There’s debate about exposed basic insulation in meter cupboards being satisfactory or not? Industry guidance (WRAG) say it’s satisfactory if the door’s in good shape, what’s people views on this ?
There’s debate about exposed basic insulation in meter cupboards being satisfactory or not? Industry guidance (WRAG) say it’s satisfactory if the door’s in good shape, what’s people views on this ?
I agree with all of the above re meter boxes. A lot of the installs on new builds are rough, especially the connection in the meter box. Seems things have been relaxed for the bigger builders because they can't design houses so the CU can back on to the meter box. While if I did something like it, it would be picked up on an inspection.NIC BPG4 used to have exposed inner insulation on the tails as a C3, I notice they have bowed to pressure and removed it now. Also Ive never seen a danger 230v label on the outside of a meter box either if this is the way things are going .
Most fixed wiring lamp holders covered by the regs are out of reach, table lamps etc are appliances anyway so are out of scope as far as we are concerned.
Gary
It appears that SWA cables are being used, with their basic insulated exposed conductors terminated into a REC isolator.
I think perhaps a bigger question in some of the pictures we've seen on social media and other sites, is whether the SWA cable is terminated correctly, and in accordance with manufacturer's instructions?
It worries me that there appears to be a widespread issue with not terminating SWA correctly so that the armour is effectively connected at both ends, and is appropriately protected against corrosion by selecting the correct gland for the external influences. So much so, in fact, that some in the industry are unhappy to rely on the armour as cpc ... when in reality, the armour itself is generally an exposed-conductive-part, at least at terminations, so it just has to be earthed correctly.
In the particular case of meter cupboards, the key issue, I wouldn't mind betting, is that there's no bend radius for the SWA ... which means it's not the correct solution to select for that application?
It worries me that this is satisfactory practice now. I still will not consider it as acceptable.
Although, given the scale of current global issues, this feels like trivial escapism. Personally, I find it underwhelming and poorly executed. It’s low-quality and should be dismissed outright
It appears that SWA cables are being used
Hang on, where does that come from?
Are you suggesting that SWA is being used for consumer's tails?
It appears that SWA cables are being used
Hang on, where does that come from?
Are you suggesting that SWA is being used for consumer's tails?
Are you suggesting that SWA is being used for consumer's tails?
To extend tails from a switch-fuse, REC isolator, or Henley Block in the cabinet to a consumer unit, yes (cue discussion on what some DNOs/IDNOs permit and what others don't when "extending tails" ... and as I pointed out above, whether it's the correct solution in the first place)
I accept an extension from a "REC" isolator or Henley block as tails, but not a switch fuse.
In the case of a switch-fuse, is not the device DB1, and at the other end DB2 (probably the house's CU)?
That was what was installed here circa 1982. The SWA runs under what was originally the kitchen (suspended wooden floors) to the DB. All done properly!
If there were no switch-fuse, the cable would rely upon the DNO's fuse for fault protection. That does not seem quite correct, but if both fuses have the same rating, it is case of heads or tails which blows first. Happily, our fuses have remained intact for at least 29 years.
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