Basic insulation exposed in electrical outdoor meter box.

Chris Pearson said:

We have two identical "meter cupboards" side-by-side, but they could be one (bigger, obviously) cupboard. The DNO does not own the cupboard,

Agreed.

Chris Pearson said:

so what entitles it to say what may be in there?

The intended use of the standard for the product. See Regulation 511.2 (my highlight ... specifically, is there a statement on the EIC for this?)

511.2 Where equipment to be used is not covered by a British or Harmonized Standard or is to be used outside the scope of its standard, the designer or other person responsible for specifying the installation shall confirm that the equipment provides at least the same degree of safety as that afforded by compliance with BS 7671. Such use shall be recorded on the appropriate electrical certification specified in Part 6.

NOTE: An assessment of compliance with BS 7671 in respect of the degree of safety afforded would be expected to consider all the same criteria as in Note 1 to Regulation 511.1. This also applies to private specifications not containing the same criteria as in Note 1 to Regulation 511.1.

Chris Pearson said:

By contrast, in the garage, the cupboard is the garage with the DNO's tackle and switch-fuse side-by-side. (We have two supplies.)

Agreed, but that is not in an enclosure the purpose of which is addressed by the standard to which the enclosure is manufactured.

AJJewsbury said:

The DNO does not own the cupboard, so what entitles it to say what may be in there?

The conditions of the supply contract, I would imagine...

   - Andy.

That too, standards aside.

134.1.1 is a vague catch-all which can be interpreted as "if I don't like something, then it doesn't comply".

Why do you think the other two regulations are not complied with?

Simon Barker said:

134.1.1 is a vague catch-all which can be interpreted as "if I don't like something, then it doesn't comply".

That's a bit harsh! I think that we can distinguish fine workmanship (craftsmanship), good workmanship, mediocre workmanship, rough as a badger's bottom, and downright dangerous. Problem is defining the boundary between good and mediocre.

I agree with Chris. During elec training, individuals are taught proper installation practices The practice of using a SWA cable with its cores exposed and connected directly into a REC isolator does not align with best practices ( my training to ECS installation technician grade)Additionally, other relevant regulations address the fundamental requirements for insulating exposed basic insulation outside an enclosure.

fundamental requirements for insulating exposed basic insulation outside an enclosure.

That's the sticking point though - as soon as someone decides a meter box counts as an "enclosure" (accessible only with a key or tool) - anything goes.

  - Andy.

AMK said:

The practice of using a SWA cable with its cores exposed and connected directly into a REC isolator does not align with best practices

How polite! My mind is boggling. I would like to think that even these badgers clip the end of the SWA to the back of the meter box, but perhaps that would be too much trouble.

Those REC isolators trouble me. On the face of it, they do the same job as e.g. an Eaton Glasgow switch-fuse-isolator (or just switch-isolator if solid links are fitted), but when you look at the innards, surely they cannot perform the same function!

Yes, Andy, this is the core of the debate. Although WRAG has classified it as an enclosure, I personally disagree with their decision and will continue to treat it differently. Whjohnson, just to clarify, this was meant as a discussion point, not a question.

This thread was the first I'd heard of the Wiring Regs Advisory Group, (WRAG) but actually its hosted by electrical safety first, and its comments on inspections and coding situations are online here . So its really a bit of a re-brand...

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/professional-resources/wiring-regulations/inspection-testing-certification-and-reporting/

Its take on the matter is surprisingly clear.

The problem I have is that I'm not sure if I agree that is so black and white. Its really not the same situation as the DNO cables coming in where the cable is in a substantial "wizard hat" or "trouser leg" rubber sleeve  that supplements the core insulation where it is broken out of the outer jacket.

Worse the terminals for things like henley blocks are not really suited as the entry tunnels are short and there is no grip on the jacket - its very easy to have a situation where something gets pulled, and exposed basic insulation, suddenly becomes exposed copper... Which I hope we'd all agree was dangerous at least to C2.

