MCBs/RCDs and fire safety?

[MarshP]

Wow. Years lurking and then two posts on the same day!

An electrical issue today made me realise just how messed up my household electrics may be, thanks to previous owners. Now, an electrical fire is a particular nightmare of mine, and we only have electric heating here. So one of the things I've splashed out on is new CUs with MCBs/RCDs.

Am I right to assume this offers some measure of overheat protection, in that loose or intermittent connections might trip the units before overheating? Or is this just wishful thinking?

 

[Taylortwocities]

The items in a modern consumer unit only protect against
Over current
Earth leakage

They do not provide any function with respect to
Overheat
Vibration
Bad workmanship
earthquakes
Water ingress
Slip, movement or settlement
Erosion
Rodent, insect or parasites damage
Smoke or fire
Freezing
Fungus
etc

When you say

one of the things I've splashed out on is new CUs with MCBs/RCDs.

Is that something that is being installed by an electrician. Or have just gone out and bought yourself one?

 

[MarshP]

Is that something that is being installed by an electrician. Or have just gone out and bought yourself one?

By an electrician. I'm careful to respect my competence and its limits!

 

[bernardgreen]

Overheat
Vibration
Bad workmanship
earthquakes
Water ingress
Slip, movement or settlement
Erosion
Rodent, insect or parasites damage
Smoke or fire
Freezing
Fungus

They do not protect against loose connections creating hot spots either.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Think that's covered by the exclusion clause 153/a/rt (Bad Workmanship)

 

[bernardgreen]

Think that's covered by the exclusion clause 153/a/rt (Bad Workmanship)

Not sure that covers the properly tightened terminal where later the copper wire deforms and as a result the contact pressure reduces to make a hgh impedance joint.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Aluminium is worse.

I'll phone MEM and see if they can design a sprinkler system into their CUs in case of overheating.