I am working on a multi storey residential block and proposed to located the meters within the utility cupboard in apartments. Is there a standard/ regulation for electrical meters ? I would like to understand what are the requirements in terms of location, access etc.
Two approaches are common in the UK. The first is all the meters in a common area near the incomer, and then 1 submain per flat to each, this is common for smaller buildings or converted where a larger building is split.
The other is to have a ‘building network’ (nice guidance and pics from UKPN here) where there is a main incomer, and splits to N fuses (one per flat) then there are unmetered lines that have to be protected to prevent electricity theft ,and each flat has its own fuse holder with a dummy fuse ('red link') and then a meter.
The official ENA document is here, but it is a bit short on pictures.
Meters need to be accessible to be read and must be extra space to allow other things that the supplier may perhaps need to add to the board in future like a test meter, time switch or smart meter telemetry module.
In terms of access there is a preference for metering to be accessible from outside the building, so it can be read with no one staying in for the day.
example requirements for a meter box from UKPN page 11 that is for a house, but flats with common corridors or balcony walkway access are often done the same way
Mike.
Gabriella
I have done plenty of designs for blocks of flats.
Nearly all have been with meters in the risers cupboards on each floor at the request of the client, BNO, DNO and meter operators. That way power to the flats can be isolated without needing to gain entry to the individual flats and the ability to read all the meters in one hit. Also less opportunity for meter tampering.
JP
To John Peckham, I guess my question is if the tenant need to have access to it?
The tenant, building owners and the meter reader as a minimum, - you cannot be withheld access to your own meter readings - and someone may want to change supplier or to have a pre-pay token type meter fitted so regular access at any time.
A combination code type lock on the cupboard is a common solution.
Mike
You should be involving your DNO in the discussion as well - they are likely to have standard designs which may help you. All too often we (a DNO) end up with a space that doesn’t really work and is slightly too small or the wrong shape for what is needed. Sharing the plan early with the DNO will also ensure their bit of the work is ready when needed. Although roughly the same, different DNOs may have slightly different requirements, so following a UKPN document in another area may not be what is needed. UKPN have made their documents publically accessible, some others have not.
Regards,
Alan.
mapj1:
The other is to have a ‘building network’ (nice guidance and pics from UKPN here) where there is a main incomer, and splits to N fuses (one per flat) then there are unmetered lines that have to be protected to prevent electricity theft ,and each flat has its own fuse holder with a dummy fuse ('red link') and then a meter.
Mike, is there a wee typo here - my emphasis? Or is that n fuses for n flats? ?
not like the chap who walked to St Ives in the nursery rhyme ….
Should be N lines for N flats of course, where N is a positive integer, and one supply line per flat - I'm sure we all knew that's what I meant really ?.
We could I suppose run 3 phases per flat and then its every flat has 5 wires, but its still not as good a poem..
I sometimes think load diversity is calculated in the same way.
shame we have lost the beer emoticon…
M.
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