Plastic switch in external meter box

you cannot fit the lid, as some of the wires come out the front via what should be the gap between body and lid...

I agree if that was not the case, it's probably not actually immediately dangerous, (apart perhaps from the ends of the bus-bar) but it is, to put it as nicely as possible, dog rough, and almost impossible to see what is going on and check with confidence.


I think sometimes a well done DIY job is preferable to a contractor in a hurry to be honest.


My point with that picture is that it is work like that which is the real CU fire risk, and the cause of the updated regs,  and it is being done by folk calling themselves the professionals.

The KMF, or a REC2 or a single RCD in a single plastic box, is a lot less risky, as there are far fewer connections, and the chance of getting it wrong is almost nil.


Mike

Even that one below the KMF switch if securely covered to IP2x/4x might be serviceable for years. The most important aspect is that all the terminations are tight.  Now the likelihood of that being the case in this instance is debatable.

Legh

How the hell does someone walk away from a job like that.

In the way that there is no multitude of thin final circuit wires routed like spaghettii, some pulled violin tight from side to side in front of others, I suggest the risks from one of these are NOT in any way similar to a consumer unit. Let us remind ourselves in the pic below what one a "good" example of a modern post part P (look at the new colours ! ) twin RCD installation can look like. (and remind ourselves that some total shyster charged good money to leave it like that. Funny that word fails the spell check. You  know what I mean. )


And you are not putting your switch indoors. Do it well and do not worry too much.



The risk is simply not similar in any way.

Mike.

"It is not manufactured as an assembly to BS EN 61439-3 as it is not a consumer unit "



Interesting - I thought most would have considered a switchfuse as coming under the heading of 'similar swicthgear' - being pretty much identical in function to a 1-way CU (DP incomer, feeding one OPD, suitable for use at the origin of an installation and so on).

Like a shark AJ ?


It , the KMF, is not manufactured as an assembly to BS EN61439-3, as it is not a consumer unit.


However, if there is only a KMF and no consumer unit- unlikely- then the intended use changes and would not be in the spirit of 421 etc.


There are no steel moulded 800KMFs; though there briefly was, though to what BS is lost in time.


Some may chose to manufacture a switch fuse to 61439-3, as opposed to the specific KMF.


In the KMF, you cannot change the fuse holder. It is all in a moulded assembly. You could change the fuse, but that is not resetting a device as you would in a consumer unit. For most intended use the KMF is providing HRC fuse  protection usually upstream of a DBO  in a domestic. It is usually not touched by ordinary persons; they would be accessing the consumer unit. The KMF is just a bigger, beefier device than your 13 amp switch fuse connection unit and we do not usually require those to be steel.

It is not manufactured as an assembly to BS EN 61439-3 as it is not a consumer unit

Interesting - I thought most would have considered a switchfuse as coming under the heading of 'similar swicthgear' - being pretty much identical in function to a 1-way CU (DP incomer, feeding one OPD, suitable for use at the origin of an installation and so on).


So if it doesn't comply with BS EN 61439-3 isn't that technically another contravention of 421.1.201 - which not only asks for consumer units and similar switchgear in domestic premises to have non-combustible enclosures but for them to comply with BS EN 61439-3 as well.


Steel versions are still readily available - e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/wylex-100a-domestic-switched-fused-unit/5290j

that Wylex one for example appears to meet the requirements of  BS EN 61439-3 as well as 60947-3 according to https://www.electrium.co.uk/media/20151123152755_0_Wylex Domestic Switch Fuse Unit.pdf.

   - Andy.

Cheers guys.