Plastic amendment 3 CU's

[Knobhead]

sorry mate. got nothing to do with that. some paddy is taking my name in vain.

You’re a scoucer, doesn’t that make you a paddy?

 

[Mike Blair]

What i heard is all the new amendment 3 boards are metal. And the plastic boards will have to be in a fire proof enclosure.

 

[shanky887614]

What i heard is all the new amendment 3 boards are metal. And the plastic boards will have to be in a fire proof enclosure.

not true, basically you could make your own fuseboard out of charcoal and as long as it is in a fire proof enclosure its fine.


the standard hasnt really changed much, the only thing that has changed is it is more strictly enforced on the manufacturers (i will beleive it when i see it)

the reg doesnt state metal so plastic complies

 

[Leesparkykent]

not true, basically you could make your own fuseboard out of charcoal and as long as it is in a fire proof enclosure its fine.


the standard hasnt really changed much, the only thing that has changed is it is more strictly enforced on the manufacturers (i will beleive it when i see it)

the reg doesnt state metal so plastic complies

well this is another whole debate lol.

 

[shanky887614]

well this is another whole debate lol.

well nothing in the regs say your not allowed plastic and it only states to take manufacturer's instructions under advisement.

its my opinion that a badly installed metal ccu is no safer than a plastic board and as such i believe it complies and as that is my opinion and i have taken the destructions into account so its my understanding it complies with the regs

 

[Leesparkykent]

What i heard is all the new amendment 3 boards are metal. And the plastic boards will have to be in a fire proof enclosure.

Mike here's a good article to read

Consumer units - IET Electrical

 

[Mike Blair]

thanks guys

 

[NDG Elecs]

I fitted my first metal clad board last week. I think I actually prefer them to be honest. The knock outs are easier to get out than the plastic ones for a start. I did think it would look too industrial in a domestic setting but it looks fine n dandy.

 

[telectrix]

from leesparky's link:

In this case, however, the manufacturer would have to provide suitable evidence to support the claim of non combustibility, and it is not presently clear what criteria would be used to judge the non combustibility of a material other than non-ferrous metal.

so does this mean that aluminium or other non-ferrous metals comply?

 

[Pete999]

I don't think I'll happily fit one of these things but if a manufacturer with a decent reputation comes out with one..........

I agree Trev LAP = CLAP as someone else so eloquently put it

 

[Octopus]

What i heard is all the new amendment 3 boards are metal. And the plastic boards will have to be in a fire proof enclosure.

Ah ha, this can of worms.

The regs for this don't come in until 1st Jan '16 so we have a few more months before the muppets resolve it satisfactorily!

 

[Tuttle]

I fitted my first metal clad board last week. I think I actually prefer them to be honest. The knock outs are easier to get out than the plastic ones for a start. I did think it would look too industrial in a domestic setting but it looks fine n dandy.

I haven't looked at the AM3 metal boards yet - do they provide some way of fire sealing the cable entries or is that left up to the installer to work out?

I notice the the IET seem to be saying that the installer must fire seal cable entries (from Jan next year), which sounds difficult to me, particularly in situations where lots of cables enter the back of the CU.

Out of interest, did you fire seal cable entries / did your board provide some way of sealing rear knock out holes?

 

[uksparks]

Fire foam, a good squirt all round the board, ensure you fill the board with it too, that's what the hole is for on the side, filling it up!

 

[uksparks]

I fitted my first metal clad board last week. I think I actually prefer them to be honest. The knock outs are easier to get out than the plastic ones for a start. I did think it would look too industrial in a domestic setting but it looks fine n dandy.

Have you got a photo?

 

[andyb]

Fire foam, a good squirt all round the board, ensure you fill the board with it too, that's what the hole is for on the side, filling it up!

And then enclose it in a fire proof enclosure, job done.