UK Power Network are due to move the electrics service head from near my front door into my under-stars cupboard which is more than 2.1m and has a 1m step-back. The surveyor proposed to install it 1000mm from floor level and bang int he middle of the under stairs space. He was reluctant to agree to install it any higher even though he said it could be installed 1000mm-1700mm from the floor. Is it really the case that a new service head cant be installed higher than 1700mm? Is so can someone let me know why? Tkanks
New service head
- Thread starter Yukster
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Think about the poor guy that has to come along, in FULL PPE, we're talking face shield, gauntlets etc and try and pull that fuse in x number of years down the line. They're not gonna wanna do it off steps, and higher than 1.7m means you'd have to use steps, which is probably (hopefully) not allowed by their H&S documents.
Ah, all those old terraced town houses with the cutout and meter mounted inside above the front door......
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Yeah, but they won't do that now...
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Fair point. But hard is not impossible. I aways believed that (within reason) if there's a will there's a way. I was assuming that service providers do what they can to cater for customers' needs, i.e., to install the service head out of the way so i can utilise the space in the under stairs cupboards more effectively. If they cant use a ladder then the can find another solution, no? Maybe if there is no will there also no way?
It probably won't be long before many DNO's will refuse to relocate an existing inside supply unless the new location is outside (or maybe some have already adopted such a policy - I've not been following such things in detail now outside Britain),
It's not about where there's a will there's a way. It is, and can be, a matter of life and death. If there is an explosion as they pull the fuse (rare, but it happens) and they're wearing PPE on the ground, no harm, no foul. If they're standing on steps, a hop up etc as this happens, they potentially fall backwards and break their neck.
If their regs say between 1000mm and 1700mm then it will be going between 1000mm and 1700mm.
The solution is to put it outside in a cabinet.
Scaffolding-type tower?
I'm pretty sure that ladders are not allowed to be used as working platforms, only as a means of access.
In an under-stairs cupboard? That should be interesting.....
The stairs are not fitted yet so the jointer wont be restricted at all. But as you say, regs are regs and there is no point having a strop about it
I didn't think they were permitted to fit new cutouts under the stairs? Or don't they know there is going to be a staircase fitted.
Safety both at time of installation and in the future should take preferance over customer's "needs" when deciding where is best for the service head.
Best out "of the way location" is an external meter box where the service head will not become covered in the various items that cupboard under stairs accumulate. Storing anything flammable near to a srrvice head is not reccomended.
Last edited:
K
kai
Why can't you move the service header outside?
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