Wylex wooden back db

[graham123]

Eicr code 2? Thoughts

 

[robwgun]

The wood isn't a issue for me, if the board was mounted on a plasterboard 30 min fire rated wall with all the back missing I would code 2 it on inadequate fire rating (but equally any board should be coded if the back is missing on a fire rated wall)

 

[Guest77]

It is a no code for me, or a 3 at worse, I would be more concerned with the OCPDs and whether they are up to the job protecting modern appliances and circuits rather than what the board is made of, I expect it is fine, it has been there for 30+ years working pretty well, why bother replacing it and making a big deal over it? unless there is something else you have forgot to mention?

 

[robsparky1975]

I have one fitted in my house,never had a problem,no coding from me,has 30ma protection for the board as fitted years ago,I might just change it one of these rainy days if I really dont have anything better to do.

 

[davesparks]

The wood isn't a issue for me, if the board was mounted on a plasterboard 30 min fire rated wall with all the back missing I would code 2 it on inadequate fire rating (but equally any board should be coded if the back is missing on a fire rated wall)

If it is mounted on a fire rated wall then why would being open backed be a problem ? You certainly can't give a C2 for that.
The regulations specifically allow fire rated building materials to form part of an electrical enclosure!

 

[robwgun]

I will correct myself , if the back was missing, with a massive hole into the plasterboard,with cables passing into the back of the board (on a fire rated wall), this would be deemed a code 2, (or corrected with fire foam)

 

[davesparks]

Intermittent foam?

I hope you don't mean expanding foam? That stuff shouldn't be allowed near cables!

 

[robwgun]

Well it's the quick fix solution that gets used, and is fire rated

 

[Silly Sausage]

The wood isn't a issue for me, if the board was mounted on a plasterboard 30 min fire rated wall with all the back missing I would code 2 it on inadequate fire rating (but equally any board should be coded if the back is missing on a fire rated wall)

Do you fully understand what a C2 means or have the ability to use reasoning when to apply one?

From BGB...
C2 (“Potentially dangerous”), the safety of those using the installation
may be at risk and it is recommended that a competent person undertakes the necessary remedial work as
a matter of urgency.

A wooden backed CU, showing no signs of damage, that's been in existance for probably longer than most people on here...... do I need to carry on?!

Common sense.

 

[davesparks]

Well it's the quick fix solution that gets used, and is fire rated

But do you check how it will affect the cables before applying it to them? It is thermally insulating after all so affects their current carrying capacity,

 

[robwgun]

I can't find expanding foam on the reference method list .

Ok so davesparks, you turn up to do a EICR, to a new build terraced house, with a fuseboard mounted on a fire rated plasterboard wall between properties, some rough b****** has hacked the back of the board out and you could physically reach into the wall with your fist, what would you code it?

My NICEIC area guy has said he deems this a code 2 ( I believe 3 is more appropriate ).....

How far do you go to correct it?, they said foam is acceptable.....putting a metal back box behind board is overkill, on a old installation anyway......

 

[Silly Sausage]

My NICEIC area guy has said he deems this a code 2

:smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5:

 

[robwgun]

My NICEIC area guy has said he deems this a code 2

:smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5:

I know, he reckons anything fire rating related is 2....

 

[trev]

I can't find expanding foam on the reference method list .

Ok so davesparks, you turn up to do a EICR, to a new build terraced house, with a fuseboard mounted on a fire rated plasterboard wall between properties, some rough b****** has hacked the back of the board out and you could physically reach into the wall with your fist, what would you code it?

My NICEIC area guy has said he deems this a code 2 ( I believe 3 is more appropriate ).....

How far do you go to correct it?, they said foam is acceptable.....putting a metal back box behind board is overkill, on a old installation anyway......

Hang on, you said it was a new build at first.
Why would you be doing an EICR on a newbuild?
Why would said newbuild have a stud work wall between it and the next door property?
It's not necessarily RAF to remove sections of the back of the CU, how else are you planning on getting the cables concealed on the way to it?
It's pretty difficult to get your fist through an open CU in my experience.
Filler foam won't be on the reference method list but are the regs an exhaustive list of every situation we find ourselves in?
Isn't a metal back box full of holes? So what additional fire rating is it going to provide? You may as well shove a colander behind it.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I know, he reckons anything fire rating related is 2....

