421.1.201

John Peckham: 
 

I am with David Z. Why the hell would you want to do that? 

Is it you have an old plastic consumer unit you want to unload and you do not give a monkey's  about the safety of the consumer?

Given that a fully loaded 12 way steel consumer unit from a decent manufacturer  is circa £125 inc VAT gut the components from inside the plastic carp and drop it in the bin!

It is the customer's request to use a cream coloured plastic consumer unit. It is of good reputation and made by a well known maker. Previous regs. have insisted on the use of all insulated enclosures for a TT earthed installation. It will never be fully loaded, and is positioned where in the very unlikely event of fire it will not spread. The walls are brick, the floor is concrete and the location is remote from any stored items.

I have installed many all insulated enclosures over many years and not one has caught fire.

We do not hear of London consumer units catching fire in the press these days. I wonder why not? And I imagine that they have not all been updated to non flammable metal types.

Why are we still using flammable P.V.C. as cable insulation in installations. Have you ever seen it burn? I can tell those that haven't that it does.

Oh, and the choice of the new boxed all insulated consumer unit is not about cost, the customer is loaded.

Historical report

Electrical Products - Fired-up over consumer units (eponthenet.net)

Z.

John Peckham: 
 

I am with David Z. Why the hell would you want to do that? 

Is it you have an old plastic consumer unit you want to unload and you do not give a monkey's  about the safety of the consumer?

Given that a fully loaded 12 way steel consumer unit from a decent manufacturer  is circa £125 inc VAT gut the components from inside the plastic carp and drop it in the bin!

It is the customer's request to use a cream coloured plastic consumer unit. It is of good reputation and made by a well known maker. Previous regs. have insisted on the use of all insulated enclosures for a TT earthed installation. It will never be fully loaded, and is positioned where in the very unlikely event of fire it will not spread. The walls are brick, the floor is concrete and the location is remote from any stored items.

I have installed many all insulated enclosures over many years and not one has caught fire.

We do not hear of London consumer units catching fire in the press these days. I wonder why not? And I imagine that they have not all been updated to non flammable metal types.

Why are we still using flammable P.V.C. as cable insulation in installations. Have you ever seen it burn? I can tell those that haven't that it does.

Oh, and the choice of the new boxed all insulated consumer unit is not about cost, the customer is loaded.

Historical report

Electrical Products - Fired-up over consumer units (eponthenet.net)

Z.