Removal of potential asbestos fuse board - who and estimated cost?

[Rybeast]

[EDIT 2056]
Sorry, I think I’ve got my wires crossed and OhMe haven’t been very helpful in detailing what I need to do/say to N-Power except for ‘not our problem’. It is indeed the big, green, metal box at the bottom that is the problem.

Good evening,

Today, I had someone out to install the charging point for my EV on the house. After sending in numerous requests for photos over a two-week period AND a face-to-face inspection of the electrics, it was decided after they had finished installing the charge point that they couldn’t connect it to the electrics in the house because the fuse board looked as if it may contain asbestos.

I need to speak to Northern Powergrid apparently to get this rectified. Would it be someone from N-Power that would do the replacement? Can an electrician trained in safe asbestos removal remove and replace? What sort of cost element is usually involved in such a thing?
Picture attached.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

This is all very muddled.

'Fuse board' means the same as 'fuse box' i.e. it is a box containing fuses, not a piece of board. The term 'fuse board' is an anachronism from 100 years ago when the fuses were actually mounted directly on a piece of board. In the picture, the only thing that merits the term 'fuse board' is the box mostly out of shot at left, which we would normally call a 'consumer unit' but an older spark might call it a fuse board.

The term 'meter board' does mean a piece of board and that is the brown flat thing mounted on the wall with stuff attached to it. Surely that is a piece of wood? It looks like wood and I've never seen one that is not wood. If anyone has seen a conventional meter board made of anything but wood, say now. It is not paxolin; that is made of resin-impregnated paper and used to make (usually thin) insulating panels. You cannot drive woodscrews into paxolin.

The green cast-iron device under the meter is correctly called 'service terminal equipment' but normally referred to as the 'head.' It is never called a 'board' or 'fuse board' but I think this is what they are talking about and someone has got confused. The head is where the incoming service cable is sealed and protected by fuses. This is an old pattern of unit that may not be up to snuff for the additional load of the EV charger. As mentioned above it is the property of the DNO and electricians do not normally touch it, except under very specialised circumstances. It might contain asbestos although is safe in that regard if left alone. They might have intended to isolate the supply at the head and have the DNO re-seal it (it has to be sealed to prevent theft of electricity, as is the meter.) The DNO might like to replace it anyway as it might have an (obsolete) fused neutral and is metallic (these days they are all-insulated for safety).

Call the DNO and explain you have an old cast-iron head with likely a fused neutral. It is a nice-looking one so if they can be persuaded to leave it behind I will reimburse you to give them a drink and post it to me for the museum! If it does actually contain asbestos, they probably wouldn't leave it though.

 

[Rybeast]

This is all very muddled.

'Fuse board' means the same as 'fuse box' i.e. it is a box containing fuses, not a piece of board. The term 'fuse board' is an anachronism from 100 years ago when the fuses were actually mounted directly on a piece of board. In the picture, the only thing that merits the term 'fuse board' is the box mostly out of shot at left, which we would normally call a 'consumer unit' but an older spark might call it a fuse board.

The term 'meter board' does mean a piece of board and that is the brown flat thing mounted on the wall with stuff attached to it. Surely that is a piece of wood? It looks like wood and I've never seen one that is not wood. If anyone has seen a conventional meter board made of anything but wood, say now. It is not paxolin; that is made of resin-impregnated paper and used to make (usually thin) insulating panels. You cannot drive woodscrews into paxolin.

The green cast-iron device under the meter is correctly called 'service terminal equipment' but normally referred to as the 'head.' It is never called a 'board' or 'fuse board' but I think this is what they are talking about and someone has got confused. The head is where the incoming service cable is sealed and protected by fuses. This is an old pattern of unit that may not be up to snuff for the additional load of the EV charger. As mentioned above it is the property of the DNO and electricians do not normally touch it, except under very specialised circumstances. It might contain asbestos although is safe in that regard if left alone.

I think I posted answers to your queries just as you posted! I think I have clearly got my wires crossed (giggity).

 

[Rybeast]

Anyone know how big a job it is to get this sort of thing modernised? How much downtime is needed with no electricity?

 

[westward10]

What is that black thing to the left it looks like a sword scabbard.

 

[Rybeast]

What is that black thing to the left it looks like a sword scabbard.

Exactly that. No idea why it’s in the house. Nothing to do with me!

 

[UNG]

Anyone know how big a job it is to get this sort of thing modernised? How much downtime is needed with no electricity?

To swap out the service head will leave you without electricity for about an hour, the last couple I have had the DNO out for the job has been completed in a couple of hours from them arriving on site to putting their tools back in the van

 

[Risteard]

Good call, pottymouth... i mean @Pretty Mouth I didnt read the fuse rating.

Looking at some old threads, the brown board is likely Paxolin...
Someone from the dark ages can tell us what its made from... probably wood... probably coated in a resin of some sort.

Paxolin is resin-bonded paper.