D.I. tails entry to c/u.

[Soulsurfer]

Hey all, regarding the entry of d.i. meter tails into a consumer unit I was called to a recent job to quote for a few alterations and people have just moved in, informed me just before they bought that new consumer unit had been fitted etc.. all looks o.k. but meter tails and main earth have been brought in through a 32mm compression gland / rubber packed, and all t & e's through opened knockout and just grommet strip on top of casing. I am doing a new unit on another job soon and local dno are saying just a standard plastic gland is fine ! I'm thinking what's the point of say Wiska sprint metal glands made for Amendment 3 or intumescent sealants if the dno is saying don't need to ? Those glands aren't cheap and customers want cheap as possible of late !

Rather not leave my work open to problems if not maintaining non-combustible ratings, any opinions ?

 

[Pete999]

Not the DNO's remit to tell you whats OK and what isn't

 

[Leesparkykent]

A bush and lock ring is perfectly acceptable for the tails to enter the CCU at the bottom. Its been a tried and tested method for years. However I do like to use the tail glands as they do provide for better ingress protection. From this place you can get a nylon tail gland for under 2 squid.http://remora.net/catalogue/nylon-cable-glands-plugs/GripLoc-Consumer-Unit-Tail-Kits

 

[Midwest]

Hey all, regarding the entry of d.i. meter tails into a consumer unit I was called to a recent job to quote for a few alterations and people have just moved in, informed me just before they bought that new consumer unit had been fitted etc.. all looks o.k. but meter tails and main earth have been brought in through a 32mm compression gland / rubber packed, and all t & e's through opened knockout and just grommet strip on top of casing. I am doing a new unit on another job soon and local dno are saying just a standard plastic gland is fine ! I'm thinking what's the point of say Wiska sprint metal glands made for Amendment 3 or intumescent sealants if the dno is saying don't need to ? Those glands aren't cheap and customers want cheap as possible of late !

Rather not leave my work open to problems if not maintaining non-combustible ratings, any opinions ?

Where have your read or been advised that you need to maintain non-combustible ratings? Wiska also manufacture a plastic gland for the exact same purpose.

The only recommendation I've read/heard is to maintain IP ratings.

So plastic is fantastic, and keep your sealants for the bathroom!

 

[Darkwood]

As above, there is no requirement for the glanding other than cables entering the board need to be suitable clamped or glanded so as to not put any forces on the terminations if the cables were to be knocked, moved, wiggled etc outside the dist' board. (existing regulations)

This Ammendment 3 crap with metal enclosures is all down to the quality of the product lowering over the last 2 decades coupled with the training standards of those fitting them been lower, CU fires was a rarity tbh pre-90s and the boards were made out of wood quite often.

This Amm'3 is just a knee jerk reaction to try pick up the pieces of relaxed regulations and lowered educational standards, so on that note, as long as the cables are suitably clamped and the terminations tight then a compression gland is fine, btw the Nylon glands are fire resistant and low smoke too so I cannot see the issue.

These new Amm3 glands are jumping on the fear wagon of all the confusion about what is required so yes I agree, what is the point in these metal glands.

 

[Octopus]

Just goes to show what a farce the AMD3 CU changes are .......

 

[Soulsurfer]

Cheers Lee they're smart bit of kit those glands.

 

[Soulsurfer]

Thanks all, seems once again false / over complicated info and / or scaremongering from other confused electrician and the builder who thinks anything not solid steel is now void as not non-combustible !

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Personally I think it's worth not using top K/O's in the interests of at least trying to enter into the spirit of am3....!
However there has been some recent literature from Hager who have found that using any of the K/O's in the normal manner does not affect the fire containing characteristic's of an Am3 DB.

 

[sparksburnout]

A bush and lock ring is perfectly acceptable for the tails to enter the CCU at the bottom. Its been a tried and tested method for years. However I do like to use the tail glands as they do provide for better ingress protection. From this place you can get a nylon tail gland for under 2 squid.GripLoc® Consumer Unit Tail Kits - Remora Electrical Limited

Yeah with £7.50 postage! I have been looking round all over to try and get these at a decent price, even TLC are doing them at £3.50, which is expensive compared to remora prices. Anyone found them elsewhere?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Buy 20 at a time then and combine the postage.....some places are charging nearly £10 just for a wiska sprint gland.

 

[sparksburnout]

Buy 20 at a time then and combine the postage.....some places are charging nearly £10 just for a wiska sprint gland.

Yeah I reckon that's what I'm going to have to do. A local wholesalers was doing them on "special offer" for £4.75!!! Big deal huh when Remora are doing them at £1.72 or something! I might see if another spark round here wants to order some as well.

 

[netblindpaul]

I've never in my life seen double insulated tails, so I have no idea what you lot are on about.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I've never in my life seen double insulated tails, so I have no idea what you lot are on about.

The OP obviously means insulated and sheathed.....

 

[Simonslimline]

I've never in my life seen double insulated tails, so I have no idea what you lot are on about.

Insulated and sheathed on the other hand!

 

[Simonslimline]

The OP obviously means insulated and sheathed.....

Too fast as usual.

 

[netblindpaul]

The OP obviously means insulated and sheathed.....

Insulated and sheathed on the other hand!

So why STATE double insulated then?

Sheathing is not classed as insulation in the cable standard.

Get the terms right, get the Engineering right, then it all works.

 

[Leesparkykent]

So why STATE double insulated then?

Sheathing is not classed as insulation in the cable standard.

Get the terms right, get the Engineering right, then it all works.

Its a common mistake made by a few sparks but im sure most knew what the op meant.

 

[Soulsurfer]

Locally & throughout apprenticeship 25 years ago always been referred to as DI tails as in insulated brown / blue eg. 16mm copper then grey sleeve sheath over top, didn't mean double insulated eg class 2 like a DVD player flex ! All wholesalers refer as DI tails even the DNO. obviously someone's a bit pedantic !

 

[netblindpaul]

Its a common mistake made by a few sparks but im sure most knew what the op meant.

Why make assumptions, get facts right and all goes well, make assumptions and things go wrong.
This is one of the major issues with communications these days, people are too lax with FACTS.
Get facts right and the rest falls into place, things are not ambiguous any more.
Ask NASA about Mars Landers, and you'll see what I mean.

It is this exact lackadaisical attitude that is the reason for Amd3 metal CU's and the proliferation of Electrical Trainee, and the general de-skilling of industry, trades and other previously skilled positions.

I HATE it, I HATE the lax attitude, the pathetic grammar, and incompetent descriptions of "stuff" that leads to confusion and ultimately enhances the downward spiral of Engineering.