Metal consumer unit advice please.

[BlueToBits]

Hello again! it's been a while.....
I'm no longer in the business and I'm getting some building work done at home which involves a sub-distribution board / consumer unit in an attached workshop. Before anyone gets the hump, I'm no longer approved so I'm making other arrangements for the work to be done, but I'm sourcing the kit. I'm looking for a compliant flush board (plasterboard) with individual RCBO protected final circuits
I've not come across amendment 3 until very recently and even after reading numerous comments in this and other forums, I just don't get it. Please can someone clarify:

1. The metal clad consumer units with a plastic MCB "Doors" (eg Contactum CP metal) do not conform, even if the MCBs are thermosetting plastic? (are MCBs not fire-resistant anyhow?)
2. Parts of a consumer unit that may be "flushed" into a plastered or plaster-boarded wall conform by the fact that plaster is already "fire resistant"?
3. In flush CU installations, the combustible timber studs forming part of the plasterboarded wall conform as part of the fire resistant enclosure?
4. Cables may be enclosed in trunking to "seal" gaps in knock-outs in the enclosure, yet the trunking may be combustible thermoplastic PVC?
5. Cable insulation entering the enclosure may be combustible thermoplastic PVC?

Sorry if these questions have been answered elsewhere, I haven't found them. Thanks for reading.

 

[Octopus]

I thought I read in some post on here that you should only fit the same make of breakers/rcbo's as the CU. Does it invalidate the warranty or something....?

A mute point if there ever was one!

A new CU with 3rd party breakers - that's not good workmanship IMHO.

 

[tomspark93]

The majority of "deals" on boards are fully loaded anyway so what's the need to use different breakers?

 

[Spoon]

The majority of "deals" on boards are fully loaded anyway so what's the need to use different breakers?

I was asking the question with regards to post 12. Also when replacing equipment in CU's.

 

[Paul.M]

I don't understand the issue. Either the OP is competent to carry out the work himself, or he should employ the services of an a suitable electrician.

The answer to your question is in the first post:-

"I'm no longer in the business and I'm getting some building work done at home which involves a sub-distribution board / consumer unit in an attached workshop. Before anyone gets the hump, I'm no longer approved so I'm making other arrangements for the work to be done, but I'm sourcing the kit."


"Not compitent!!!! eeeerrrmmmm???? After 40 years in the game, just let him enjoy retirement from the game & let others do the work on his home whilst checking out the latest Regs & amendments on here which is full of helpful/up to date people!!!! As for the Spark? He will be suby for the builder and this is what the OP is asking about.


Cant really see your point of your post????? Post up or PM me if you want to reply.

 

[Midwest]

I'm not disparaging the OP in particular, and respect his 40 years experience as an electrician.

But I would suggest his experience does not extend to this particular work. I have read on here and other forums (and not just electrical work), where people ask quite searching questions, on the pretext that the work will be done by competent persons, where it fact they intend to do it themselves and are after guidance on how to proceed.

I may have that completely wrong in this particular instance, but others here seem to have formed the same suspicions from the OP's reply. The OP hasn't replied since being questioned as such, so the suspicions may have some foundation,

If I was in a similar situation, however tempting and indeed satisfying it would be to carry out the work in my own property, I think I would leave all the supply and installation to someone who is competent to do the work. If I couldn't resist the temptation, I would be honest enough to state my intentions & seek advice from members here, and be prepared to suffer censure. It is of no particular criticism of the OP here, but just because he is an electrician of 40 years service, we should not be afraid to recommend the same, as we would do to someone else who is not competent.

I hope the OP has his consumer unit installed in his workshop satisfactorily, and enjoys his retirement.

 

[telectrix]

retirement? after only 40 years? if he started at 20, then that makes him 60 now. he's got another 20 years of work left in him. albeit with creaky knees and back, like me.

 

[7029 dave]

Don't talk to me about knees and back after 37 years in the game, they are fooked.!

 

[Midwest]

Luxury I got 45 + years of working. Tell the kids of today, especially those noise brats next door, whose parents are away, and are pi$$ing it up, when will I get some sleep.:56: