Actually I am now not so sure your CU would meet the 3rd amendment regs.
Actually I am now not so sure your CU would meet the 3rd amendment regs.
Why's that Adam?
It's not combustible. Granted it will not contain fire (large openings in the rear, no itumescent seals) - but as far as I can follow from the IET wibblings none of that is required.
It does not matter because my CU predates next Jan, but I am interested in your theory as the sub-CU I will add later will need to comply.
ISTR that your CU does not have a metal cover (hinged or other) over the MCBs.
Sir, you may be thinking of another. Mine has a full sized cover made of metal and hinged on one side, with a lock on the other.
Assuming I remember to put it back of course - it is on lift off hinges.
it's the 28 way version of that ^^
Sorry. I was thinking that you had the smoked plastic cover.
smoked plastic is what we're trying to avoid :-)
Owain
16th Edition was the last one which wasn't sold out to commercial interests. 17th Edition had swathes of the industry pushing to get their own products made mandatory in it.
The non-combustible consumer units was pushed on to them by the Fire Brigade organisation, having dealt with so many plastic CU fires, which are doubly lethal as they are oftem positioned in the stairway escape route, and with flammable products stored next to them. I always thought plastic CU's (particularly the modern cheap thermosoftening plastic ones) were a bad idea. I fitted commercial metal ones myself, even though more expensive, but that's the sort of thing can can easily do if you DIY.
Double insulated kits have been available for some metal CU's for years. They basically provide an extra plastic layer to insulate the incomer cables/connections through to the RCD.
My limited experience suggests that it may be worthwhile to periodically check the tightness of *every* wiring connection in a house. Haven't seen many examples of overheating, but have come across quite a few connections which seemed to have become less than tight.
Technically the tails are already double insulated. So this would be "triple insulation"?
But there would be something to be said for a plastic sub enclosure in all CUs to fully separate the incomer from the final circuits.
Is this an alternative means of meeting the requirement?
(from electrical contractor forums)
Owain
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