Given the no of meter cupboard doors round here that seem not to get shut again, being in working order is not really good enough.

Q2.57 When undertaking a periodic inspection, what classification code should be applied, if any, where the sheath has been removed such that basic insulation of a conductor that forms part of the consumer’s installation, is exposed within an external meter cupboard which can only be opened with a key or a tool?

AMK said:

There’s debate about exposed basic insulation in meter cupboards being satisfactory or not

Its a C2 from me.  As is shoddy SWA termination or lack of.

SWA needs to be terminated correctly and double insulation cables SHOULD be present.  Some people would say this is insulation and mechanical protection but most people call it Double Insulated.  There is also a Deflecting argument of 
    Is a meter cabinet an electrical enclosure?

People need to look at this in 2 distinct scenarios
 - Domestic Dwelling with outdoor meter cabinet, of which there are 2 variants, In Wall and On Wall
 - Domestic dwelling with indoor cabinet

Other scenarios are also available like industrial or commercial but I will focus on UK domestic dwelling to make it easier


Domestic Dwelling with outdoor meter cabinet
 - Risk of UV degradation 
 - Risk of Impact or Damage 
 - Risk of door being removed/severely damaged by bad weather or person making the term enclosure or cabinet compromised
 - Risk of Children or Disable/Lesser-abled person or mentally impaired person making contact.  Normally meter cabinet/cupboard height dependant
 - Risk of unskilled person or homeowner needing access to the content of meter cabinet for legitimate reasons like read meter or Isolation in the event of a fault or fire.
 - Risk of malicious intent like vandalism or common criminality  
 - There are other points of consideration as well so this list is not exhaustive.

Domestic dwelling with indoor cabinet
 - Risk of Impact or Damage lowered but NOT eliminated.  A lot of UK home have the point of original under the stairs in an average house
 - Risk of Children or Disable/Lesser abled person or mentally impaired person making contact.  Normally meter cabinet/cupboard height dependant
 - Risk of unskilled person or homeowner needing access to the content of meter cabinet for legitimate reasons like read meter or Isolation of a fault or fire.
 - There are other points of consideration as well so this list is not exhaustive.

With the above being said the outdoor scenario carries a higher inherent risk due to external influences like weather and physical damage and possibly animals.  Now let’s consider  the above 2 situations under normal working/operating conditions and under fault conditions.  As a casing point who in the UK has see a meter cabinet with a missing front door?  Or cabinets/cupboard with a pool or pooling of water inside?

Other points to consider or discuss between the community and IET, BSI and ENA (Energy Network Association) is that when SWA (Steel Wire Armour) is used into the outdoor cabinet/cupboard then there should be A Designated Entry point into the meter cabinet.  
Eg Domestic Dwelling outside ON Wall meter cabinet then ONLY bottom entry is allowed in right hand corner.   
Eg Domestic Dwelling outside IN Wall meter cabinet then ONLY rear entry is allowed in lower right hand corner.   

Entry points need to be discussed further as the Bend Radius for SWA is quite different to Flexy Tails or Split Concentric cable.

All meter box penetrations MUST be from Below or REAR and MUST/SHALL be Gasket or INTUMESCENT SEALED.  SIDE or TOP penetrations are FORBIDDEN into the meter cabinet/cupboard.

IF SWA is used in the meter cabinet/cupboard then it MUST be Terminated correctly, this may take the form of an approved glanding into a WISKA box (other brands are available). There MUST NOT be SWA single insulation on show.  Non approved SWA glands are FORBIDDEN.  The same applies to Split Centric cables.  The Split Con MUST be terminated correctly or to manufacturers instructions.

In summation the meter cabinet SHALL have cables that ARE double insulated to provide an extra safety layer, protecting Property, People and Live Stock on the CUSTOMER SIDE with a functional and intact door.  If it does not then I refer you to NASA and the document they published called 

Normalization of deviance

Sergio Fernandez said:

Is a meter cabinet an electrical enclosure?

Yes it is.  And for that reason, most of the other stuff you have written is irrelevant.