Identifying / dating old service head?

[tims22]

Hello, we're looking at relocating the CU fairly urgently for a small business (retail shop) and came across this service head. Obviously need to safely isolate ahead of working on the CU but not come across this type before. We're assuming the cut out is probably at least 50 or 60 years old although does look in surprisingly sound condition. The meter was replaced in 2015 and they didn't fit an isolator at the time.

If anyone is familiar with this type of cutout can you advise whether they're usually fuss-free to open or if we're likely to run into problems? Any tips from experience would be very welcome!
Plan B is disconnecting the meter <> Henley tails with the next stop being fitting an isolator before anything else.

Reason for the urgency is that the wall behind where the CU's located is in pretty dire condition & damp which has led to corrosion within the CU.. not a pretty sight and long overdue for replacement along with a partial rewire.

Thanks!

 

[James]

Based on the attached label the meter was replaced in 2015 and we're guessing the cutout - meter tails were changed then as they seem newer than the rest of the install. Prior to that the last major electrical work was to fit a new CU in around 1987 and apparently the cutout has never been worked on according to the owner; who's had the building for 47 years.

I also have a "secret way" to isolate the board but always find it's better to have ones ducks, or seal fairies in a row before starting these things lol.

i would not involve the fairies on that one.

 

[brianmoooore]

Lead seal on the unused phases indicates it's been there quite a while.
Bit late for the seal fairy, now that a pic has been posted showing it in place.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Looks like Henley Series 3 fuses on a BICC head. As you can see in that screengrab the terminals are not shrouded as they are in newer types e.g series 7 but other than that it's not very different.

 

[pirate]

There's a sure-fire way to have all your ducks in a row...

Have 2 ducks!

 

[tims22]

There's a sure-fire way to have all your ducks in a row...

Have 2 ducks!

Now that’s a plan!

 

[Moley]

Would a single duck be classed as a row? It would be lined up with itself.

 

[R-fur]

I Agree with Lucien its a Lucy series 3. I would say it is well over forty years old as we were only fitting series 5 cuttouts when I started in 1976. As someone said it could be fitted with a rewirable cartridge and if it is a PILC servce there is a chance it could be compound filled.

 

[pirate]

I think a single duck is a "point",. and a row connects 2 or more points...