Advice on EICR failure C2

[securespark]

In my entire three decades, I only ever got called out to one consumer unit that started melting then smouldering due to a loose connection on a shower MCB.

 

[endecotp]

In my entire three decades, I only ever got called out to one consumer unit that started melting then smouldering due to a loose connection on a shower MCB.

I witnessed one when I was a student. The landlord had upgraded the shower over the summer; one of the flatmates was using the shower for the first time and the rest of us smelt a burning plastic smell from the cupboard under the stairs. On opening the cupboard door, we saw a molten plastic CU, with the plastic literally dripping off and the bus bar exposed.

 

[SUNRAY]

In my entire three decades, I only ever got called out to one consumer unit that started melting then smouldering due to a loose connection on a shower MCB.

I think I agree with that, the overheating always seem to be the isolators loose joints.

 

[JohnW2]

I think I agree with that, the overheating always seem to be the isolators loose joints.

I imagine that most of us have seen CUs that have been thermally damaged, as you say almost invariable due to loose joints.

However, the thinking underlying what I regard as this crazy regulation was seemingly the suggestion that a lot of house fires originated in CUs. I wonder if anyone here has ever come across a case of that actually happening?

 

[JohnD]

I witnessed one when I was a student. The landlord had upgraded the shower over the summer; one of the flatmates was using the shower for the first time and the rest of us smelt a burning plastic smell from the cupboard under the stairs. On opening the cupboard door, we saw a molten plastic CU, with the plastic literally dripping off and the bus bar exposed.

I was quite surprised when I found that some CUs are made of thermoplastic.

IME accessories are usually made of thermosetting plastics like ABS or Bakeite, which will char, but not melt or flame.

 

[securespark]

I wonder if anyone here has ever come across a case of that actually happening?

I did attend a house fire, but the seat of the fire was not the CU but the CH pump that had jammed and overheated, setting fire to a load of plastics that were stuffed around it in the cupboard.

 

[Murdochcat]

IIRC it was the LFB that wanted the change to happen and of course the vested interests who update 7671 latched on to it to help justify the next revision of the regs

 

[JohnW2]

I was quite surprised when I found that some CUs are made of thermoplastic. IME accessories are usually made of thermosetting plastics like ABS or Bakeite, which will char, but not melt or flame.

Indeed. I was unaware of thermoplastic CUs and.like you,m would not have expected there to be any.

 

[JohnW2]

IIRC it was the LFB that wanted the change to happen

My understanding was that it was the LFB who forced the change to happen - and remember they appear to be an organisation which uses 'electrical' as the scapegoat 'cause' when they can't actually determine what started the fire.

and of course the vested interests who update 7671 latched on to it to help justify the next revision of the regs

that's not how I heard it. What I heard was that the LFB 'forced' the change on EIT/BSI, against their wishes, by threatening to take legal/political action against them if they didn't agree to do it.