Running a submain through distribution board, right or wrong

[jonney88]

Hi I've been pulled today for installing an swa glancing into the top of a header trunking then taking it through the db, saying its against the regs saying a once a main sw is off the whole db has to be dead, I can't find a reference to it,
normally I would always gland it in the bottom of the db but the cable was already installed and could only go in the top,

am am I completely in the wrong here?
thanks

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Not aware of any prohibition against this in the Regulations?

 

[jonney88]

I've looked in the regs, Eawr, safe isolation best practice guide and there no mention to running of submain through the db,,

 

[davesparks]

It's impossible for the whole DB to be dead wherever the cable comes in unless the main switch is in a separate enclosure.
It is preferable for the cable to enter at the bottom, but as you say it is not always possible.

 

[jonney88]

The terminals are exposed most of the time on the main sw anyway, I'd be switching of at section board anyway to satisfy the ESSW

 

[davesparks]

The terminals are exposed most of the time on the main sw anyway, I'd be switching of at section board anyway to satisfy the ESSW

Most good quality boards have the main switch terminals covered in a TP board these days.

ESSW?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Extra Special Safety Words.

 

[jonney88]

Electrical safe systems of works, no not all terminals are covers even top brand boards

 

[jonney88]

This is the db in question

 

[Hellmooth]

Pic hasn't shown, if you save it to your computer or phone, then use the little picture of the tree in the option bar, you can upload it that way.

 

[jonney88]

Db in question

 

[Pete999]

Bad practice, if you needed to work on the sub main, say remove or whatever, then you would need to isolate the entire board it is running through, causing disruption

 

[jonney88]

Ud need to isolate the db anyway to work on the submain, but once the submain is in why would you need to remove it?its all ifs and buts, is there anything saying its bad practice it's certainly not prohibited and does not affect safe isolation of the board, to safely isolate the board would mean turning it of at the section panel,

 

[Pete999]

Ud need to isolate the db anyway to work on the submain, but once the submain is in why would you need to remove it?its all ifs and buts, is there anything saying its bad practice it's certainly not prohibited and does not affect safe isolation of the board, to safely isolate the board would mean turning it of at the section panel,

Are you feeding the sub main from the board its running from? or using the board as a route

 

[Hellmooth]

It looks like the OP has only ran the cable in from the top to be terminated in the board, no issue there? If it was running through a board to elsewhere that would be different.

 

[jonney88]

It looks like the OP has only ran the cable in from the top to be terminated in the board, no issue there? If it was running through a board to elsewhere that would be different.

yeh the submain is the main feed for the db

 

[Pete999]

yeh the submain is the main feed for the db

Nothing wrong with that then, sorry for my previous, I thought you were running straight through the DB as a cable routing.

 

[jonney88]

Here's wat the guys saying, can you guys help putting together a decent response with the help of technical info cheers

 

[davesparks]

Politely ask them to reference the specific regulation in bs7671 which details safe isolation procedure

 

[ian.settle1]

Your picture is as clear as mud