New consumer unit close to gas pipe/meter

[sidekick]

When replacing a consumer unit. If the current rewireable board is only 80mm from gas pipe/meter can the new board be fitted there or does it have to be moved to comply with the minimum distance of 150mm.
Not possible to fit close if so and would need to be moved over a meter to find space meaning existing cables no chance of reaching.

 

[mattmoo1974]

Mr crimp is your new friend

 

[johnboy6083]

You could use an non combustible insulated partition.

 

[sidekick]

Mr crimp is your new friend

I assume you mean move the board and crimp all cables inside a box to extend them and make them reach.

 

[sidekick]

You could use an non combustible insulated partition.

Would just a piece of fireboard fit that description?

 

[Gravid]

Not sure if the 150mm minimum distance is in our regs, think it's in the gas regs, someone correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[sidekick]

Not sure if the 150mm minimum distance is in our regs, think it's in the gas regs, someone correct me if i'm wrong.

It is in the on-site guide though

 

[mattmoo1974]

I assume you mean move the board and crimp all cables inside a box to extend them and make them reach.

Bingo!

 

[telectrix]

or move the gas pipe. all you need is a lump hammer.:43:

 

[malcolmsanford]

Not sure if the 150mm minimum distance is in our regs, think it's in the gas regs, someone correct me if i'm wrong.

It is a gas reg from the BS 6891, but this BS is relating to installers of gas pipe.

The BS 7671-2008 does not give any distance indications concerning proximity to non electrical service in section 528.3

 

[Rockingit]

The BS 7671-2008 does not give any distance indications concerning proximity to non electrical service in section 528.3 No, but building regs do!

If you're fitting a new board and by the sound of it it's a bit tight for space with the existing cables anyway, I often just put a short section of 75mm box PVC conduit adjacent to cover the old cables - gives you somewhere to make a tidy job of crimp extending your cables (you could even crimp the T&E to singles if it's an advantage). It would also in this instance give you Barrier Protection to the gas pipe so you could stop wondering about 150mm of legality!

 

[malcolmsanford]

The BS 7671-2008 does not give any distance indications concerning proximity to non electrical service in section 528.3 No, but building regs do!

If you're fitting a new board and by the sound of it it's a bit tight for space with the existing cables anyway, I often just put a short section of 75mm box PVC conduit adjacent to cover the old cables - gives you somewhere to make a tidy job of crimp extending your cables (you could even crimp the T&E to singles if it's an advantage). It would also in this instance give you Barrier Protection to the gas pipe so you could stop wondering about 150mm of legality!

And what I wrote about the BS 7671-2008 is wrong then !!!

What part of the building regs tell us this as I thought it was a gas regulation, the same as the cross bonding at a boiler was a gas regulation, but I stand to be corrected.

 

[Rockingit]

OK - I've just lifted the below as a copy and paste off another site so I'm trusting a bit here:

BS6891-2005 8.16.2
Separation of installation pipework from other services.

Where installation pipes are not separated by electrical insulating material, they shall be spaced as follows:
a) at least 150 mm away from electricity meters and associated excess current controls, electrical switches or sockets, distribution boards or consumer units;
b) at least 25mm away from electricity supply and distribution cables.

This is echo'd in the OSG, page 18.

 

[malcolmsanford]

OK - I've just lifted the below as a copy and paste off another site so I'm trusting a bit here:

BS6891-2005 8.16.2
Separation of installation pipework from other services.

Where installation pipes are not separated by electrical insulating material, they shall be spaced as follows:
a) at least 150 mm away from electricity meters and associated excess current controls, electrical switches or sockets, distribution boards or consumer units;
b) at least 25mm away from electricity supply and distribution cables.

This is echo'd in the OSG, page 18.

They are the gas regulations as I quoted on my post which you kindly cut and pasted for me to tell me that it is a building regulation with an exclamation mark

It is not and never been a building reg is it a reg for gas pipe fitters, as they know no better. It is in the OSG guide and it is IMO good advice, but as I work to the BS 7671-2008 I will be guided by them. So I would not be losing to much sleep if my CU was withing 150mm of a gas pipe.

I like to have a pound for the times I have been in a house and seen gas and water pipes, cut outs, CU,s by the score in a cupboard under the stairs where you would have been lucky to get a smoke paper between the services

 

[Rockingit]

It is in the OSG guide and it is IMO good advice, but as I work to the BS 7671-2008 I will be guided by them. So I would not be losing to much sleep if my CU was withing 150mm of a gas pipe.

Isn't that a contradiction? I'm in total agreement with you on the fact that it happens time over, and I'm also inclined to lose too much sleep over most things these days......BUT......Building Regs refer to BS6891 as the applicable standard for gas installations, BS7671 as the applicable standards for electrical installation and BS7671 refers to the OSG which in turn references BS6891. Therefore, I kind of think it's safe to assume that if this were a court case then M'Lud is likely to say that it's 150mm or more.

Unless there's a fire barrier.