Exposing the Consumer unit to the outside.

[Dave D]

Hello. At the moment we have a garage attached to the house. The garage is coming down and being replaced with an extension.
The problem is the consumer unit and electric meter are on the outside wall of the house inside the garage. Both will be moved to a wall which hasnt been built yet. The fella from uk power who are moving the meter said to box them in for now and make waterproof with roofing felt.
I thought I'd see what you guys thought. I can believe its possible to keep them dry as theres a flat roof right above that already has lead flashing there. And you could double wrap it. But is this just too dodgy, too illegal and not going to allowed by building control, or ok for the meter but not the unit?
Cheers

 

[EFLImpudence]

Box them in for now and make waterproof with roofing felt - or any other method that will keep out the water.

I didn't understand the rest.

 

[Dave D]

Box them in for now and make waterproof with roofing felt - or any other method that will keep out the water.

I didn't understand the rest.

The rest of post was just me asking if this temporary way of keeping the consumer unit and meter dry is ok?

 

[JohnD]

Roofing felt is a bit of a bodge.

Quite a good method is to buy a ready-made meter box, the sort that is fixed to the outside of a house, and mount it on a couple of posts or a wall. I favour the type with the top-hinged cover, as it is less likely to blow open if you forget to lock it.

Cable entry from the bottom will prevent water running in.

You can sometimes buy scratched ones cheap.

 

[JP_]

Hello. At the moment we have a garage attached to the house. The garage is coming down and being replaced with an extension.
The problem is the consumer unit and electric meter are on the outside wall of the house inside the garage. Both will be moved to a wall which hasnt been built yet. The fella from uk power who are moving the meter said to box them in for now and make waterproof with roofing felt.
I thought I'd see what you guys thought. I can believe its possible to keep them dry as theres a flat roof right above that already has lead flashing there. And you could double wrap it. But is this just too dodgy, too illegal and not going to allowed by building control, or ok for the meter but not the unit?
Cheers

You're having building work done, that will involve a lot of water, probably a hose, so best to box it in like UK Power suggested - need to protect from all angles, not just above.

 

[JohnD]

Examples

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...at=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=meter+box

There are some better cabinets, usually steel or GRP sold as a "kiosk"
You might find a used one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...ity+kiosk&_sacat=0&_sop=15&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1


Some of them have a pitched "roof." The reason is not what you think.