Discuss Consumer unit installed on it's side. in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

One of the new regulations, 536.4.203, states that devices and components that are used in low voltage assemblies (to BS EN 61439) such as consumer units, and distribution boards must only be those that have been declared suitable for that purpose by the manufacturer of the assembly. Or put another way: only use manufacturer approved parts, don’t mix brands of devices or control items.


Each manufacturer of electrical switchgear designs and tests its own products for use in combination with each other, not with other brands. So if someone were to use a mixture of brands they would be creating an untested assembly and untested assemblies aren’t backed by manufacturer guarantees.


Obviously, no manufacturer can guarantee an installation that hasn’t been completed in line with the manufacturer's installation instructions. But that doesn’t mean that manufacturers won’t permit control items to be added to an assembly. Electrium, for example, offers a custom build facility and will design & build factory built assemblies that will carry a manufacturer guarantee, even if the assembly includes non Electrium products.


Readers should be aware that the notes relative to 536.4.203 state that if the assembly deviates from the original manufacturers' instructions then the person introducing that deviation becomes the manufacturer. So if you have an installation that requires non-standard arrangements talk to the manufacturer about how to provide this in a compliant manner.


Using unapproved parts will invalidate manufacturer guarantees and may result in an unsafe installation.
so where do it says you can not turn the C/U on its side and what about three phase boards .
One of the new regulations, 536.4.203, states that devices and components that are used in low voltage assemblies (to BS EN 61439) such as consumer units, and distribution boards must only be those that have been declared suitable for that purpose by the manufacturer of the assembly. Or put another way: only use manufacturer approved parts, don’t mix brands of devices or control items.


Each manufacturer of electrical switchgear designs and tests its own products for use in combination with each other, not with other brands. So if someone were to use a mixture of brands they would be creating an untested assembly and untested assemblies aren’t backed by manufacturer guarantees.


Obviously, no manufacturer can guarantee an installation that hasn’t been completed in line with the manufacturer's installation instructions. But that doesn’t mean that manufacturers won’t permit control items to be added to an assembly. Electrium, for example, offers a custom build facility and will design & build factory built assemblies that will carry a manufacturer guarantee, even if the assembly includes non Electrium products.


Readers should be aware that the notes relative to 536.4.203 state that if the assembly deviates from the original manufacturers' instructions then the person introducing that deviation becomes the manufacturer. So if you have an installation that requires non-standard arrangements talk to the manufacturer about how to provide this in a compliant manner.


Using unapproved parts will invalidate manufacturer guarantees and may result in an unsafe installation.
so where do it says you can not turn the C/U on its side and what about three phase boards .
It doesn't say in the regs....but if the manufacturers instructions say you cant then you cant.......follow manufacturers instructions......easy
 
One of the new regulations, 536.4.203, states that devices and components that are used in low voltage assemblies (to BS EN 61439) such as consumer units, and distribution boards must only be those that have been declared suitable for that purpose by the manufacturer of the assembly. Or put another way: only use manufacturer approved parts, don’t mix brands of devices or control items.

Taking the above comment possibly to a bit of an extreme, If I have a Hager board and fit Siemens MCB's the quote above would seem the indicate the installation does not conform?
 
As manufacturers guidelines cannot cover 100% of circumstances then sometimes it's down to your call, you have to make the decission as to weather it's safe.
Mounting a DB sideways is NOT dangerous.
 
considering thet in Australia you mount them upside down........
 
As manufacturers guidelines cannot cover 100% of circumstances then sometimes it's down to your call, you have to make the decission as to weather it's safe.
Mounting a DB sideways is NOT dangerous.

sideways (vertically mounted) could indeed be the ‘correct’orientation and everyone else has been doing it wrong for years...
 

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