

The old BS 3036 panels I grew up on in domestic were made of wood, that surely must be as combustable as any plastic. But these never burst into flames at a side ways glance. They were solid well constructed units and lasted for 40yrs plus.

But the new boards untill this ammendment were just pants. How many of us broke the fixing pillar on an earth/neutral bar when tighting up a conductor, or broke the front cover and cracked the body because they were so thin and flimsy. They were cheap and nasty and aligned to people coming into the trade with very little training and knowledge....well the the results were there to see.

More and proper training should be a must, but instead of this ridiculous metal frame malarky......... pass legislation making CU construction of a better standard.

We have the same problems with telephone chargers brought into the UK, how long before chargers will have to be metal shrouded

Here here.

Well said that man.

I tried suggesting this to Beema and they didn't like what I was suggesting.

 

[Pete999]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

Lets get this clear once and for all.
It is NOT the consumer units (metal or otherwise) that makes them dangerous.
Its the person or persons that install them that dictates such a condition.
Unfortunately the proverbial penny never really dropped with the so called decision makers, and that's why we are where we are with all this nonsense.
But then we are but humble electricians, who are we to question our superiors.

Tried to put what you say over at one of the ELEX shows during one of their seminars got the cold shoulder from all the participants, they must be getting good backhanders from the CU makers

 

[BES]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

IMHO I think it is both Bald, poor workmanship

I agree it maybe down to poor workmanship but picking on us baldies is going a bit far

 

[Risteard]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

which complied to 17th/2 when it was installed.

Actually, it complied with Amendment 3 itself before the 1st January. We were already working to Amendment 3 since 1st July 2015. It was only one Regulation which did not come into force until 1st January 2016 - but we were not working to Amendment 2.

 

[stevethesparks]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

Thats very true

 

[stevethesparks]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

Ive been out the game for a couple of years now. So not really took a lot of interest in the new regs. But even if you are adding just a single new circuit to a domestic installation with a plastic cu you have to now make that cu comply to amd 3 ? ( metal cu)

According to the NICEIC NO
January 2016 e-Newsletter

 

[baldsparkies]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

Had our NICEIC annual assessment today, spoke in length about the introduction of all steel C/Us.
He was in full agreement with regards to a knee jerk reaction based on complaints from London fire brigade to the government.
And that the cause of these fires still hasn't been addressed. He said that the fires seemed to have risen sharply from 2011 on. But the causes are yet to be established along with any definitive results from other major cities around the UK.
Proves we are not alone in our opinions, the dark side can and do recognise that surrounding the core problem with steel is not going to make it go away.

 

[mattg4321]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

2011, about the time smart meters were starting to be fitted. Nice of them to re-torque the tails in the CU whilst they were there - which I'm sure they all did.

I predict a huge increase in CU fires when the rollout really gets going shortly.

 

[Flanders]

Re: Clification on am3 CU's

2011, about the time smart meters were starting to be fitted. Nice of them to re-torque the tails in the CU whilst they were there - which I'm sure they all did.

I predict a huge increase in CU fires when the rollout really gets going shortly.

That's a good point , The meter installers twisting them tails about to connect into the new meter could of coursed loose connections never thought about that before.