Help me justify why this is a bad idea...

[Rockingit]

Hi all,

piccy below is of a domestic plant room, the CU is the main incoming board (sub mains to 4 others).

The corner it's all in was meant to be kept clinical purely for electrics, but due to space restrictions the water treatment boys have had to stick a chemical dosing tank (1% chlorine, 99% water) right under, and arguably in the way of, the main CU. I've protested to the builder and said I don't like it (also on a practical note there's another couple of armoureds to go up there yet), but I need to be able to justify it properly or risk being called an old woman.

Part M is a start, but it's a little clutching at straws. External factors, hmm maybe.

Suggestions anyone?

(and before anyone comments, that middle SWA isn't made off yet for a reason!)

 

[pjcomp]

How about safe access for maintenance, switching off etc. Doesn't look as though you could stand at the CU and work on it with that lot in the way.

PJ

 

[spark 68]

Corrosive atmosphere ?

 

[Rockingit]

The problem is that you can, more or less, stand over it, it just makes you on the twist. You can certainly reset a breaker which is why I'm struggling with a part m argument.

 

[Rockingit]

Corrosive atmosphere ?

The whole plant room is about water treatment, so I think I'd struggle there, as well. Might have a chemical argument, maybe.

 

[telectrix]

suppose it's OK if you're left-handed. think the only argument you have is accessibility for maintenance.

 

[Dan the spark]

No one ever moves there stuff for us do they, it's always 'oh the sparky can move his' or 'the sparky can get round that' lol

 

[Gylesr]

hi there! is the chlorine tub white in the picture with a electronic mixer fixed on top for hth tablets/granules ?? im pretty sure in a commercial property this shud be contained within an additional tub/bucket that can hold the equivalent amount of liquid incase the tub leaks preventing the chlorine mix from covering the plant room.. as this is in a domestic property i suppose its down to the owner and how far they want to take there safety!
gyles

 

[needasparks]

COSHH might be the way forward or thumb the EAW regs and see what applies. Prob no different than any pub cellar from the photo but depends how you look at the risks and how high you feel they are.

 

[One_of_them]

with your part m argument ask, could somebody in a wheelchair reach over to access the board and reset a breaker?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

with your part m argument ask, could somebody in a wheelchair reach over to access the board and reset a breaker?

only if left handed, or with a spy-mirror, coming fromthe other way with their right hand!

 

[Coke]

Are the containers under pressure?

 

[Rockingit]

Trying to make a wheelchair access argument would be pointless, tbh, as 1) the CU is mounted too high (around my shoulder height) as it IS a plant room (and some other reasons), not a general area and 2) there's no external wheelchair access either.

What MIGHT be interesting is the fact that the DNO are due to upgrade the incoming supply, and the lower most cable on that wall is theirs, not mine!! You might not see it on the photo as the painters got carried away and painted it white with the walls.

 

[GT1]

Do the chemicals gas off anything.?
If so the DB may not be suitable ?

 

[Rockingit]

Do the chemicals gas off anything.?
If so the DB may not be suitable ?

I'm a sparky not a chemist, but from what I remember, chlorine is volatile with certain other metals but is itself not a metal and therefore does not conduct. So unless there are other chemicals present (which there aren't in that sense) that doesn't stack up either.

I think I might just have to bite the bullet with this one; it's cr*p and looks even worse and far from what I would choose, but without at lease one hard reg to back me up I stand no chance. I've already had to kick up a storm on that job by demanding a letter of indemnity from the architect and/or BCO for installing circuits on a wall I know to be damp, so I'm having to tread a little carefully!!