Spec For Amnd 3 Boards

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Just wondering today as i did a board swap with a sideways mounted consumer unit. Does the metal lid have to be self closing (normally by being hinged at the top) if so this rules out sideways mounting and also 3 phase boards in a domestic situation ?

 

[Essex1]

as far as I know the door mounting has nothing to do with it.

 

[Blue Duck]

Interesting... I would imagine these flappy lids are designed to irradicate the issues with self combusting mcb's. They won't be much good on their side?! I know some manufacturers have an optional lock (hager contactum Eaton) although this may bring other problems.

As for TP don't most boards have metal doors? I've forgotten... the last time I did any TP was 2009!

 

[Murdoch]

Hum.... interesting, so a metal clad board is mounted at 90 degrees - then would the door be self closing? I doubt it! and have any of the AMD 3 boards got a retaining mechanism for the door?

 

[Andy™]

7671 makes no reference to 'self closing' doors, only what the enclosure should be made of...

 

[ProDave]

7671 makes no reference to 'self closing' doors, only what the enclosure should be made of...

That's something for amd 4 then.

 

[Blue Duck]

I wonder if Murdoch has me on ignore? msl:

 

[kerching]

As said before

As I read it

Enclosures must be non combustable.......no mention of fire ratings, self closing doors, intumescent seals, fire proof glands etc

But I may well be wrong, see present wife for details

 

[Doc Hudson]

Most of the metal CU's I have seen are hinged at the top, but I am not aware of any specific regulation requiring this. It may be just a manufacturing issue where its more costly to produce a lid that hinges at the bottom whilst  staying closed without falling open all the time. When a top hinge will naturally stay closed without to much additional cost for any latches to hold it shut.

Doc H.

 

[steptoe]

I thought the reg was a self closing door,?

I could probably be mixing it up with something else though. 

 

[NozSpark]

I've fitted both Schneider and MK Sentry amd3 CUs and neither of them have self closing doors (except for gravity closing them that is)... The MK ones don't even seem to close 100%, there's a perceptable gap at the bottom.... Or was that due to the wall being out??

As for it being in 7671,,,, surely this would be part of the standard for the enclosure and not 7671????

 

[Doc Hudson]

Quick internet search show BG have a metal CU hinged at the bottom. None appear self closing on the screwfix page. (excluding gravity)

http://www.screwfix.com/search?search=csufullypopulateda3&cm_sp=landingpage-_-consumerunits-_-csufullypopulateda3

Based on that limited information sideways mounted should not be a problem, as long as you have enough reasonable access around the board.

Doc H.

 

[NozSpark]

Yes.... First line of 421.1.210 says "shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall:"

Be made of metal etc...

No mention of doors, never mind self closing

 

[Essex1]

Who mounts CUs on their side?

 

[NozSpark]

Why not?

 

[Andy™]

Who mounts CUs on their side?

only practical option at times

 

[Doc Hudson]

Who mounts CUs on their side?

Probably those with insufficient space to mount horizontally I would guess. Have you not seen a 3P board where the MCBs are mounted at 900 to an equivalent domestic CU orientation.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Distribution_and_Switchgear_Index/Wylex_TP_and_N_Boards/index.html?utm_source=adwords

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WYNMRS12SLM.html

So MCB's can clearly work in either orientation.

Doc H.

 

[Sidewinder]

The trouble with this regulation is that it is a total mess.

We have BS7671 which is NOT a product standard, it is an installation standard, meddling with products which already have a perfectly good and valid product standard.

Why, because of idiots who can't fit them, and greedy manufacturers who want to make a quick buck by making things cheaper because the market wants cheap, and their shareholders want profit.

I have written an document on this, someone remind me later, I saw this earlier, but couldn't post then, & have a few PUWER assessments to finish, then I'll put my document text up.

I can only find BG that are bottom hinged, I have been told that Europa are also, but I've not seen evidence of this.

All of the BEAMA member manufacturers and many who aren't have gone top hinged, bar these two here as far as I have seen, and that included my visit to Elex and discussing the issues with all of the CU manufacturers present there.

 

[Essex1]

Don't get me wrong I am not suggesting it would be less safe or not work.  Just think it would look shoddy.

 

[kerching]

Why not?

Somebody. May have been the NICEIC bloke, many years ago , told me that boards could only be mounted sideways if the Manuf said it was acceptable!

I Asked why and his answer was that the heat would build up and the topmost MCB would get F hot and nuisance trip on the thermal setting! I deferred to his better judgement BUT told him that he was talking Arshe Water of the wettest type known and cited the case of type B boards......i was told thatbthese were "different"........I explained to,him that during his off duty hours he was a practionner in the art of Onanism, and should stick to it as he was ***** at his job!

Just saying