Maintaining top entry fire rating/IP rating

[MickSmith5824]

Evening all

Had a job yesterday, which I'm back at next week. Job was to install new dual tarriff CU. As can see from photo earthing was supplied off a clamp from incoming metallic pipe which contained the supply cables. As this old CU is double packed out with a frame it had ample space to house this pipe. Problem being when fitting new CU this isn't case. So after chat with mr NIC man I opted to drop board by 100mm jigsaw out top entry and use 100mm plastic trunking across top to house these cables and pipe. He seemed bit unsure at first as much as me but checked it out and said that as we have maintained IP4x at top all is fine. I questioned about the fire rating and he said that this is fine to. What are people's thoughts? I'm back there next week so maybe can improve but thoughts are even if use loads of glands on top and trunking on top surely these are only so resistant to spread of fire.
Cheers

 

[mattg4321]

Reality is that it’s too costly and time consuming to use when price is a concern.

There isn’t really any reason to use it domestically either imo. Some other wiring type will usually be fine.

Is it even part of college training/am2 anymore? It was when I did my am2 back in 06.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Reality is that it’s too costly and time consuming to use when price is a concern.

There isn’t really any reason to use it domestically either imo. Some other wiring type will usually be fine.

Is it even part of college training/am2 anymore? It was when I did my am2 back in 06.

We certainly made off Micc at college when i did part 1 c&g back in the late 90s.
still stumble across it in older houses but increasingly rarely.
my dad still has some of his old pyro tools but I think the last time that I borrowed them was probably 10 years ago

 

[7029 dave]

Reality is that it’s too costly and time consuming to use when price is a concern.

There isn’t really any reason to use it domestically either imo. Some other wiring type will usually be fine.

Is it even part of college training/am2 anymore? It was when I did my am2 back in 06.

I dont think it is, its not surprising that new sparks have never seen such type cable, clearly shown hear by this very thread.

 

[stevethesparks]

MICC was quite common during my apprenticeship years.
One particular job was a famous stationary shop in New Bond Street, opening up the basement to extend the shop. The whole installation was Pyro (as was best known). I quite enjoyed dressing and installing it. Some old Pubs were also a common place for this.

 

[7029 dave]

MICC was quite common during my apprenticeship years.
One particular job was a famous stationary shop in New Bond Street, opening up the basement to extend the shop. The whole installation was Pyro (as was best known). I quite enjoyed dressing and installing it. Some old Pubs were also a common place for this.

Yep done loads on pubs, fire alarms, church's, it was an every day task back then. Not being a big head but if I had £10 for every termination ive done with the stuff it would go into thousands. lol

 

[pc1966]

MICC was common for fire alarms and industrial control gear many years ago. I guess the appearance of FP rated wire and the time/cost of installing pyro means it is fairly specialised use now. Shame, as it is practically immortal and looked fabulous if bare and polished up!

 

[telectrix]

looked fabulous if bare and polished up..

a bit like 'er indoors then? ?

 

[Dustydazzler]

My wife already wears 8 tins of brasso to keep the fake tan shine going through lockdown ...lol

 

[Strima]

Is it even part of college training/am2 anymore? It was when I did my am2 back in 06.

I got off my bum and did my AM2 in 2016 and it wasn't used then. But SY was???

 

[mattg4321]

I got off my bum and did my AM2 in 2016 and it wasn't used then. But SY was???

Can’t see the point of having SY as part of the exam personally.

Be better off with data/Ethernet, heating system controls and trying to chase in a new socket to an old brick wall with lime plaster - no visible damage allowed! (Ok maybe not the last one)

 

[stevethesparks]

MICC was common for fire alarms and industrial control gear many years ago. I guess the appearance of FP rated wire and the time/cost of installing pyro means it is fairly specialised use now. Shame, as it is practically immortal and looked fabulous if bare and polished up!

I would suggest that there appears to be some instances where its being ripped out - possibly unnecessarily, simply because the electrician of the day doesn't know what to do with it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Can’t see the point of having SY as part of the exam personally.

Be better off with data/Ethernet, heating system controls and trying to chase in a new socket to an old brick wall with lime plaster - no visible damage allowed! (Ok maybe not the last one)

In all seriousness I think heating controls, solar pv and car charging installation would be far more beneficial these days than micc and sy

 

[freddo]

Spoke to one of the apprentices today, apparently he has done MICC as part of a college assessment, but it is no longer part of the AM2. I certainly remember doing it when I did the AM2. At least they have kept in steel conduit...

 

[UNG]

Even if you don't have the tools or skills, surely you can recognise an MICC cable??!!

Maybe not when you are out of your depth

Given the longevity of Pyro and the many different types of installation it has been used in over the years it is a bit daft that it is not even given a mention on courses these days

Given the possible problems of glanding that pyro properly I think I would be replacing that earth clamp with some constant force springs to clamp the cable to the sheath to maintain the earthing

 

[UNG]

I would suggest that there appears to be some instances where its being ripped out - possibly unnecessarily, simply because the electrician of the day doesn't know what to do with it.

Ripped out and replaced by inferior cable types is usually the norm

The number of times I've seen on forums rip it out and replace it with FP, FP is not and will never be a direct replacement for Pyro IMO