Tails inside consumer unit bare copper, not terminated correctly - C1 or C2 ?

[vwes59]

Ok, I'm in the middle of an EICR for a client. The tails are going into the consumer unit in separate holes (It's metal, so that's against the regs), and then inside the consumer unit they have been terminated in a really shoddy way with bare copper showing. Now copper showing on the tails is a C1 outside the CU, but is it still a C1 inside the CU given you would have to remove the cover before risking an electric shock ?

 

[telectrix]

pictures please. from you description, I'd hazard a C2.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

IMO:

Tails entering through different holes: C3, based on a JW vid I saw where he tested this at ~100A, and nothing really happened.

Copper on show: I'd need to see a photo, but it would have to be really bad to warrant more than a C3. CU's full of live copper after all.

 

[MJPD29]

Definetly not a c1 although it is poor workmanship the terminal screw is live and can be touched whether the copper is showing or not and that does not receive a code. It does not present an immediate danger. C3 at most.

 

[LewisM]

No more than a C3 as its within an enclosure. Could note poor workmanship too.

 

[Dustydazzler]

How much copper ? 2 mm then nothing to worry about , 2 cm then its rough as my badgers arse

 

[Petej999]

Ok, I'm in the middle of an EICR for a client. The tails are going into the consumer unit in separate holes (It's metal, so that's against the regs), and then inside the consumer unit they have been terminated in a really shoddy way with bare copper showing. Now copper showing on the tails is a C1 outside the CU, but is it still a C1 inside the CU given you would have to remove the cover before risking an electric shock ?

pictures please

 

[vwes59]

How much copper ? 2 mm then nothing to worry about , 2 cm then its rough as my badgers arse

I'll post a photo tomorrow, but it's a lot, at least 1cm or more. The only place copper should be showing is at the neutral or earth bars, the bus bar should be covered. As a matter of interest the codebreakers book states any copper showing on line conductors is at least a C2

 

[westward10]

I'll post a photo tomorrow, but it's a lot, at least 1cm or more. The only place copper should be showing is at the neutral or earth bars, the bus bar should be covered. As a matter of interest the codebreakers book states any copper showing on line conductors is at least a C2

Aside from opinion on here and Codebreakers which is generally considered a joke what do you think and why. To compile a Report you must have enough competence and knowledge to assess the type of installation you are working on.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

The only place copper should be showing is at the neutral or earth bars, the bus bar should be covered.

Supposedly not an issue, according to BPG4:

Items that should not be listed as non-compliances with BS 7671 and do not require reporting (Mythbusting):

Absence of barriers inside a consumer unit (provided the cover is removable only with the use of a key or tool)

 

[JAISNOW]

C1 might go up

 

[DPG]

C1 might go up

C1? Why?

 

[Lister1987]

C1? Why?

Unless the barriers and front cover are off, or the copper is out and exposed going into the tails gland I'd C2 myself, purely because it drives the requirement to fix, that said a few seconds to chop and re-terminate and no code at all, depends how you see it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

If you C1 exposed copper then potentially every pendant would be a C1

At worst a poorly stripped conductor leaving too much bare wire showing is a C2 as an untrained person fiddling inside the enclosuer could touch the bare wires. Which then questions why is an untrained person fiddling with the wiring in the first place

For me C1 should only be used for really serious things like a bare wire exposed so anyone can touch it. If that wire is inside a box then its much less of an issue

 

[timhoward]

that said a few seconds to chop and re-terminate and no code at all,

This. One could always consider fixing it as a goodwill gesture to the customer.