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Phenolic cutout dangers

Former Community Member
Former Community Member

I'm investigating safety concerns over phenolic cutouts.

The DNOs say it's not a problem but I've heard from electrical experts that the material acts a conductor once degraded and is a fire risk. The manufacturers acknowledge this is an issue.

Does anyone here have experience or concerns surrounding phenolic cutouts? Please share your thoughts and any images you might have here.

Should we replacing them, or waiting until they deteriorate?

Parents
  • It is good to be aware of it, but to calibrate if action is really needed or not. we also need to be aware how common this is as well - my earlier remark about cast  iron and asbestos is not totally flippant - there are a great many things that could be a risk -  but we need to focus the time and money on the ones seen frequently in the wild - as the ones most worth worrying about.

    So if we could find out how many times the 'A19' call has been made by meter 'operatives' compared to say smashed fuse covers, or evidence of overheating which also have their own, different 'A ' codes that would be germane. There may well be a problem with the state of company cut-outs generally, after all in the modern privatized world no-one is really looking at them, but it would be good to know the 'top ten' most common dangerous things to look for - avoids focusing on what may be a distraction.

    Mike.

Reply
  • It is good to be aware of it, but to calibrate if action is really needed or not. we also need to be aware how common this is as well - my earlier remark about cast  iron and asbestos is not totally flippant - there are a great many things that could be a risk -  but we need to focus the time and money on the ones seen frequently in the wild - as the ones most worth worrying about.

    So if we could find out how many times the 'A19' call has been made by meter 'operatives' compared to say smashed fuse covers, or evidence of overheating which also have their own, different 'A ' codes that would be germane. There may well be a problem with the state of company cut-outs generally, after all in the modern privatized world no-one is really looking at them, but it would be good to know the 'top ten' most common dangerous things to look for - avoids focusing on what may be a distraction.

    Mike.

Children
  • Former Community Member
    Former Community Member in reply to mapj1

    This is a fantastic idea - thanks Mike. I'm going to try and get this data - and see if we can establish what the top ten most common dangerous things to look for are.