fuse box

[jayz]

Hi all

Can any one clarify

I have just had an electrical inspection,the engineer said that the fuse box did not have phase barriers so it had failed the test.Phase barriers!!Eh.The fuse box is metal with cover in place with all fuses fitted.He wants £750 to change,is this ok

Cheers

 

[333rocky333]

What make is the board, can you post a picture.

 

[starspark]

sounds very dodgy to me i would get someone else in to check if your concerned if i was you!!even if there was a problem with your consumer unit 750 is a ridiculous price to change it!!(ill do it for 700 ) what type of consumer unit do you have? can u put a photo on?

 

[jayz]

Sorry don't have a pic at the moment.Fusebox is a Crabtree C50 series,it has got big brown circuit breakers in.Surely if it is not damaged,no holes etc then it is safe even if it doesn't have a phase barrier(whatever that is)

 

[starspark]

im not to sure what that is to be honest thats why i think he maybe pulling fast one!!only things i can think he may mean are busbar cover but would have to take board cover off to get to that or blanks missing from board both of which are easily fixed. do you have an rcd protecting any or all circuits??

 

[RF Lighting]

Is the fuse box in a domestic or a commercial property?

Oh and C50s never had a busbar cover by design anyway

 

[jayz]

Fuse box is in my small factory unit,spare ways have got blanks in,couple of switches are rcd's.If it is just a case of having these phase barriers fitted rather than the expense of replacing everything does anyone know if covers are available

 

[333rocky333]

c50 boards especially the 3 phase ones, do have a lot of live bits exposed, when the cover is off.
The ones with no main switch are very exposed

Our company has been changing a lot of these lately for a big supermarket chain.
Not entirely sure its compulsory though.
C50 breakers are still sold.

Single phase ones are not very exposed when the main switch is off, as it should be before removing cover.
From memory there is a peice of brown card with two screws that go over the incomer terminals on the 3 phase board.

 

[RF Lighting]

You certainly couldn't fail one for the sake of it.

Perhaps you could say it doesn't comply with current regulations, but even that may be a little spurious

The only thing it might fail on would be the kA rating of the MCBs.

I would think that it is probably a good idea to have it replaced at some point as part of your planned maintenence, but there is no rush, and providing you don't start playing around inside it with the power on, they are safe enough.

 

[jayz]

If the board doesn't have busbar covers as standard and only a qualified person is going to remove the cover for access am I ok not having it changed

 

[333rocky333]

Is it single phase or 3 phase.

 

[JACKC]

This is not a failure as only a qualified person will be removing the covers with the tools required, working live is against the EAWR 1989 unless certain criteria is met. From the sounds of it, they do not exist in your enviroment. I would mark it down on a PIR as a code 4, does not comply to standard but does not make it unsafe. I would however budget for getting it updated in the future. I would also get somenone else in to carry out future work.

 

[jayz]

Board is 3 phase

Thankyou all for your input.will be getting the yellow pages out next time I need a spark

Cheers

 

[333rocky333]

The phase barriers are a sort of paxoline type grid which runs down the centre spine of the board and is as far as I know not removable.

On the load side of the breakers the phase barrier is part of each of the circuit breaker mouldings and thats It.

The main switch if fitted at the bottom came with a screw on cover and that is it as made.

These boards could be used without a main switch built in and the incoming terminals were left normally exposed.

 

[Taylortwocities]

will be getting the yellow pages out next time I need a spark

Cheers

Get one at www.competentperson.co.uk