BG consumer units

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DuaneMHunt1976

I've got one in my home and was going to replace it for a new metal one
Looking around found
The BG consumer unit, I was looking at
95340: 20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch

figured be a direct swap as they looked a like
But turns out just the back is metal and the front is some plastic
What is the full requirements for Consumer units AMD3 for well less than 30 days away
 
Hi fella,if they are identical,what is your reason for wanting to swap? ...as far as i am aware,the IET has no plans,to convert old TV detector vans,to scan for pre-AMD3 compliant DBs' :joker:
 
I wanted to get Ready for Next Years NICEIC test, with the change of the consumer unit, and would sooner do it at home, and add on another circuit.

I did change the orienal one for just my first test that i passed, (that was because a RCD was built in to the main switch, so upset the 2nd DB i put in, Another story any way)


Just want to know what the SPECS for the CU for AMD3 are, because i brought this CU thinking it was full metal due to its wording to me, and found out it wasnt, so wasnt sure what the full scope of the needs for the AMD3 CU were
 
DuaneMHunt1976 said:
Just want to know what the SPECS for the CU for AMD3 are, because i brought this CU thinking it was full metal due to its wording to me, and found out it wasnt, so wasnt sure what the full scope of the needs for the AMD3 CU were
Click to expand...

"be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12."
 
The suggestion in guidance note 5 is that the consumer unit if made of non combustible material should maintain that non combustible materiel as a complete envelope, also covering the circuit breakers/blanks.


I.e. the whole unit must be metal with a metal cover over the MCBs as well, including hinges and so forth..
 
Darth Vador, looking over you. All you can hear him Breathing and tuting ever now and then. Ready to kill you for any little error or twinkle in your eye, were he thinks you might be doing some ting wrong..

ALL THESE and OTHER THINGS running in your mind when you Pay a few £££ to some people to TEST you.

So why not RELAX in your own HOME with a Cup of Tea, and do up your own home as you sort out your tests.
 
You must have real bad assessor never ever felt under pressure at all
Mind you I have been assssed a few times over the years
 
I put myself under that pressure, i think of every thing that could go wrong, Ie Stopped telling people i ever worked for 'Big high street White Goods Company' as so many have been ripped off by them, feels like well now here is the chance to kick back at someone who used to work there.

Also I was born in Portsmouth and some people might class me as Scum, or upper class because of my accent or even cockney :(
Its not to give any one a edge to put me down, people judge you on your actions, looks and what you say without even thinking about it. I did have a BSM tutor who, well was sexest (wouldnt drive a 500CC car because the advert had a Woman driving them!) and had a word he used for his Brother in Law from Leicester.

At home because i know the area and can kick EVERYONE out for the day, i have images of being at someones house and them coming down in just there night ware or some guy coming down and scream there is not toilet roll!!


Guess its a Control over the area your in. Im not sure if its the Dyslexic thing (maybe in some forms) that i TRY and plan out how i talk to people and how a chat can go, what in the end can be very complex and you dont have a clue if you are saying the same thing twice to a person. (do try and not do that, just little area of questions I want to ask)
 
DuaneMHunt1976 said:
I've got one in my home and was going to replace it for a new metal one
Looking around found
The BG consumer unit, I was looking at
95340: 20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch

figured be a direct swap as they looked a like
But turns out just the back is metal and the front is some plastic
What is the full requirements for Consumer units AMD3 for well less than 30 days away
Click to expand...

Getting back on track, think you'll find those CU are pre AMD3, bit like the MK Sentry range. AS the others have said, AMD3 would need metal back, cover & flap. Not sure BG have released a AMD3 one yet.

I like the aesthetic look of the MK model & Hager Design range.
 
Richard Burns said:
The suggestion in guidance note 5 is that the consumer unit if made of non combustible material should maintain that non combustible materiel as a complete envelope, also covering the circuit breakers/blanks.


I.e. the whole unit must be metal with a metal cover over the MCBs as well, including hinges and so forth..
Click to expand...

As above, plus the lid must close when subjected to gravity!
 
if the schneider easy 9 is an example of amd.3 boards, you can keep 'em. loads of room below where you don't need it, and cramped at the top. barely 1" above a RCBO FFS.
 
HandySparks said:
Really?
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware yes. Think about it; what is the point of a metal enclosure to help contain a fire if the front flap can be left open exposing the plastic blanks and breakers, which would melt and allow for fire to 'escape' easily.

All the Amd3 boards I have seen have the un-proppable flap!
 
Last edited:
TheGayOwl said:
As far as I am aware yes. Think about it; what is the point of a metal enclosure to help contain a fire if the front flap can be left open exposing the plastic blanks and breakers, which would melt and allow for fire to 'escape' easily.

