Basic insulation exposed in electrical outdoor meter box.

AMK said:

Although WRAG has classified it as an enclosure, I personally disagree with their decision and will continue to treat it differently.

As BS 0:2021 advises (Clause 4.3.2), only a court of law can provide a definitive interpretation of a standard (although note that this may vary with respect to the particular circumstances of the case being considered) ... any other person or body only has an opinion, and users of the standard are advised that the interpretation of a standard is their responsibility!

It also says, in the Foreword, Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

In truth very little can, but compliance with the appropriate Standard would be strong evidence that a tradesman had met the required standard in a case of alleged negligence.

AJJewsbury said:

I do agree though that I don't consider a meter box to be an "electrical enclosure" in the same sense as say a joint box - on the basis that ordinary persons have good reason to access the inside of it. The problem we have is that the words in the regs seemingly don't justify that common sense (?) point of view.

Could BS7671 regulation 416.2.4 exclusion or note section say something like

A domestic dwelling meter cabinet is NOT considered an enclosure

Could BS7671 regulation 416.2.4 exclusion or note section say something like

A domestic dwelling meter cabinet is NOT considered an enclosure

I could, but I'd prefer a more robust approach - as it stands people can claim all sorts of things with a lock of held together by screws are acceptable as an electrical enclosure ... meter boxes are but one example - the same could be said of anything between bath panels and broom cupboards. Hence my suggestion that the definition be limited to "dedicated" electrical enclosures - i.e. things that need to be opened only for the purposed of electrical work (installation, alteration, testing etc.) and not for other purposes. Where there's a need for  the unskilled/unsupervised to have access, it wouldn't count.

I wouldn't object for this "clarification" to take the form of a note, rather than the main definition, if it was easier to introduce that way,

   - Andy.

for another commentary on the subject, see what 'electrical safety'  has to say here:  www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/.../best_practice-guide-4_issue-7-2.pdf

Listening to a recent podcast they raised an interesting point.  IF the meter cabinet is an enclosure then should it have the yellow warning stickers/labels on the outside stating 230 volts LIVE?

Listening to a recent podcast they raised an interesting point.  Have the DNS/DSO/MO re-worked their RAMS (Risk Assesment and Method Statement) as staff may now enter a meter cabinet which can NOT be isolated up stream and COULD be LESS safe due to exposed singles from the SWA.  

IF the meter cabinet is an enclosure then should it have the yellow warning stickers/labels on the outside stating 230 volts LIVE?

BS 7671 doesn't generally require 230V warning stickers - and I suspect there would be quite a backlash from the "aesthetics brigade" if we required such stickers on all enclosures (including sockets, switches, joint boxes, CUs...)

  - Andy.

As far as I can see, meter cabinets can almost always be isolated upstream by pulling the fuse or red link.  What dangerous situation are you envisaging ?
And note that most DNOs change the cut-out without switching off the street, and that is covered by their live working methods. (see the ECS 02-0415
LV JOINTING MANUAL  for example).
Mike
(anyone with an Email account that sounds suitably businesslike can get an account to access that library and there is a lot of other useful stuff too.)

I havn't seen this post since it's inception, and have skimmed read it - there's a lot there - so apologies if this idea has been floated before - I think I have a simple solution.

I have fitted a lot of enclosures in the past that have a see through perspex screen as soon as you open the door. Not meter boxes but other stuff.

I'd have zero problems with SWA, glanded onto a 90' metal thingy that allows the SWA to be terminated and earthed - as I've seen commonly in use - and the single insulated inner cores go onto to terminate into the switch fuse and then have a perspex screen in the front of that. 

The householder can still read the meter but not touch the electrical parts. 

I think single insulated cores in a meter box are a minimal risk anyway, but my suggestion would be an easy retrofit that'd satisfy everyone.