IPXXD Consumer Units

[Rockingit]

OK...Just to liven things up: Hypothetically, I do a board change and as part of that change we lower the height of the CU to something more sensible which means we need to extend the existing cables. Now, ordinarily that'd be a dappy box, din rail and din connectors. The stated reason for this reg change (according to BEAMA) is an increase in fires from poor terminations......so my plastic dappy box with twice the number of terminations which sits 2' higher than the new board, no-one cares about??

 

[shanky887614]

OK...Just to liven things up: Hypothetically, I do a board change and as part of that change we lower the height of the CU to something more sensible which means we need to extend the existing cables. Now, ordinarily that'd be a dappy box, din rail and din connectors. The stated reason for this reg change (according to BEAMA) is an increase in fires from poor terminations......so my plastic dappy box with twice the number of terminations which sits 2' higher than the new board, no-one cares about??

simple fix to existing, jigsaw back out of metal box, screw to wall over db and job done ^^ rough as ---- but complies

 

[D Skelton]

We all know that no one has actually thought this through. We all know it's a load of bovine excrement. But what the ESC say goes right now. A few brown envelopes, a smidgen of lobbying and a load of wagging fingers means that in this day and age, our regulations are dictated by muppets with no idea at all other than their own personal agendas.

Welcome to the corporate world of law making.

I say that, but then again the banks and the multinationals have been at it for years.

It's really nothing new.

 

[Rockingit]

AND.....I'm amazed no-one yet has made the link between fires caused by poor terminations and 5WWs. And I'm sure I remember part of the Select Committee deliberation being the lack of reports of fire???

 

[Jay Sparks]

I have a copy of the amendment 3 and the only bit that I can see that relates to the CU being fire resistant is if the insulating part "meets the 960 degree glow wire flammability test as defined in BS EN 60695-2-11". And only then if the CU is fitted in "single location which contains flammable liquid in significant quantity".

Now this may be from an early edition of the changes, so don't hold me to it but this comes from the IET. I have tried looking at the spec for a Wylex and MK CU to see if they are fire resistant to 960 degrees but I cant find owt. I have emailed them both and still await their response.

Jay

 

[D Skelton]

AND.....I'm amazed no-one yet has made the link between fires caused by poor terminations and 5WWs. And I'm sure I remember part of the Select Committee deliberation being the lack of reports of fire???

I did, a long time ago, on here. It was when London fire and rescue service reported a five fold increase in fuse box fires. I made the link but it was laughed off as just another cynical dig at 5WWs by ol' D Skelton.

 

[andyelectric]

I did, a long time ago, on here. It was when London fire and rescue service reported a five fold increase in fuse box fires. I made the link but it was laughed off as just another cynical dig at 5WWs by ol' D Skelton.

Or it may just be the proliferation of relatively shoddy plastic consumer units as over the years they have replaced the pretty heavy duty old rewireable boards. Single screw terminations compared to the old style double screw not being a help.

 

[davesparks]

Why would you install a metal ccu in a house now? If someone tried installing An ugly metal cu in my house I'd send them packing.
A nice plastic cu looks much better in you house , it doesn't by any means make you a rough electrician installing plastic, but you must be a damn fool if your going round installing metal consumer units in people's homes. Bloody ridiculous

Would you care to elaborate on why you think I am a damned fool please?

I don't appreciate being insulted in this way purely because I choose to install a more substantial CU than you do!

 

[shanky887614]

i dont think white metal consumer units look that bad to be fair, we are not talking stainless ccu here

 

[davesparks]

Again, i quote Tony Cable, no plastic cover for the mcb's, so a metal cover it has to be.

this is complete madness.


campaign for smokes, not metal cu's

Smokes wont stop them catching fire, installing them properly in the first place will.

 

[Rockingit]

All of this rolls around back to one simple term: experience and training. Because possessing those two things equips you to recognise cheap chinese carp manufacture. For example....if your plastic board with it's plastic breakers is so badly made that when you fit it the modules all slant no matter how hard you try, and the cases split open when you get some decent torque on the terminal screws... THAT SHOULD BE TELLING YOU SOMETHING!!

 

[Octopus]

Smokes wont stop them catching fire, installing them properly in the first place will.

Nothing will stop them catching fire, BUT a smoke alarm will alert you to the problem.

Just think how many CU's are tucked away under the stairs? In a cupboard? in the garage?

The London Fire Brigade are mainly behind this change and I think their concerns are valid but I just think that the "remedy" is wrong.

 

[Rockingit]

The London Fire Brigade are mainly behind this change and I think their concerns are valid but I just think that the "remedy" is wrong.

And.....given that you can't (easily) stuff 2 x tails through a 25mm stamped entry hole...how many of these steel boards are going to be installed by people who even know about eddy currents??

This is a minefield when you then consider glanding, earthing..... Like I said earlier, it *might* actually start to discourage DIY Dave, who knows.

 

[shanky887614]

And.....given that you can't (easily) stuff 2 x tails through a 25mm stamped entry hole...how many of these steel boards are going to be installed by people who even know about eddy currents??

This is a minefield when you then consider glanding, earthing..... Like I said earlier, it *might* actually start to discourage DIY Dave, who knows.

cone cutter than bigger stuffer then

 

[Rockingit]

cone cutter than bigger stuffer then

You missed my point: people will just use two holes instead.