All the Amd3 boards I have seen have the un-proppable flap!
Click to expand...

I can see your point but, as far as I'm aware, it's not a stated requirement for the lid to close under gravity.

I think the BG one has metal sprung catches which hold it closed (assuming that it's been closed in the first place).
 
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DuaneMHunt1976 said:
I've got one in my home and was going to replace it for a new metal one
Looking around found
The BG consumer unit, I was looking at
95340: 20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch

figured be a direct swap as they looked a like
But turns out just the back is metal and the front is some plastic
What is the full requirements for Consumer units AMD3 for well less than 30 days away
Click to expand...

Duane, why change your board if there is not much wrong with the previous board. I am not sure if the first assessment requires very recent work. For my 1st assessment with NAPIT I used a board change I had done three years previously! Maybe niceic are different tho.

Must admit, never seen a part plastic part metal board as far as I know of. Ib personally like the new metal enclosures, find them easier to work with than the insulated ones.
 
it may be that the flap clips in place and needs a bit of a flick to get it to drop.
 
TheGayOwl said:
As above, plus the lid must close when subjected to gravity!
Click to expand...
What a load of cobblers,the sort of misinformation that soon gets into every day sparking folklaw then gets written up by NICEIC as THE LAW.

Having spoken to the regional manager of BG at my local wholesaler last week on an open day come & see our wares type thing; I can pass on that BG have written confirmation from IET that there is no requirement for the front flap/lid to be hinged from the top.
They have conceded that there may be a requirement for the flap lid to hold in the shut position to complete & full metal faced enclosure. As has been stated BG achieve this by having retaining catches on the flap/lid when it is pushed shut where as others rely on gravity to drop the lid/flap.
 
not clever said:
What a load of cobblers,the sort of misinformation that soon gets into every day sparking folklaw then gets written up by NICEIC as THE LAW.

Having spoken to the regional manager of BG at my local wholesaler last week on an open day come & see our wares type thing; I can pass on that BG have written confirmation from IET that there is no requirement for the front flap/lid to be hinged from the top.
They have conceded that there may be a requirement for the flap lid to hold in the shut position to complete & full metal faced enclosure. As has been stated BG achieve this by having retaining catches on the flap/lid when it is pushed shut where as others rely on gravity to drop the lid/flap.
Click to expand...
Can you post up a copy of the written confirmation from the IET

I wouldnt trust the word of a reptile on comission
 
I've fitted a few BG Amd3 boards, I don't particularly like the lid hinged at the bottom, but I use this one if I need the main switch on the right - mainly because it is reasonably priced (cheap). When mounted high up, it is sometimes a pain to try and see anything due to the lid being in the way, unless you get out a step ladder.

I used to use Wylex for a RH main switch, a nicer board, but their Amd-3 boards are a bit pricy for the moment.

And I use an MK one if I need the main switch on the left - which has a much nicer lid hinged at the top.

However, I have noticed some places selling "metal" consumer units that are old pre-Amd3, and forgetting to mention they don't comply from Jan-16, leaving unsuspecting customers to get caught out.
 
not clever said:
What a load of cobblers,the sort of misinformation that soon gets into every day sparking folklaw then gets written up by NICEIC as THE LAW.

Having spoken to the regional manager of BG at my local wholesaler last week on an open day come & see our wares type thing; I can pass on that BG have written confirmation from IET that there is no requirement for the front flap/lid to be hinged from the top.
They have conceded that there may be a requirement for the flap lid to hold in the shut position to complete & full metal faced enclosure. As has been stated BG achieve this by having retaining catches on the flap/lid when it is pushed shut where as others rely on gravity to drop the lid/flap.
Click to expand...

Yep I agree, cobblers it is in the sense there is no regulatory requirement. It comes under good practice in my view. Having thought about it where i heard it from was either general guidance from either NAPIT or one of the manufacturers (when Amd3 first came about).

Regarding the bit you say about the BG saying there may be a requirement is wrong though. In my view there is definately a requirement for the lid to hold in a shut position, otherwise the fire containment is not maintained. Wiring Matters article on this states the enclosure must form a complete envelope.

One reason I am not so keen on the bottom hinged BG CU, which I have only just become aware of, is Joe public could have a loose neutral tail causing RCD to trip. They may leave the flap down if the tripping is problematic for a few days before getting round to calling a spark. In the interim if a fire arose then the remaining steel enclosure is not much better than a chocolate teapot!

Having said all that, and despite my preference for steel CUs, I do not think insulated CUs should be effectively (for all intents and purposes) banned from domestic use.
 