Did you give him a good grilling why?
I'd want to know his reasoning.

 

[Andy78]

I know, he reckons anything fire rating related is 2....

Could also be where the OP got his ideas about this issue from... his local friendly misinformation clerk.

 

[telectrix]

if i were the CEO of a company making expanding foam, i'd rename it builders' bodge. should boost sales.

 

[Silly Sausage]

if i were the CEO of a company making expanding foam, i'd rename it builders' bodge. should boost sales.

Tubes of Caulk though, fantastic stuff for them irratating wee gaps.

 

[dingledong]

If there is a hole in the wall behind the cu it's mechanically protected by the front of the cu and put your hand through the hole in the wall then more than likely you'll touch a brick wall or more plasterboard

 

[Knobhead]

I think there is a post on here where some one tried to burn one with no success

It was me, it survived over an hour on a coal fire.

As for the stupid statement about woodworm…………

 

[Engineer54]

Wylex never made a wooden backed CU to my knowledge, wooden framed CU's on the other hand they made literally millions of them. Never seen a new Wylex wooden framed CU with a paxoline or any other back to them straight out of the box.

I'll warrant that those old wooden Wylex CU's will hold up against fire/heat far, far longer than any Plastic modern CU. The wood used in those CU's was a pressure treated hard wood, and i don't know of anyone including myself that has seen one go up in flames, that would require the house to go up in flames first!! ....Oh and i've never seen a wooden framed Wylex CU affected by woodworm either...

 

[ayjay]

what type of wood are/were they made from?
dont say balsa

 

[Richard Burns]

I found a wooden framed Wylex CU that was mounted on chipboard, it had obviously! had some major problems at one fuse as the CU had a hole burnt through the back of the fuse carrier and the chipboard, however the rest of the CU was still in use without problems and the frame was untouched.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Fire regs still confuse me a little, must read the ESC BPG on the subject...been meaning to do so for ages.

Saying that the ESC, or whatever they are now called recommend replacing said fuse boards. I, like most on here, disagree unless other reasons prevail. New DBs are sensitive little souls compared to their hardier ancestors!! A lamp blows and a 3036 does nay flinch!

I seem to recall reading that even if there is a great big hole in the plaster board behind a DB the timber studs and noggins with the adjacent plasterboard form a fire barrier as such. May be wrong....need to read up I do...

 

[Geordie Spark]

Does it not condition in terms of fire rating?

It's probably better fire rated than the plastic crap you're fitting now!!

Test it yourself - get a lump of wood the same as the cu and a bit of plastic of the same type used to make cu's and borrow your friendly plumber's blow torch and see what happens when wood and plastic meet Mr Rothenberger Turboflame.

Report your findings back to us as a valuable contribution to the forum.

 

[Geordie Spark]

I think it's an interesting point and worth discussing.

I think a C2 is way over the top though (unless there are signs of thermal damage), I wouldn't even put a C3 simply because it is a recognised CU and has been perfectly acceptable for many years as Archy says. But... part of form 7 does mention about the type of enclosure with regards a fire hazard (haven't got the form to hand) and wood is certainly combustible!!

You'll also find the terminal screws are properly formed and fit properly into the properly made bus bars too.

 

[Geordie Spark]

funny how echoes distort the words.

I was watching The Shadows Final Tour on TV the other night and the echo on Hank's Strat was just sublime. His Burns sounded canny too.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Intermittent foam?

I hope you don't mean expanding foam? That stuff shouldn't be allowed near cables!

I think he means intumescent foam.

 

[Geordie Spark]

i always thought it was top and front.

Back and front ....... as in "see him ower there? ... He's reet back 'n' front".

 

[Geordie Spark]

Tubes of Caulk though, fantastic stuff for them irratating wee gaps.

And the keyholes in the doors of folk you don't like or customers who have ripped you.

 

[Guest77]

code 3 unless its full of wood worm as lots are ,

I have to say I have seen several hundred in my career and not one had woodworm, not one, I just do not believe this statement Nick, you made that up didn't you?