We're currently carrying out a rewire at a small industrial unit. Requirements are 16 x 3Ph BS60898 ways and 12 x 3Ph 63A BS88 fuse ways (welders).
Rather than use two boards a colleague came across a company who builds custom distribution boards.
My colleague went through our requirements, amount of MCB ways, fuse ways, single 250A isolator, suitably rated bus bars etc.
Upon opening the finished product we were faced with this:
First problem, an interlocked isolator. Wonder what we would need to do to reset an MCB?
It would mean full isolation of the whole factory and offices. Not a very good start.
Inside:
My colleague made it clear that many cables would be entering the panel from the top via two 4x4 pieces of trunking. Cables for the welders (BS88) would be 10mm.
Imagine fitting all the MCB's up the right hand side and how much space that would leave us.
Same lack of space down the sides of the fuse carriers:
As it was made very clear, we required 16 x 3ph MCB ways and 12 x 3ph BS88 ways, neutrals included. Look at the earth and neutral bars!
They won't go very far will they, especially as there will be many single phase supplies connected.
One thing that really surprised us was the isolator they fitted for the BS60898 rail which was supplied from the main vertical bus bar.
Spot the mistake!
Woodscrew to secure the din rail:
A boat load of swarf and a mystery hole to boot!
All the problems were emailed to the panel builder who accepted full responsibility in a return email. He said that a full refund couldn't be auctioned due to the nature of a custom build and offered a list of rectifications.
"Re-apply labels straight.
Remove the interlock mechanism from the switch handle
Replace the Earth and Neutral Bus bars with 16mm numbered din rail terminals
Shorten the 3 Phase bus bar
Fabricate a Perspex bus bar cover.
Heat shrink all of the tags
Re-wire the isolators for the MCB’s
Re-box in a 1200 x 1000 x 300 enclosure. This is the largest enclosure we can supply. With the removal of the earth bar and shortening of the 3 phase bars, this should give you enough room at the top for your incoming cables.
Swarf will not be present."
The instant worry was the perspex bus bar cover and how well it would shroud the bus bars considering the interlocked isolator would be replaced with a non interlocked isolator.
My colleague phoned the company today and was told that the perspex cover would only cover the front of the bus bars and not the sides. We think that's totally unacceptable considering untrained people may open the door to reset an MCB. (IP ratings).
Would we be asking to much for a custom panel to be built to a relevant British standard for a distribution board?
The company state that they will not build to any standard nor offer a certificate of compliance.
Doesn't BS7671 require equipment and accessories to be to a relevant standard?
Any help or advice would be great.
Rather than use two boards a colleague came across a company who builds custom distribution boards.
My colleague went through our requirements, amount of MCB ways, fuse ways, single 250A isolator, suitably rated bus bars etc.
Upon opening the finished product we were faced with this:
First problem, an interlocked isolator. Wonder what we would need to do to reset an MCB?
It would mean full isolation of the whole factory and offices. Not a very good start.
Inside:
My colleague made it clear that many cables would be entering the panel from the top via two 4x4 pieces of trunking. Cables for the welders (BS88) would be 10mm.
Imagine fitting all the MCB's up the right hand side and how much space that would leave us.
Same lack of space down the sides of the fuse carriers:
As it was made very clear, we required 16 x 3ph MCB ways and 12 x 3ph BS88 ways, neutrals included. Look at the earth and neutral bars!
They won't go very far will they, especially as there will be many single phase supplies connected.
One thing that really surprised us was the isolator they fitted for the BS60898 rail which was supplied from the main vertical bus bar.
Spot the mistake!
Woodscrew to secure the din rail:
A boat load of swarf and a mystery hole to boot!
All the problems were emailed to the panel builder who accepted full responsibility in a return email. He said that a full refund couldn't be auctioned due to the nature of a custom build and offered a list of rectifications.
"Re-apply labels straight.
Remove the interlock mechanism from the switch handle
Replace the Earth and Neutral Bus bars with 16mm numbered din rail terminals
Shorten the 3 Phase bus bar
Fabricate a Perspex bus bar cover.
Heat shrink all of the tags
Re-wire the isolators for the MCB’s
Re-box in a 1200 x 1000 x 300 enclosure. This is the largest enclosure we can supply. With the removal of the earth bar and shortening of the 3 phase bars, this should give you enough room at the top for your incoming cables.
Swarf will not be present."
The instant worry was the perspex bus bar cover and how well it would shroud the bus bars considering the interlocked isolator would be replaced with a non interlocked isolator.
My colleague phoned the company today and was told that the perspex cover would only cover the front of the bus bars and not the sides. We think that's totally unacceptable considering untrained people may open the door to reset an MCB. (IP ratings).
Would we be asking to much for a custom panel to be built to a relevant British standard for a distribution board?
The company state that they will not build to any standard nor offer a certificate of compliance.
Doesn't BS7671 require equipment and accessories to be to a relevant standard?
Any help or advice would be great.
