Plastic electric meter boxes in enclosed riser shafts

[Suttonfire]

Hi,

Given that ADB requires that shafts containing services which run up through a building should be enclosed in fire resisting construction, what are your views concerning shafts which have adjoining electrical meters housed in plastic boxes on all floors (adjoining the shafts). The back of the electrical boxes appears to be chip board or similar.

I have been asked to confirm what the standard of compartmentation should be (as works are ongoing which have required the opening of the shafts) and my view is that the shaft should be fully enclosed in fire resisting construction and that the doors to the meter cupboards (which are located in internal non vented lobbies) should also be fire resisting.

I appreciate that doing this retrospectively (even as part of property upgrade works) would involve significant time and cost, so would appreciate views on this.

[SamFIRT]

This document from IET is worth a read.

New non-combustible enclosure requirement for consumer units Amendment No. 3 to BS 7671:2008 (IET Wiring Regulations Seventeenth Edition).

electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/55/-files/consumer-units-pdf.cfm?

[kurnal]

Technically the amendment only applies to domestic premises - ie it does not cover the communal areas of flats or care homes, hotels etc.

421.1.201 Within domestic (household) premises, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies shall comply with BS EN 61439-3 and shall:
i. have their enclosure manufactured from non-combustible material, or
ii. be enclosed in a cabinet or enclosure constructed of non-combustible material and complying with Regulation 132.12.
NOTE 1: Ferrous metal e.g. steel is deemed to be an example of a non-combustible material
NOTE 2: The implementation date for this regulation is the 1st January 2016. This does not preclude compliance with this regulation prior to this date.

If looking for Benchmark guidance for flats etc there is a reference to this in ADB.

[wee brian]

ADB doesnt require shafts containing services to be enclosed.

It requires shafts passing though compartment walls and floors to be fire resisting.

if its one of those then anything passing through the enclosure needs the right FR.

the plastic/non combustibe fusebox thing is more about preventing fires than containing them

[kurnal]

Brian I was referring to Para 2.40- am i misreading the intent?

[wee brian]

Hey Kurnal. I was picking up on the OP. I was being a tad pedantic.
But people often bung services in FR enclosures when they don't need to.

I think 2.40 only asks for FR enclosure if a meter is located inside a protected stair.