water heaters and c.u

[beaman]

hi all, been to look at a job for a plumber today who had fitted a pair of water storage heaters. he said he just needed a fcu brought to the area and the two heaters connected. however when i went round to have a look i was confronted with this -
in my opinion it is alittle to close to the c.u and the fire exit switch. however i dont seem to be able to find a reg. stating what distance these would need to be apart.
so any guidance would be much appreciated.
regards

 

[telectrix]

seen worse.

 

[ipf]

Yea, a lot worse. Might burn your forearms working on the cu though.

 

[Darkwood]

Hes restricted access to the plate sw/socket above (not sure what it is) he has also restricted access for his own lower heater for maintenance and repairs, i assume he fixed them to the wall in some way which is a cable zoning area so lucky he hasn't drilled one.

 

[Darkwood]

I also enquire to see if thats a safety pressure valve and if it operates will it create an hazard with it been under the dist' board.

 

[beaman]

yes it has a pressure release valve which goes out side. the switch plate is for testing the emergency exit lighting. he has said that he is going to box the heaters in, but that switche would be in the boxing.

 

[Darkwood]

So even restricting its access further, i assume its supplied direct out of CU, id be inclined to blank test switch off and relocate to L/H side of board using the regs for your reasoning with hot pipe in front testing could burn your arm, restricted access also, if the wires go through th CU it shouldnt be a big job.

 

[Knobhead]

Shift the switch and charge for it. Simple!

 

[ackbarthestar]

hi all, been to look at a job for a plumber today who had fitted a pair of water storage heaters. he said he just needed a fcu brought to the area and the two heaters connected. however when i went round to have a look i was confronted with this -View attachment 12379
in my opinion it is alittle to close to the c.u and the fire exit switch. however i dont seem to be able to find a reg. stating what distance these would need to be apart.
so any guidance would be much appreciated.
regards

You may find regs section 528 of use here...

 

[sedgy34]

put the switch above db and use exhisting hole for fcu on rcd
the DB was there first

 

[Darkwood]

put the switch above db and use exhisting hole for fcu on rcd
the DB was there first

I avoided suggesting above DB as thats where all the cables will be buried hence to the L/H side would be wiser, and using the old backbox for fcu would still be partly inaccessable and adjacent to very hot pipes making maintenance and testing an issue as O/P has also informed us a cupboard is being built around heaters.

 

[beaman]

Thanks for all the comments. In the end I moved the emergency lighting switch to above the c.u and the plumber boxed the heaters in below the c.u. so everything is easily accessible.

 

[Guitarist]

Is that phone pre-programmed for 999 by any chance?