Convention or Regulation?

[DIYWell]

I've noticed in meter cupboards that CUs, meters, isolators etc are mounted vertically. Is that done by regulation or convention?

One cupboard I saw recently had the supply coming in the top forming a J to reach the bottom of a DP isolator, then an S to a meter then another S to the CU. It looked pretty, but I though "what a waste of copper. Could have saved a few feet if the isolator was mounted the other way up".

 

[ericmark]

Isolators have been mounted so anything falling on them would switch them off not on, so down is traditionally off, cables are often formed as a U so moisture will not follow the cables into any enclosure, but as to regulation or not hard to say, as there are so many, even if not in BS 7671 it may be in one of the many H&S regulations.

 

[DIYWell]

That makes sense