Amendment 3

[Risteard]

Why does it not apply to commercial premises?

Because the Electricity at Work Regulations requires adequate maintenance etc. would be at least a large part of the reason.

Anyway, in a commercial premises I would generally expect to see a proper (steel) TPN distribution board and not a rubbish plastic single phase domestic one.

 

[telectrix]

playing devil's advocate here..... on a EIC, there's a little box whereby one can enter departures from BS7671. ( these are departures where the safety of the installation is not compromised by such a departure). ​therefore a plastic CU, properly installed, with tight connections can be fitted and noted as a departure.

 

[Risteard]

playing devil's advocate here..... on a EIC, there's a little box whereby one can enter departures from BS7671. ( these are departures where the safety of the installation is not compromised by such a departure). ​therefore a plastic CU, properly installed, with tight connections can be fitted and noted as a departure.

You would want deep pockets to make that claim though...

 

[Leesparkykent]

playing devil's advocate here..... on a EIC, there's a little box whereby one can enter departures from BS7671. ( these are departures where the safety of the installation is not compromised by such a departure). ​therefore a plastic CU, properly installed, with tight connections can be fitted and noted as a departure.

Yes but a departure is something that doesn't strictly comply to 7671 but offers the same level of safety as compliance. Meter man comes along changes the meter, gives the tails a good tug when fitting new meter and consequently loosens the tails in the top of the main switch.... If the board then caught fire do you think a court would see that as a departure offers the same level of safety as compliance?

 

[telectrix]

haha. i'd like to think that he'd rip the CU off the wall before he loosened one of my terminations. i always give the tails a bloody good tug some 10 minutes after installing. generally find that with the settlement of the strands, a good turn or more is reqiured to achieve a tight connection. bet they don't teach that on a 5 week course.

 

[Adam W]

I always thought the reason we had these part P qualified domestic installers who are only supposed to be doing domestic work is that they can install pre-designed circuits out of the onsite guide - it's sockets and switches, and maybe a cooker switch and electric shower.

Commercial and industrial work can throw up more specialist requirements such as designing containment systems beyond chasing into bricks or fishing behind plasterboard, volt drop can be a real issue, and the installation could be used for any variety of different purposes beyond someone living there.
As such the situation may arise where it would be more practical to install a plastic enclosure; maybe there is a lot of moisture in the air - maybe salt or chlorinated water, maybe it's in an otherwise damp area or somewhere which will be subjected to water jets either during operation or for cleaning. That would be for the skilled electrician to decide on a case by case basis - it's too simplistic just to ban them in case they're installed by unskilled people.

 

[andyb]

It seems that I dozed off after a liquid lunch and woken up 12 months earlier with this thread.

 

[telectrix]

the earth goes round in circles once a year. what's special about the forum that it should deny the law of physics.?

 

[Geordie Spark]

haha. i'd like to think that he'd rip the CU off the wall before he loosened one of my terminations. i always give the tails a bloody good tug some 10 minutes after installing. generally find that with the settlement of the strands, a good turn or more is reqiured to achieve a tight connection. bet they don't teach that on a 5 week course.

I do hope you're tightening them to the Manufacturers Specification with your Torque Screwdriver! :leaving:

 

[telectrix]

I do hope you're tightening them to the Manufacturers Specification with your Torque Screwdriver! :leaving:

i have a spell problem. is torque spelt I.M.P.A.C.T?

 

[Geordie Spark]

i have a spell problem. is torque spelt I.M.P.A.C.T?

Close enough. :yesnod:

 

[malcolmsanford]

I do use plastic boards over here in server rooms and also where we need a distribution panel in say an office type area. Often here classrooms/training rooms have local panels

We use the Legrand XL type units. It really is a choice of enviroment. Not sure you want or need a TPN metal clad board in an office type enviroment.

 

[uksparks]

Having now fitted 5 of the new Hager Design 30 boards, I really like the metal boards.

 

[Andy78]

Having now fitted 5 of the new Hager Design 30 boards, I really like the metal boards.

I have only fitted the design 10. Is there much of a difference apart from the cable clamp ?

 

[uksparks]

I have only fitted the design 10. Is there much of a difference apart from the cable clamp ?

The lid is better and if I'm correct the knockouts on the back are better, I can go and look and tell you later as going to the shop in a bit

 

[gnselectricals]

The bg boards are pretty good and cheap ish. Also tried the wiska self sealing ko plugs last week and there ok as well

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Unfortunately, over tightening of cable terminations appears to be the cause of the Clarence House fire.

 

[Delboybully]

haha. i'd like to think that he'd rip the CU off the wall before he loosened one of my terminations. i always give the tails a bloody good tug some 10 minutes after installing. generally find that with the settlement of the strands, a good turn or more is reqiured to achieve a tight connection. bet they don't teach that on a 5 week course.

They did on my one!!!!

 

[TEZREZ]

We the trade have to put up with it again!
Its just turning full circle of what we used 50 years ago
Would you really put in a plastic CU in an Industrial Job
Rez

 

[Hawk]

No I would use metal to be honest