torque requirements of MCB terminals

[spud1]

Does anyone know the general torque requirements of MCB terminals?
Just bought myself a new torque screwdriver set and ought to know what I should be setting it to!

 

[R G]

We can only hope that the poorly installed threaded screws and bars are rectified and better quality parts within the boards to at least attempt to use a torque driver , so it seems they want to make the boards fire proof to mask the quality of them ....LOL,,,,,

 

[jamie-spark]

What ever happened to, you know that it's tight enough. Is this the Electrical Trainee bull****

 

[Guest666]

MCB torque settings are one thing. But the literature that comes with the MCB does not know the cable that you are using. A torque setting for a 10mm cable may well damage a 1.5mm. Use your knowledge and skill to determine if the cable is tight enough and take your torque driver back. Just because you tightened with a torque driver does not mean that all responsibility is given up by you when it comes to the quality of the termination.

 

[enlighting]

I was at a NAPIT seminar this evening, a chap from the IET was also there to enlighten us and this matter was discussed.

It would appear in the eyes of NAPIT and the IET that the regulation stating manufacturers instructions must be followed does in fact require the use of a torque driver on not only your cable terminations but the checking of factory terminations as well. I m pretty sure that not all manufacturers instructions include torque settings, for example the Cheaper brands like CPN and the God awful CHINT boards (I do plan on verifying this).

As is often the case this is a regulation written for an ideal word and IMO leaves the electrician exposed to potential prosecution. But maybe I'm just being synical.

As it happens I do own a torque driver and use it whenever I discover manufacturers indicated settings, for example the Schneider (Merlin Gerin) breakers and boards have the NM requirement printed on them. I feel that if things are moving in the direction of electricians being required to install to precise torque settings all manufacturers should display there torque settings on the breakers themselves not buried in a leaflet or in some cases listed on a website.

 

[shanky887614]

I was at a NAPIT seminar this evening, a chap from the IET was also there to enlighten us and this matter was discussed.

It would appear in the eyes of NAPIT and the IET that the regulation stating manufacturers instructions must be followed does in fact require the use of a torque driver on not only your cable terminations but the checking of factory terminations as well. I m pretty sure that not all manufacturers instructions include torque settings, for example the Cheaper brands like CPN and the God awful CHINT boards (I do plan on verifying this).

As is often the case this is a regulation written for an ideal word and IMO leaves the electrician exposed to potential prosecution. But maybe I'm just being synical.

As it happens I do own a torque driver and use it whenever I discover manufacturers indicated settings, for example the Schneider (Merlin Gerin) breakers and boards have the NM requirement printed on them. I feel that if things are moving in the direction of electricians being required to install to precise torque settings all manufacturers should display there torque settings on the breakers themselves not buried in a leaflet or in some cases listed on a website.

the new regs say to take into account.

i took the recommend nm into acount your honor but the cables were still loose so i tightened them up properly lol

 

[Andy78]

I was at a NAPIT seminar this evening, a chap from the IET was also there to enlighten us and this matter was discussed.

It would appear in the eyes of NAPIT and the IET that the regulation stating manufacturers instructions must be followed does in fact require the use of a torque driver on not only your cable terminations but the checking of factory terminations as well. I m pretty sure that not all manufacturers instructions include torque settings, for example the Cheaper brands like CPN and the God awful CHINT boards (I do plan on verifying this).

As is often the case this is a regulation written for an ideal word and IMO leaves the electrician exposed to potential prosecution. But maybe I'm just being synical.

As it happens I do own a torque driver and use it whenever I discover manufacturers indicated settings, for example the Schneider (Merlin Gerin) breakers and boards have the NM requirement printed on them. I feel that if things are moving in the direction of electricians being required to install to precise torque settings all manufacturers should display there torque settings on the breakers themselves not buried in a leaflet or in some cases listed on a website.

Good job this reg will be no more in a couple of weeks then......

 

[enlighting]

the new regs say to take into account.

i took the recommend nm into acount your honor but the cables were still loose so i tightened them up properly lol

Ha ha! Yes im with you there!

