Sealing a consumer unit entry points??

[leebut]

Hello Guys


I'm going to put my Tin hat on and close the curtains so the Regs police can't arrest me for asking this question again, I can only find old threads pre 18th edition so please advise me if I'm missing something


I've just been watching a guy on Youtube doing a board change who's said that to comply with the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations you must seal ALL entry holes into a consumer unit regardless of them coming through the bottom, top, sides or rear entry with a suitable intumescent mastic to stop the spread of fire into the fabrication of the building!!!


I personally am NOT aware that anything changed in the 18th Edition to say all entry points have to be fire sealed I've been looking online tonight and can only find write ups from "Wiring Matters"

Stating


Sealing of wiring entries
It is important for the installer to seal all openings into the enclosure or cabinet for cables, conduits, trunking or ducting that remain after the installation of cables - see Figure 6. The intent of the sealing is to ensure that, as far as is reasonably practicable, any fire is contained within the enclosure or cabinet and the escape of flames to the surroundings of the cabinet or enclosure or into conduits trunking or ducting is minimised, as intended by Regulation 421.1.201.
Good workmanship and proper materials must be used, and account must be taken of the manufacturer’s relevant instructions, if any.


Regulation 421.1.201 Does not mention sealing any apertures in a consumer unit with, grommets, glands or sealant and does not mention that the Metal clad board cannot be fitted to a timber backboard. So why is the IET saying we are to be sealing the holes , personally I've been installing all my boards with cables entering from behind and mounting my boards on the existing wooden backboards using a length of stick on trunking as a framework around the consumer unit.


Am I wrong???

 

[bill01803]

NIC man said to me he didn’t want to see any wood. Top needs to meet IP 4X the rest IP 2X

 

[Dustydazzler]

Just fill the entire board with expanding foam and then gun round the outer edges with an entire tube of fire proof sealant then smooth over with a builders trowel

 

[Midwest]

When this reg first come out, the guidance was only ‘seal’ to the appropriate IP rating as previously mentioned. Then Wylex started flogging intumescent bags to go inside their CU’s, then the grown ups at the IET came out with that crap about contains a fire etc.

On my very last assessment two years ago, my Elecsa assessor suggested just to follow the IP rating, and don’t worry about mounting on wood.

I suspect the next thing, will be not to use plastic raw plugs to fix the CU to none flammable structure.

 

[Dustydazzler]

The world has gone absolutely crazy imo

We are worrying out bloody fire proof foam when there are still 900,000 death trap tumble driers in people homes And miles And miles of flammable cladding still stuck to the outsides of high rises

 

[leebut]

When this reg first come out, the guidance was only ‘seal’ to the appropriate IP rating as previously mentioned. Then Wylex started flogging intumescent bags to go inside their CU’s, then the grown ups at the IET came out with that crap about contains a fire etc.

On my very last assessment two years ago, my Elecsa assessor suggested just to follow the IP rating, and don’t worry about mounting on wood.

I suspect the next thing, will be not to use plastic raw plugs to fix the CU to none flammable structure.

The plastic rawlplug was brought up at my last assessment, there’s no concern over them as the wall they’re in will support the clips or consumer unit.

This idea of sealing up all the opening with intumescent sealant seems another cash generator to subsidise the cost of changing to metal consumer units

 

[davesparks]

Sealing the entries just makes it awkward for the next person adding or altering circuits.
We are supposed to make allowance for future additions when installing DBs, leave spare ways etc, so stuffing the entries full sticky goo seems counterintuitive.

 

[Spoon]

When this reg first come out, the guidance was only ‘seal’ to the appropriate IP rating as previously mentioned. Then Wylex started flogging intumescent bags to go inside their CU’s, then the grown ups at the IET came out with that crap about contains a fire etc.

On my very last assessment two years ago, my Elecsa assessor suggested just to follow the IP rating, and don’t worry about mounting on wood.

I suspect the next thing, will be not to use plastic raw plugs to fix the CU to none flammable structure.

If you will the CU up with water then they never catch fire..... Job done...

 

[leebut]

If you will the CU up with water then they never catch fire..... Job done...

Of course water will stop the spread of fire, the CU would need to be IP65 rated to hold the water though

 

[Spoon]

Of course water will stop the spread of fire, the CU would need to be IP65 rated to hold the water though

You put the water in a plastic bags, silly..... Then when there is a fire the bags burst and put out the fire....