Safe fused sour isolation palava

[Hisham Al-Bizri]

hi there guys,

I'm a lowly gas man but thought I would put my hand out to you helpful electricians to see if there is a better way to do the following!

I work for a rather large gas service and repair company and health and safety as I'm sure you will know is going a bit bonkers at the minute. Obviously I can see why but nevertheless I think there must be a better way than what they suggest to us.

Whenever I work on a boiler or system even if the spur is directly next to the appliance I have to remove the fuse and mechanically lock off the fused spur holder. At the minute the way we have been told to do it is with a tie wrap. Is there actually a proper item of kit hat will do this job instead of having to cut use cut use cut use tie wraps sometimes 4-5 times when in the house in between testing. It's bonkers I know but we have to do it so fair do's. I know they do a red box that you can fit under the two screws to the fused spur which you then can padlock but again that's adding more time to the situation

Hope someone can point me I the right direction

Kindest regards
Hisham

 

[Pete999]

Oki doki Pete thankyou for your input

No worries mate, glad to help, if BG take any notice that is, oh one more thing that socket and see thingy will trip RCDs about as much goo as a chocolate teapot, or a hand brake on a canoe.

 

[telectrix]

proper way is to ID the circuit breaker for the circuit you are working on. then utilise this ( or similar ).

with a padlock.

 

[Pete999]

proper way is to ID the circuit breaker for the circuit you are working on. then utilise this ( or similar ).

with a padlock.

It's BG Tel they have their own methods, a man of your experience should know that

 

[telectrix]

if \bg's methods kill a few plumbers, then good luck to them.

 

[Pete999]

if \bg's methods kill a few plumbers, then good luck to them.

Gas Engineers Tel, Gas Engineers. or should that be Gastricians, don't sound right does it?

 

[Richard Burns]

It seems BG are attempting to provide a system of locking off the line conductor from a fused spur using a device that requires a tool to remove (i.e. a cable tie).
If the fused spur were not on a socket circuit I am not sure how you could prove dead without removing it from the wall, though presumably you can test at the boiler terminals.
The IET and posters above have recommend using a padlock through the fuse holder like so.

 

[snowhead]

SOK 34 | Socket & See SOK 34 Mains Socket Tester 13A 230V ac, Model SOK 34 | Socket & See - http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/7047738/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Test_And_Measurement-_-Electrical_Test_Equipment-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&matchtype=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs62tsJO01gIVrbftCh0TcA2sEAYYAyABEgL8J_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wrong .

The clue was in my link;

"is used by over 8000 British Gas Service Engineers"

Socket and See PDL234 Plus Loop Testing Kit | ISSWWW.co.uk - http://isswww.co.uk/socket-and-see-pdl234-plus-part-p-loop-testing-kit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlZ2_4oi01gIVJyjTCh0PcA-bEAQYBCABEgJbgfD_BwE

 

[Pete999]

Wrong .

The clue was in my link;

"is used by over 8000 British Gas Service Engineers"

Socket and See PDL234 Plus Loop Testing Kit | ISSWWW.co.uk - http://isswww.co.uk/socket-and-see-pdl234-plus-part-p-loop-testing-kit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlZ2_4oi01gIVJyjTCh0PcA-bEAQYBCABEgJbgfD_BwE

The OP has confirmed that the one issued to him was the cheaoer of the two testers mentioned post 27

 

[Pete999]

It seems BG are attempting to provide a system of locking off the line conductor from a fused spur using a device that requires a tool to remove (i.e. a cable tie).
If the fused spur were not on a socket circuit I am not sure how you could prove dead without removing it from the wall, though presumably you can test at the boiler terminals.
The IET and posters above have recommend using a padlock through the fuse holder like so.

View attachment 38419

Yes Richard they would in their infinite wisdom, no mention of testing for polarity though? still think it's best to isolate at the CU, but each to his own I guess.

 

[HandySparks]

Removing the fuse from the fused spur, only isolates the Live conductor, which is not a good idea, the fused spur, may have been inadvertently been connected up incorrectly ie reversed polarity, securing the fuse holder is stupid as anyone working with you could easily cut the tie wrap, rendering your companies idea of safe isolation useless, There are kits out there that allow you to isolate the Circuit Breaker (CBs) covering the circuit the fused spur is connected to, and these can be bought from many of the Electrical wholesaler that litter the industrial estates.

Since most domestic MCBs are single pole, and it's not unknown to have reverse polarity on the supply tails, how is it safer to isolate at an MCB rather than at a SFCU?

 

[Pete999]

Since most domestic MCBs are single pole, and it's not unknown to have reverse polarity on the supply tails, how is it safer to isolate at an MCB rather than at a SFCU?

True but we are talking "what if's "

 

[HandySparks]

True but we are talking "what if's "

I've seen more reverse polarity supplies than SFCUs with L+N swapped.