Time to voice OUR opinion

[Octopus]

So its now less than 1 year to metal CU's and fire retardent cable entries.....

So is this a good idea or not?

I think its a ill thought out requirement and needs to be reconsidered...

So please vote in my poll!

 

[sammyshooter]

Don't forget your cable penetrations into a steel enclosure, I wonder how many people actually carry edging grommet?

I second the general consensus, if installed correctly, where lies the issue?

 

[D Skelton]

Don't forget your cable penetrations into a steel enclosure, I wonder how many people actually carry edging grommet?

I second the general consensus, if installed correctly, where lies the issue?

Can't use grommet strip, that would mean that the fireproof seal of the metal casing would have been broken. The only way around this issue is to use fire proof glands. Either that or normal glands and then a heap of fire foam squirted over the cable entries.

Gonna look well nice in the customer's hallway innit!

 

[VoltzElectrical]

The poll wasn't there when I posted mate but I just did. I took option 3.

Likewise, but before I read Trev's post. Nice to know I'm not the only one.

 

[Marvo]

......but they still contain lots of plastic which will still (potentially) not be nipped up properly thus the arcing and heating can still occur and cause fires.

I'm sure that I read somewhere they've developed a steel hybrid compound made from 80% mild steel and 20% bull5h1t which has great insulating properties and they're going to start making the MCB's and the busbar insulators from it.

I don't understand the requirement in the new amendment, there's no tablet for stupidity and ineptitude, why start accommodating these qualities in the regs.

You could radically reduce the CU fires with a thermal image so wouldn't it be much easier to include thermal imaging with a basic flir camera into the EICR or whatever that test certificate is that you do on installations in the UK.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

New regulations like this are made a mockery of by the lack of the necessity for retrofit upgrades. If the old standards are now deemed dangerous for future installation, then surely by that logic, they need to be brought up to the new standard?

It's the same with alterations and EICRs. How can one part of an installation (to previous regulations) be OK to leave in service, but an addition must meet a new (higher?) standard?

It's double standards, is what it is!

 

[baldsparkies]

I just find it hard to believe that the plastic outer casing of a consumer unit is the primary cause of electrical fires throughout the UK.
Statistics can be generated to suit any change in regulations without any real justification.
Politicians do it all the time, one lot come up with one set of statistics only to be countered by the other mob who will come up with completely different figures.
In my years in the game most heat has been generated by loose connections, and usually its the neutral that's the culprit.
Sometimes its a main switch that overheats again down to poor connections, but the pong is usually a give away before fires develop.
The main offenders that have almost caused timbers to catch are those bloody round ****ty brown JB's that lurk under floorboards with 5 x 2.5 T/E crammed in em right next to a charred dry wooden joist.

 

[rompling]

I think marvo 's idea of thermal image camera used on eic and EICR is a great idea

 

[Redvanman]

I've been installing boards for 30 years and never had a fire so not sure why I should be made to install metal boards in people's houses cos some idiot doesn't know how to tighten terminals correctly.
Personnally I think the manufacturers will just prove their insulated boards meet with the required regulations.
How the hell are you supposed to get the cables into the top of the board if there isn't enough entry holes.
I can see customers being well impressed with 3x3 metal trunking installed in their hall way.

 

[ipf]

So the C.U. has to be metal but the DNO can fit plastic cut outs and meters?

No Electrical Trainee's among them........ a few ex meter readers though..:annoyed:

 

[gutterball]

It's the insides of the boards that is needing improved. Not crappy breakers that split apart when you tighten them or the earth screws that sheered off on the wylex board I fitted the other day.

 

[R G]

Thats my line of thinking as well , the quality of the breakers , main switch and all the internal parts is well below that of the previous decades , double screws would help on the main switch for a start , and decent sized neutral & earth bars and screws would help too , as for the breakers , there must be loads around that haven't been changed on the Electrium recall , the quality of some of theses is dire , leaving the electrician having to be careful what they purchase ..

It seems like a metal casing is now required to allow the inferior quality of these units to continue ....

 

[PEG]

Before this thread descends into one long howl at the moon...There is a "new" minimum standard,to add to the list,and,as Mr.Skelton has mentioned,the leeway in those regs,to not have to adhere. There are usually ways round,what seem like restrictive guidelines,that result a better end.
Government,and governing bodies ideas at solving problems,rarely get a double first...anyone remember the amended firearms legislation? Cheer up lads :bobby:

 

[andyelectric]

I personally would be wary of putting 'the customer asked me not to' as valid reasoning on a risk assessment.

 

[D Skelton]

I personally would be wary of putting 'the customer asked me not to' as valid reasoning on a risk assessment.

No one said to do so.

It is a valid reason however to put down in the section for departures on an electrical installation certificate, along with reference to an attached risk assessment.

 

[davesparks]

I've been installing boards for 30 years and never had a fire so not sure why I should be made to install metal boards in people's houses cos some idiot doesn't know how to tighten terminals correctly.
Personnally I think the manufacturers will just prove their insulated boards meet with the required regulations.
How the hell are you supposed to get the cables into the top of the board if there isn't enough entry holes.
I can see customers being well impressed with 3x3 metal trunking installed in their hall way.

Drill more holes or make the existing ones bigger