I have not read the reg in Am 3 yet as im still saving my pennnies to pay for yet another set of Regs books ��

 

[shanky887614]

Ha ha! Yes im with you there!

I have not read the reg in Am 3 yet as im still saving my pennnies to pay for yet another set of Regs books ��

im not buying the guidance notes till i either go self employed or the 18th comes out


why should we have to buy upto 8gn books every amendment. thats a lot of money

 

[enlighting]

I assume they were reffering to the ammended regulation

 

[Andy78]

im not buying the guidance notes till i either go self employed or the 18th comes out

I wouldn't either seeing as they can't be bothered to print them correctly.

 

[enlighting]

I wouldn't either seeing as they can't be bothered to print them correctly.

Ha ha yes apparently a number of misprints "slipped through the net due to the software we use" very shoddy indeed

 

[Andy78]

I assume they were reffering to the ammended regulation

From the IET website, although I do not have the yellow book to verify that this is the exact wording that made it into AMD3.

Regulation 134.1.1 has been changed from:
"Good workmanship by competent persons or persons under their supervision and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. Electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the equipment."
to:
"Good workmanship by skilled (electrically) or instructed (electrically) persons and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. The installation of electrical equipment shall take account of manufacturers’ instructions."

 

[enlighting]

From the IET website, although I do not have the yellow book to verify that this is the exact wording that made it into AMD3.

Regulation 134.1.1 has been changed from:
"Good workmanship by competent persons or persons under their supervision and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. Electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the equipment."
to:
"Good workmanship by skilled (electrically) or instructed (electrically) persons and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. The installation of electrical equipment shall take account of manufacturers’ instructions."

Looks like they have managed to make it into even more of a grey area!

 

[shanky887614]

Looks like they have managed to make it into even more of a grey area!

thats exactly the same as in my byb

 

[Andy78]

Looks like they have managed to make it into even more of a grey area!

No it's actually a good thing. It takes away the requirement to follow instructions blindly when the instructions for some pieces of equipment are unsuitable to be followed. Examples would be where a range of cookers of different ratings are all given a blanket instruction to suit the highest rated in the range, or where a product sold European wide has instructions that go against our wiring regs.

There still is and was a reg that covers the correct selection of equipment for purpose, use, environment etc that states to take account of instructions, but the installer is not always the same fella as does the selection of equipment.

 

[enlighting]

Thats a fair point.

I wont be loosing any sleep over my traditionaly hand tightend installs

 

[derbylad]

Difference being Torque screwdrivers/ torque setting screws etc is now regulations.

torque screwdrivers are for the 5 week wonders who need to be taught how to suck eggs

 

[Eddiesparks]

Torque recommendations- impact driver for 10 seconds. Good luck you may not have a board left after that

 

[Pete999]

NICEIC ask to see your torque screwdriver during inspection. I could rub some mud on it and make it looked used. A strong wrist and experience is all you need to do up an MCB, luckily I have both (No jokes about strong wrists please)

That's the NICEIC rules not the BS 7671 Regulations, do Stroma, Elecsa and the rest of the scams have the same rule?

 

[uksparks]

I have a torque screwdriver and I use it on breakers etc but not the earth and neutral bars, it states in the manufacturers data that it needs to be 2.5Nm or something, but you will find if you tighten a gaged board up to what it says with say a 1mm conductor it snaps it and an MK board it doesn't because the bottom of the screw is not as sharp.

just use common sense and experience.

 

[Robert Turnbull]

on a EICR today I got 9 Turns on the Tails with my driver set to 2.0nm

My torque driver has saved me from a long insurance battle after a DB set on fire about 4 months after I did a EICR. I check all terminals in DB with it once I have finished, as far a NIC (Consultant to client) Were concerned There was no responsibility on my shoulders!

 

[Robert Turnbull]

and double screwed main switches are on there way back in...... So i've been told, and i have actually had some wylex ones recently