Meter Boxes not fit for purpose?

[EddieB]

I've noticed that a great deal of external meter boxes are missing doors or have their doors taped shut, it would seem that the majority of these are suffering from broken hinges, not on the door itself but on the chassis. The head and meter are fully exposed to the elements I find this is an incredible situation, to make it fit fit for purpose the whole box needs replacing. It is now the responsibility of the home owner to get these replaced which I assume will by the service supplier as it means removing the head and meter, this will not come cheap. I cannot understand as this seems to be a common fault on these boxes why they are still being manufactured and installed.
Any thoughts on this out there?

 

[Dartlec]

I see a lot of missing doors too - the plastic doesn't seem to cope well with extended exposure to British weather and just gets brittle...

There isn't even a "standard" size in my experience - just lots of similar but different types. Replacement doors are available, but as you say often its the chassis end that has gone. Though there are probably ways to fit new hinges with a bit of thought.

When I've arranged fitting of new external heads before I've had to supply the box - and I suspect that's the same with new builds, so they have technically never been the DNO's responsibility I suspect (even if it would make sense).

Anyone ever phoned a DNO and enquired as to the IP rating of a main fuse head or meter?

 

[EddieB]

Not much of an IP I know

 

[EddieB]

Thinking about this issue, the 17th edition introduced a steel CU to combat possible fire risk, why does the meter and head enclosure not fall into that category,if it was a weatherproof steel box there wouldn't be an issue

 

[westward10]

There was a company which produced an over frame and door which fitted over the enclosure and were better quality than the old door not sure if they still about here is one I fitted, just four holes in the wall.

 

[EddieB]

There was a company which produced an over frame and door which fitted over the enclosure and were better quality than the old door not sure if they still about here is one I fitted, just four holes in the wall.View attachment 96295

yes there was, you had the door complete with hinges attached by four slotted slides which lined up with taped holes in the chassis to remove the door you simply loosened the screws and pulled it out of the chassis, and if required you fitted a new door, no fuss no bother

 

[ferg]

I've fitted jml hardware overdoors and they have been easy to fit.

 

[Rockingit]

Cough cough….. I‘ve actually replaced one in-situ by reducing the components down to the head only and cutting a clean slot which can be invisibly repaired on the new one after its been slid back into place.

 

[philectrical]

On new builds where they've just been installed, half of them are hanging off.

 

[littlespark]

I think the majority of times, the door is broken from someone (meter reader) not closing the door properly… the wind catches it, and it gets broken by being slammed back against the wall.

Not so much the design, but misuse by the user.

Of course… every design can be improved on.

 

[EddieB]

I think the majority of times, the door is broken from someone (meter reader) not closing the door properly… the wind catches it, and it gets broken by being slammed back against the wall.

Not so much the design, but misuse by the user.

Of course… every design can be improved on.

Cough cough….. I‘ve actually replaced one in-situ by reducing the components down to the head only and cutting a clean slot which can be invisibly repaired on the new one after its been slid back into place.

Morning Rocking, I'm interested in how you removed the tails from the meter without breaking the seal, I'm assuming it had one?

 

[7029 dave]

They are vandalised too, also they get broke because folk dont have or lost the key and try and force doors open etc.

 

[EddieB]

Just seen a over cover on Amazon and a fitting display on YouTube, this looks like a feasible solution

 

[Simon47]

I must admit, I've mused that if I was building a house, I dislike the look of those fugly boxes so much that I'd be looking for (making if neccessary) a full steel one (either galv or stainless), with a recess (with mesh) in the door so it can be rendered the same as the rest of the house leaving just the door edge and frame showing. As a side effect, it would also act as a faraday cage should someone insist I have a smart meter
What I really can't fathom is on what planet does someone think they are some sort of "nice" architectural feature so they should be up front and "in your face" by the front door

 

[123]

I must admit, I've mused that if I was building a house, I dislike the look of those fugly boxes so much that I'd be looking for (making if neccessary) a full steel one (either galv or stainless), with a recess (with mesh) in the door so it can be rendered the same as the rest of the house leaving just the door edge and frame showing. As a side effect, it would also act as a faraday cage should someone insist I have a smart meter
What I really can't fathom is on what planet does someone think they are some sort of "nice" architectural feature so they should be up front and "in your face" by the front door

The boxes are most often stuck down the side of houses here and out of the way. The door for the boxes however can be often found elsewhere, probably by the front door.