IP4X Trunking ?

[mcguiness79]

Can anyone tell me what was the reason for the change to regulation 521.12.1.

Since the amendments it now states that non sheathed cables are permitted within trunking if it is IPXXD

or IP4X (basically no gap bigger than 1mm),

Since when has this ever been an issue,

I assume that if we installing in an existing installation we advise the client, make a note on the test

sheet and carry on regardless?

 

[jumpin jax]

do you mean 521.10.1 in the old brb

 

[Darkwood]

Alot of trunking is run around machinery in industrial areas and swarf an burrs of metal etc builds up in trunking causing damage and short circuits, its also dangerous to anyone laying new cables, i assume other reasons too as they haven't specified the conditions when IP4X but single insulated cables in normal fuseboards should be given IP4X enclosures anyway o they just expanding on that too. Pointless having IP4X for busbars and fuseboards etc if its lost when it enters the trunking.

 

[RISElectrical]

I thought it was always a reg to be IP4X.... If nothing else it's good practice and I for 1 would always pull this on EICRs etc

 

[Brightspark2]

You can buy covers that just go over the gaps and provide IP4X protection...

 

[mcguiness79]

Darkwood fair comment on the swarf, but surely a correctly installed standard trunking (IP3X 2.5mm) is sufficient to protect against this and as for general commercial installs trunking above a ceiling I can not believe that it has ever been a danger.
As for always pulling on your EICRs RISElectrical I would love to see your trunking installs as at the moment it is virtually impossible to achieve IPXXD with standard trunking which is why Legrand Salamander trunking now make special end caps so that they can be fitted with the push on covers that Brightspark mentions.(I've attached a picture from a consultant who has pulled us on this very fact).
However Legrand make these to order and its a 1 week wait. As for other manufacturers we use Unitrunk and they have told us they have no plans to make an equivalent system.
I don't mean to go on but surely there are more important issues in the electrical industry to address than this.

 

[mcguiness79]

do you mean 521.10.1 in the old brb

Yeah fair play and it is still 510.10.1 in the BGB, its simply the change of the word or to and that makes it an issue

 

[Darkwood]

Darkwood fair comment on the swarf, but surely a correctly installed standard trunking (IP3X 2.5mm) is sufficient to protect against this and as for general commercial installs trunking above a ceiling I can not believe that it has ever been a danger.
As for always pulling on your EICRs RISElectrical I would love to see your trunking installs as at the moment it is virtually impossible to achieve IPXXD with standard trunking which is why Legrand Salamander trunking now make special end caps so that they can be fitted with the push on covers that Brightspark mentions.(I've attached a picture from a consultant who has pulled us on this very fact). View attachment 12182
However Legrand make these to order and its a 1 week wait. As for other manufacturers we use Unitrunk and they have told us they have no plans to make an equivalent system.
I don't mean to go on but surely there are more important issues in the electrical industry to address than this.

I was replying to the question asked, i never claimed my trunking installs meet IP4XXD and up until January they didn't have to, like most i pride myself in my standards but im well aware its not always possible to meet this standard without going down the Salamander solution as not all trunking is made to high spec standards, it just we are all caught in the grey area now while manufacturers catch up with regs, but i aint going to knock an installation just because it dosn't meet IPXXD unless im aware it was installed post Jan 2012 or it is creating an issue with swarf etc.