Fuseboard mounted sideways?

[Crosswire]

Does this count as a non conformance?

 

[Tony Way]

No, I wouldn't have thought so, as long as cables comming out are supported correctly.

I'm not saying it looks right, but think 3ph boards... They have all but the main switch mounted sideways.

 

[Farmelectrics]

A picture would be good

 

[Crosswire]

A picture would be good

OK, a little explanation.

I am booked into an EICR this Tuesday, on a two bed flat. The person ordering the works seems to think that it will be an "instant fail" (their words) due to the fact that the property has 3(No.) BS3036 fuseboards which have been mounted sideways.

I am not so sure, namely due to the reason cited by Tony Way , (above).

I couldn't find anything against it in the Regs or the OSG, but wanted to pick the brains of sparks on this forum before I said it wasn't a nonconformance.

Hope this clears things up a bit!

 

[MDJ]

I wouldn't like a sideways board myself, however to answer the question it is not a non-conformance as far as I can see, a rough Job though IMO, but hey thats me and it is Friday.

 

[Steve_P]

Sounds like they want them to fail.

 

[Octopus]

Why would a CU mounted at 90 degrees be a fail?? Sometimes its the only way to fit it in!

Also if the person asking for the report is trying to "steer" you to fail it I would ignore them, its your name on the report!

 

[Crosswire]

Sounds like they want them to fail.

Seems like one of customers who throws a wobbly whenever they see a 3036 board. The fact that there are three of them, and are mounted sideways, just seems to seal the deal in their mind.

By the way the customer is a letting agent who will almost certainly agree to a replacement if I recommend it.

However I am not that merciless... I just want to give an accurate report.

 

[ziggless]

i aint seen it before be intresting to see what your talking bout

 

[Martyc]

Doesn't the electricity fall out?

 

[Steve_P]

With any report, tell it how it is. If they sound like they want it all swapped out though maybe let them know the cost of a new board, there's not much difference filling in an EIC or an EICR really but no, no point doing something just for the sake of it.

 

[MDJ]

Doesn't the electricity fall out?

Only on a Tuesday morning if it is raining :tongue3:

 

[vjsmarwick]

I have to agree with the others its not something I would like but I cant see that there are any rules against it as someone already said a lot of the 3 phase boards have their breakers mounted up and down the board and work fine. Not conventional looking but I don't think anyone could condemn the work just on this basis.

 

[Steve_P]

Doesn't the electricity fall out?

Naaa, it only falls out when the board is upside down. :rolleyes2:

 

[telectrix]

Naaa, it only falls out when the board is upside down. :rolleyes2:

so how do they cope in australia, then? :tongue3:

 

[MDJ]

they are backward Tel so it doesn't matter down there hehe

 

[Marvo]

I could think of a few reasons it might fail. The ON / OFF visible trip indications on the RCD's are designed to be viewed in one direction only. Also ventilation might be impaired if vents that were designed to be top and bottom end up level with each other at the sides. I guess it might boil down to individual manufacturer specifications. If the CU is supplied with an arrow to indicate 'UP' then mounting it sideways would be a no-no

 

[Crosswire]

I could think of a few reasons it might fail. The ON / OFF visible trip indications on the RCD's are designed to be viewed in one direction only. Also ventilation might be impaired if vents that were designed to be top and bottom end up level with each other at the sides. I guess it might boil down to individual manufacturer specifications. If the CU is supplied with an arrow to indicate 'UP' then mounting it sideways would be a no-no

Good points there, but I think in this instance, bearing in mind the boards are old 3036 rewirables, they prob won't apply. I will check for any manufacturer specs though... Cheers.

 

[MDJ]

3036s? chuck them in the trash haha

 

[Steve_P]

I could think of a few reasons it might fail. The ON / OFF visible trip indications on the RCD's are designed to be viewed in one direction only. Also ventilation might be impaired if vents that were designed to be top and bottom end up level with each other at the sides. I guess it might boil down to individual manufacturer specifications. If the CU is supplied with an arrow to indicate 'UP' then mounting it sideways would be a no-no

What trip indicators and RCD's? 3036 board innit?