Internal or external DB?

[min]

Evening all,

Long time watcher, new to actually posting anything. It's just to get a second opinion on something I've come across at a visit to a site in London.

They've recently had work done but have been having trouble getting any certs from the builder. Eventually an EICR was handed over (no accurate figures/lots of ccts altered or new without any info, should have been an EIC) and so I dropped by to take a look.

Among numerous other "delights" I found this new db fitted in an AC shed. Now my initial instinct is that it should be in an enclosure, it's approximately 2.5m from the edge of the wooden gate and although the shed has a roof on, the IP31 rating given by the manufacturer isn't going to hold well with the elements. When I inform the client of this there will no doubt be someone from the original firm saying it doesn't need an enclosure, what do you guys think?

Agree or is this just being picky?



Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[davesparks]

Where's the lid?

 

[min]

It's there, taken off for inspection prior to the photo

 

[PEG]

Hi,looks in fair order,and IP rating is only questionable if you determine they are breached. Cannot see full extent of roof,but have seen more exposure to elements on DB's positioned inside industrial buildings where board is next to roller-shutter,left open 10 hours a day! Give client your views and alternatives,if you deem necessary,move on...I am pretty certain,you are going to get opinions on here,ranging from "Report findings to NATO" to "Had worse for me best..." sorry not to help....but at least i was the FIRST,not to help...for a change...:juggle2:

 

[PEG]

Knickers!....i mean second....

 

[mache]

the IP31 rating given by the manufacturer isn't going to hold well with the elements.

This can only really be determined by the positioning of the installation. If you are happy that the enclosure could be subjected to anything other than vertical drips under normal conditions then you are correct to raise it. However if your concern is that it would be under abnormal conditions e.g. someone hose jetting it, then I would think that an advisory note should be made that the DB should have some other form of additional protection or be replaced with a higher class of enclosure if the abnormal condition is likely to occur. Posted as an observer, no professional qualification implied.

 

[UKMeterman]

Ok,
That is the same as an unheated boiler house. If the equipment creepage and clearance is only designed for pollution group 2 and not 3 then over time it will fail. Ask the DB manufacturer