Why Must I have a Metal Consumer Unit or Fuse Box - IP Ratings, Cable Glands and Torque Screwdrivers

Students training aid on why we now install metal (steel) consumer units (fuse boards, fuse box or distribution boards in domestic dwellings (houses). This video outlines the reasons why in a domestic dwelling the consumer unit needs to now be metal and this can help prevent the spread of an electrical fire. We also look at the importance of IP ratings, torque screwdrivers and cable glands.

== 🕐 Time Stamps - Cut to the action 🕕 ==

00:00 - Metal consumer units
00:32 - Maximum load of 100 amps
00:53 - The need for a torque screwdriver
01:14 - Fire damage
01:40 - Cable glands
02:13 - Support the tails
02:48 - IP ratings explained
04:23 - What's inside a consumer unit

Videos are training aids for City and Guilds (C and G) and EAL courses Level 1, 2, 3 plus AM2, AM2S and AM2E.

🔵 Under standing your consumer unit video link

Videos are training aids for City and Guilds (C and G) and EAL courses Level 1, 2, 3 plus AM2, AM2S and AM2E.

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[Dog-whisperer]

Gaz I was just wondering, why has there been a big push for RCDs for sockets outlets especially if portable equipment are being used out doors? Would it not be a better and cheaper option for outdoor equipment like lawnmowers and even our mains powered drills to have a plug top type RCDs fitted to them ?

[sbmorrisk]

I was told that plastic stuffing glands still don’t class as fire proofing and are also cost effective being a few quid a pop,
also when using t+e cables you need to use the correct oval glands for these cables to clamp down on them correctly. I was told using a rubber grommet and slice a hole through that and seal with fire rated sealant is more efficient and actually fire proofs better what do you think? Thanks

[statuescher]

I’m not an electrician but my observation is that consumer units used to be metal casings and then were changed to plastic a while back. Were they changed because of concerns about electric shock via the conductive casing? I see the fire suppression benefit and assume metal casings on the latest compliant ones will be Earth bonded? It’s a ball ache because my reasonably recently fitted plastic consumer unit is no longer compliant and would have to be replaced now, at no little expense, so as to be up to standard again.

[leegreveson]

How is the fire integrity maintained when cable entry is from the rear? For example, BG consumer units have a large oval knockout, I have emailed their technical department but unsurprisingly no reply has been forthcoming. So should a fire start in the CU it's escape route would be back into the hole in the fabric of the building where all the cables come through.

[robbryden]

It's gonna cost 1000 quid to change a fuse board nowa days. So are all plastic fuse board now non compliant and would be classed as c2 and require changing?