One reason I am not so keen on the bottom hinged BG CU, which I have only just become aware of, is Joe public could have a loose neutral tail causing RCD to trip. They may leave the flap down if the tripping is problematic for a few days before getting round to calling a spark. In the interim if a fire arose then the remaining steel enclosure is not much better than a chocolate teapot!

and a cow could fly past the window and fart the lid open.
 
20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch | Domestic Consumer Units | NoLinkingToThis

it didnt have stock clearce when i brought it lol
metal back same plastic front
 
DuaneMHunt1976 said:
20-Way Metal Consumer Unit & 100A Switch | Domestic Consumer Units | NoLinkingToThis

it didnt have stock clearce when i brought it lol
metal back same plastic front
Click to expand...

At least they note it doesn't comply with amendment 3 in the spec's......I wonder if all the large retailers (one in particular) will bother?
" Please note that this Metal Consumer Unit is not compliant to Amendment 3 -2015 of the IET Wiring Regulations"
 
Screwfix do seem now to be clearing out the non-Amd3 boards, sometimes at good prices for the internals.

For example, a few weeks ago, I bought a BG "12-Way Split Load Consumer Unit 80A RCD & 100A Switch" discounted down to £12. The housing itself is ----ed away, but the 80A RCD would have cost me £19 had I bought it on it's own.
 
Yep,they are wearing out the hinges on my letter-box,sending word of all these "bargains"...

I use them sparingly,since a batch of faulty LAP switched fused neon plates,which only functioned when bent or deformed...lad on the counter said "What are you telling me for? ...email someone who cares..."

...I even brought an AVO in,to the counter,to demonstrate the issue...might as well have been showing an I-pod to a seagull :icon9:
 
It's somewhat disheartening to see so many references to cost/price as the lowest common denominator over CU choice. There should be no need to buy materials at sheds. If you can't get good deals at the wholesalers you're not screwing them down on price hard enough.
 
HandySparks said:
BG 10-Way Dual RCD Metal Consumer Unit & 10 MCBs | Domestic Consumer Units | NoLinkingToThis
Click to expand...
I'll go to the foot of or stairs......must admit didn't check that one out on the BG site, thought it was plastic cos' of the bottom hinged flap. Looks like they've copied the Hager design, but the other way up!

Think Beama have updated (well June 2015) their 'spin' on A3 CU's with this pdf;

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...pAbRL3dcAKq9ivQ6Ev5oyA&bvm=bv.108538919,d.ZWU

No mention of top mounted hinges, and their interpretation of 'similar switchgear assemblies'
 
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TheGayOwl said:
Except for the BG one in the link that is! I am starting to wander where I read the flap bit now...I know I didn't make it up!
Click to expand...
With you on that, but now it seems that was the manufacturers 'spin' on the reg; MK 'with a top hinged door that prevents the door being left open after use, which could lead to a possible fire risk'.Crabtree 'Self closing, stay shut door'. Hager 'Unlatched to ensure the door is always left in the closed position maintaining the non-combustible integrity of the unit'.

Have BG become unhinged.:)
 
I was in the wholesalers asking about hager AMD3 and saw a pile of BG metal consumer units.
"We got them in to try but they are all gonna have to go back"
"Why ?" I asked.
"The lids flap down and someone said that's not compliant"
"Who did ?"
"A customer I think"
"Yeah I heard that too" piped up another customer
"From who ?" I asked the customer
"Dunno but someone said"

Amazing how hearsay is taken as fact so easily.
 
Maybe we could have a "myth busting" section on this forum.
 
Half the manufacturers and bodies are responsible for perpetuating the myths themselves. Think that's why the reg was given 6 months, so that they can get their facts right.
 
Just spotted this download on Wylex website;

http://www.electrium.co.uk/media/20151123152849_0_Wylex NMFS Inturnescent.pdf

Now I remember Hager exhibiting one of their 3A CU's (Elex Show, Harrogate 15), which had be subjected to a glow wire test; 'As you can see, no flames came out of the board, and no scorching to the cables (entering the CU)'. Just standard metal 3A CU, with no sealing around cable entries.

Fire retardant membrane cable entries, even non combustible metal blanks. Nice little earner Wylex :banghead:
 
...I know that there are many salesmen,i have had to listen to,that i would like to subject to a glow wire test...

...just to see if THEY,can remain compliant :thinking:
 
SJD said:
Screwfix do seem now to be clearing out the non-Amd3 boards, sometimes at good prices for the internals.

For example, a few weeks ago, I bought a BG "12-Way Split Load Consumer Unit 80A RCD & 100A Switch" discounted down to £12. The housing itself is ----ed away, but the 80A RCD would have cost me £19 had I bought it on it's own.
Click to expand...

Same here, I bought 2. :biggrin:
 

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