421.1.201

Metal consumer units do not have to be fire sealed and normal IP ratings apply and we are told they are not to stop fire just delay it to enable occupants to escape. So in an environment with is not residential, not very flammable, not on a fire escape route and not directly attached to a residential property I would say why not fit  plastic one.

I am not convinced that a metal CU fitted under the stairs in a cupboard stuffed with coats, toys, shoes all in contact with the CU is going to delay the fire much or give the occupiers notice that it is getting a bit hot. My record for the longest time to get to a CU under the stairs is about 10 minutes of pulling stuff out and trying to stack it nicely, there was a lot of stuff. Has anyone taken longer?

 On loose connections: I recently had a customer who had a smart meter fitted. A month later he had “no electric". I found no neutral connected on the supply, a dead smart meter and 240V L and N to the supply earth (PME). I suspected the smart meter and the DNO later confirmed a loose neutral connection on the tails to the smart meter which had finally given up when he tried to boil a kettle. He has sent a complaint to his supplier who fitted the smart meter but I have not seen hm to see if he had a response. The suppler would not take a complaint from the DNO engineer for data protection reasons as he was not the customer!

Metal consumer units do not have to be fire sealed and normal IP ratings apply and we are told they are not to stop fire just delay it to enable occupants to escape. So in an environment with is not residential, not very flammable, not on a fire escape route and not directly attached to a residential property I would say why not fit  plastic one.

I am not convinced that a metal CU fitted under the stairs in a cupboard stuffed with coats, toys, shoes all in contact with the CU is going to delay the fire much or give the occupiers notice that it is getting a bit hot. My record for the longest time to get to a CU under the stairs is about 10 minutes of pulling stuff out and trying to stack it nicely, there was a lot of stuff. Has anyone taken longer?

 On loose connections: I recently had a customer who had a smart meter fitted. A month later he had “no electric". I found no neutral connected on the supply, a dead smart meter and 240V L and N to the supply earth (PME). I suspected the smart meter and the DNO later confirmed a loose neutral connection on the tails to the smart meter which had finally given up when he tried to boil a kettle. He has sent a complaint to his supplier who fitted the smart meter but I have not seen hm to see if he had a response. The suppler would not take a complaint from the DNO engineer for data protection reasons as he was not the customer!