Hole in FCU cover

[Marko Polo]

Hi all,

Sorry if this has every been asked before but when searching for ‘hole in FCU cover’ or plug socket you just seem to get questions posted by people who have accidentally drilled through cables. Natural selection. However, I have just had a new boiler installed and this is how the have fitted the new FCU. Seeing as it is below the boiler I am worried about water ingress should there be a leak, plus it looks s!!t, and our last one had a hole in it that the inspector keep telling us to get replaced. Any thoughts on whether this is allowed? Many thanks!

 

[sparkwright]

You can get a leak ANYWHERE in a house, and the water could end up in any electrical point.

The boiler is not supposed to leak.

Even if there is a leak at the boiler, the water is just as likely to enter the FCU through the switch itself, the fuse drawer, or where the faceplate meets the wall.

FCUs are designed like that, they are not waterproof.

The FCU in the picture has a massive crack in it by the looks of it - so needs replacing anyway.

You can get a FCU with the flex outlet at the BOTTOM, which you would probably be happier with.

 

[Marko Polo]

A leak is an ‘expected failure mode’ on a boiler - so no it isn’t meant to happen but if a boiler fails then that is what could be the result). I completely accept your point about the water getting in regardless of the hole or not, so fair enough. So really what I am asking is: is it allowable to drill a hole in the cover to feed a cable through it or is that the kind of thing another electrician (or someone doing a home report if I came to sell the house) would say seriously needs rectifying?

 

[sparkwright]

You don't drill a hole in a FCU, you buy one which already has an outlet in it.

If someone decides to drill their own hole, then that's ok providing it's small enough that no one can stick foreign objects through; and that the cable flex is properly clamped or clipped in a manner that it can't be pulled out.

 

[plugwash]

is it allowable to drill a hole in the cover to feed a cable through it

Flexible cords that can be pulled on need to be appropriately restrained, so that any pull on the cord does not stress the terminals. So just drilling holes in the front a random accessory is not ok.

However, your picture does not look like someone just drilled a hole in an accessory not designed for it. It looks like there was an intentional knockout and so there is also almost cerainly a cord grip.

Still as others have pointed out your FCU has a big crack in it, so it needs to be replaced for that reason.

 

[JohnW2]

A leak is an ‘expected failure mode’ on a boiler - so no it isn’t meant to happen but if a boiler fails then that is what could be the result).

True, but I know plenty of houses in which electrical accessories (sometime even consumer unit and meter) are on a wall in a room directly below a bathroom. One therefore doesn't even need any sort of 'plumbing failure' to result in water pouring through the ceiling onto those electrical items - mere 'human action' in relation to use of a bath, shower or basin can do have such a result.

Sockets and FCUs below kitchen sinks are also pretty common - and we all know about the 'failure modes' of taps, connections thereto and sink wastes!

Kind Regards, John

 

[TimboTwo]

Use Screwfix 13479, bottom flex outlet.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-logic...y9bU_y1yp9Bq8nx33u4aApSSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

You will probably need to relieve some of that stuff below as it is quite close to the bottom of the spur.