Meter tails and 100A main fuse

[CRAIGNEWHAM]

Morning,

Ive just changed a CU and the existing meter tails were 16mm. I have put new ones on that are 25mm, and connected these to the 16mm from the meter in a henley block. The flat has a 100A main fuse. I am going to use this as one of my locations for my NIC assesment. Should I ask the supplier (British gas) to come and change the meter tails from the meter to the henley block? do they normally charge for this?
Are distributers not non-conforming every time they put a 100A fuse in with less than 25mm tails?
I know its highly unlikely that this will ever be a problem, but I just want to make sure I do everything right.
There must be lots of domestic properties that have 100A fuses and dont have 25mm tails?
Thanks for any help
Craig

 

[malcolmsanford]

I remember a year or so back that there was a proposed affiliation between the DNO and the schemes. If you were part of an affliated Part P scheme then you were deemed competant and therefore the DNO would allow you to pull the main fuse. There were stipulations, such as if you suspected tampering had been done to the head or meter, you were not to pull it but report it to the DNO.

I remember that you had to apply to the concerned DNO who issued you with 10 Temporary seals, and every one you fitted you filled out paperwork and submitted that paperwork back to the DNO. After the 10 seals had been used, and all the paperwork was in order you receieved another set of seals. I thought this was a good idea.

I was told though that it wasn't initiated due to Health and Safety reasons. As there are so many old and potentially dangerous heads around pulling the fuse could be quite a dangerous thing, and the DNO guys carry spare carriers and are trained to work live, where we are not really. Wether that is true or not I'm not entirely convinced of, but it does sound logical.

I personally would like to see permission from the DNO to pull their fuses by us go ahead. I'm sure there will be Heatlh and safety issues, and a full risk assement on the header condition will be recommended. What is a concern is how many electricians will actually do this, and just pull the fuse regardless of the head condition. I can't imagine how many would be able to deal with a crumbled carrier and a BS 1361 Fuse wedged into the prongs.

 

[CRAIGNEWHAM]

It would be nice Malcolm, its about the worse grey area we have. We know what we should do, but in practical terms, its hard to follow in everyday working situations.

 

[pushrod]

Hi Craig - i would phone niceic up and ask them as to what they want/would expect and i would get DNO to fit an isolator. In my experience at least, if the customer requests it, the isolator is fitted free.

 

[CRAIGNEWHAM]

Morning Pushrod, I think I will ring. Would it be the DNO or the supplier to fit one?
Thanks

 

[pushrod]

Morning Pushrod, I think I will ring. Would it be the DNO or the supplier to fit one?
Thanks

just contact whoever the bill comes from

 

[Chr!s]

From a suppliers point of view 16mm tails the meter are fine. When meters are changed nowadays the main fuse is downgraded to 80amp or 60amp for 16mm tails going through an external wall.

I got called to a job a few weeks ago and was asked by a sparky on site to upgrade the tails on a single phase supply to 25mm from 16mm. After explaining to him that we work to different regs he accepted what I was saying. On leaving site I get a phone call saying the sparky has rung up and complained that I haven't changed the tails!! Can't help some people.

I disagree, and i beleive so do your supply regs.

ESQCR Equipment in a consumers premises.

In order to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of regulation 24(1)(ESQCR) duty holders should adopt the standards of construction and installation necessary to comply with BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations.

The dnos are responsible upto the services head, the suppliers are responsible for the equipment upto and including the meter, the tails from the meter are the responsibility of the consumer.

In all instances the supply from the service head need to comply with BS7671

 

[pushrod]

, the tails from the meter are the responsibility of the consumer.

I think this is rather a grey area. Every drawing that i have ever seen shows an indistinct dotted line between the meter and |CU marking the areas of responsibility. If the tails from the meter are the customer's responsibility why is access to them at the meter restricted by the supplier?

I think that the meter end of the tails is accepted by suppliers as their responsibility and this is why they are happy (IME) to fit an isolator in them which is sealed on the meter side and unsealed on the customer's side - this then gives a very clear boundary to who is responsible for what.

 

[Noton1205]

Cutout belongs to dno, tails from cut out to meter and meter are the suppliers. Tails to cu are customers. Best advice if your with british gas, ask them to upgrade the tails and install an isolator. There is no cost for the tails but they do charge for fitting an isolator.

 

[nikmet]

Cutout belongs to dno, tails from cut out to meter and meter are the suppliers. Tails to cu are customers. Best advice if your with british gas, ask them to upgrade the tails and install an isolator. There is no cost for the tails but they do charge for fitting an isolator.

BG have just charged a customer of mine £43 for isolator and another £43 for tails, said they were charged out as two separate jobs, i felt this was excessive??

 

[Noton1205]

It is around £40 for an isolator but they shouldnt be charging for upgrading tails.

 

[IQ Electrical]

It is around £40 for an isolator but they shouldnt be charging for upgrading tails.

It's a rather unique situation though as technically BG are a supplier and a contractor.

 

[Noton1205]

But there metering service is totally seperate from the contracting service. Theyve only recently taken metering back in house

 

[IQ Electrical]

But there metering service is totally seperate from the contracting service. Theyve only recently taken metering back in house

Whatever the setup is, why do you believe that a customer can order a 'tails upgrade' and isolator but not be charged for the 'tails upgrade'?

 

[nikmet]

Most other suppliers ive dealt with make NO charge for this work , yet BG charge x 2

 

[Noton1205]

Whatever the setup is, why do you believe that a customer can order a 'tails upgrade' and isolator but not be charged for the 'tails upgrade'?

Because i work or bg as a meter specialist andhavedonefor the past 4 years. Ive never heard of customers being charged for tails as the customer does not own the tails they belong to the supplier