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Plastic consumer units/enclosures etc

whjohnson
I have a job where a small former outside toilet is being converted into a hobby pottery complete with water supply and small kiln.

I propose to fit a small plastic consumer unit with the appropriate IP rating for protection against ingress of water.

This will be a home brew job with a generic enclosure and a RCD main switch and mcbs from my spares stock.

I have seen many metal enclosures rusting quietly away in detached garages/w/shops/outbuildings and thought they would be better served by using plastic.


I think there is still a case to be made for fitting plastic consumer unit enclosures in outbuildings in order to prevent deteriation caused by external influences. Moist atmosphere, unheated spaces and the like.


Any other like-minded souls out there?

Comments welcome.
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  • 0

    There will be plenty of comparison data from other countries as almost nowhere else on the planet considers a plastic enclosure for electricity to be a bad idea.



    On the other hand, not many other countries try stuffing 7-strand 25mm² into shallow cage clamp terminals or draw up to 100A/phase for domestics.

     

    Use a BG consumer unit with an IP rated aluminium enclosure. 



    Interesting - is that a CU with an aluminium case, or a plastic CU in an additional aluminium enclosure? Either way, it seems a little suspect - aluminium has a much lower melting point than steel (I've melted drinks cans in a simple bonfire - steel food cans survive pretty much intact) - and BS 7671 only reference to the required performance is to ferrous metal.


    at the request of the London Fire Service who made their case to JPEL due to the number of fires they were attending involving consumer units. 



    I still wonder if it might have been more appropriate to lobby the committee behind BS EN 61439 rather than BS 7671.


       - Andy.
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  • 0

    There will be plenty of comparison data from other countries as almost nowhere else on the planet considers a plastic enclosure for electricity to be a bad idea.



    On the other hand, not many other countries try stuffing 7-strand 25mm² into shallow cage clamp terminals or draw up to 100A/phase for domestics.

     

    Use a BG consumer unit with an IP rated aluminium enclosure. 



    Interesting - is that a CU with an aluminium case, or a plastic CU in an additional aluminium enclosure? Either way, it seems a little suspect - aluminium has a much lower melting point than steel (I've melted drinks cans in a simple bonfire - steel food cans survive pretty much intact) - and BS 7671 only reference to the required performance is to ferrous metal.


    at the request of the London Fire Service who made their case to JPEL due to the number of fires they were attending involving consumer units. 



    I still wonder if it might have been more appropriate to lobby the committee behind BS EN 61439 rather than BS 7671.


       - Andy.
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