Commercial Fuse box covered with plywood casing

[James Jones]

At work we have a fuse box with a door that will not close due to a broken latch. The fuse box is located by a fire door in an office.
To hide the issue a plain plywood box has been used to completely cover the fuse box. I have raised a safety issue with this but there is disagreement on it's safety. Could somebody point me to any regulations that cover this?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[westward10]

Show us some pics.

 

[Strima]

Tens of thousands of boards have been boxed in with no issues. As long as access is easy for maintenance and repair then no rules have been broken.

However a picture would be of help in this situation.

 

[James Jones]

Sorry, no picture. It was a box with an opening which was placed over the fuse box completely covering it, no ventilation. Access was easy as box could simply be lifted off.

 

[westward10]

Tens of thousands of boards have been boxed in with no issues. As long as access is easy for maintenance and repair then no rules have been broken.

However a picture would be of help in this situation.

Not sure I agree with that. Combustible items on or near escape routes should be avoided but would need to see a pic.

 

[Strima]

Not sure I agree with that. Combustible items on or near escape routes should be avoided but would need to see a pic.

That's why I put a however in at the bottom.

 

[sevuk]

When one thing its noticed, and you think it's not good but might be alright, you start feeling tempted to have a look for other things. It may make you wonder if there's a pyramid of quick fixes leading to a dangerous circumstance.

 

[PEG]

Bring the person to my office,who commissioned the construction and fitting of this plywood box...and never fixed a single catch.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

I'd be concerned with that scenario if it were an AMD 3 board in a domestic premise, where the inability to close it may compromise it's non-combustibility (421.1.201)

 

[davesparks]

I'd be concerned with that scenario if it were an AMD 3 board in a domestic premise, where the inability to close it may compromise it's non-combustibility (421.1.201)

How would the lid being open make the material it is constructed from more combustible?

 

[Spoon]

How would the lid being open make the material it is constructed from more combustible?

Haha.. You read @TonyMitchell post and this is what you got from it.....

 

[Pete999]

How would the lid being open make the material it is constructed from more combustible?

Flames could come out via the open lid only joking

 

[PEG]

Dave is referring to it's non-compliant state,not it's ability to help get a bbq going

 

[davesparks]

Haha.. You read @TonyMitchell post and this is what you got from it.....

What did you get from it?

 

[Deleted member 105166]

How would the lid being open make the material it is constructed from more combustible?

If the lid was open and a fire started within (CB/cabling) it may spread to outside of the board, i.e. containment would be compromised and the end result may be the same as if the board were of plastic...