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GEOFF S
Hi all
Protection against fire: the fire officer?s view - IET Electrical
Cheers
Protection against fire: the fire officer?s view - IET Electrical
Cheers
Discuss Consumer unit reasoning in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
Right I'm away to a job, enjoy the (recurring and almost certainly circular) debate guys.
Already been mentioned mate, better materials or design for the terminations.
Fike have designed a smoke bomb capsule for just this type of fire. Sadly it can not be installed in domestic properties. A domestic CU in the cupboard under the stairs full with coats and other combustible items, a smoke detector could save lifes and property.
So mains powered, interlinked smokes in houses, 1 near the CU and more elese where would be a better, policy IMHO.
Its not just CU's that catch fire in homes.
No they aren't, the regulation makes no mention of containing a fire it only requires that the box itself does not catch fire.
There is a big difference between being non combustible and being able to contain a fire!
You've got to now accept that any reports/statistics coming from any of the interested parties that support the metal only stand, are going to be totally biased towards that end, you'll not be getting any real facts about the alternatives or those materials that conform to current fire retardant BS/EN Standards....
Well not until they start having to backtrack or do the about turns because they haven't originally thought everything through. Knee Jerk reactions generally throw up all sorts of unforeseen problems, that cause other knee Jerk reactions, and so it goes on!! It used to be called ''Management By Crisis'' and it tends to get to be a very expensive exercise when left to it's own devices....
I really like that idea. Make it a reg on all new builds/rewires and CU changes to have a smoke detector within 3m of the CU. Easy and cheap.
Its still not solving the problem of poorly manufactured CU's and idiots installing them.
You might as well invent a small capsule that you fit inside the CU's that breaks under heat. The capsule fills the CU with foam... Problem solved...
Although, as I understand it, a CU is still allowed to have IP2X holes in the sides and bottom. Bit of a poor fire barrier!
I hear you but reading the report I think the concern is also that in a domestic setting CUs are usually found under stairs and near front doors so generally a fire there would impede escape.
Its still not solving the problem of poorly manufactured CU's and idiots installing them.
You might as well invent a small capsule that you fit inside the CU's that breaks under heat. The capsule fills the CU with foam... Problem solved...
The report specifically mentions the difference in CU that even with standard MCBs and no grommets still contain a fire quite well.
People trust us as electricians to give sound advice. Why can't we trust the fire brigade to give equally good advice?
This reg is not for stopping fires spreading completely but just to slow them down. Once the occupants are out - job done.
This is a life saving measure.
Nowhere does it state metal only DBs.
Maybe, but you don't have to be a Phd to understand that is the overall intension of the CU amendment!!
I disagree. I think there will be loads of non-metallic CUs coming out before Jan.
Of course you disagree, but then you change your mind with the wind!! At the beginning of this thread you couldn't agree more with the change to metal CU/DB's!!!
Of course you disagree, but then you change your mind with the wind!! At the beginning of this thread you couldn't agree more with the change to metal CU/DB's!!!
Again you are mistaken. I have never mentioned metal CUs. I said non-combustible. Why are you obsessed with metal? There are other materials that can still meet this new amendment. So I have not changed my mind at all. I fully support the change and always have and it will make zero difference to my day to day activities as an electrician.
Again you are mistaken. I have never mentioned metal CUs. I said non-combustible. Why are you obsessed with metal? There are other materials that can still meet this new amendment. So I have not changed my mind at all. I fully support the change and always have and it will make zero difference to my day to day activities as an electrician.
I'm not mistaken at all!! We already have non-combustible plastic CU's, it's just they won't now tell you the manufactures, Tell me, why would they be testing non fire retardant CU's in the first place FFS for added effect for the promotion of metal CU's maybe? The article that so impressed you,was promoting the use of metal based CU's, NOT fire retardant Plastic CU's!!!
Reply to Consumer unit reasoning in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
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