Insulation around circuit breaker box

tommythecat

Hi

My circuit breaker is beside my front door behind a little door that is flush with the interior wall. So it is letting in a lot of cold air as there is only the external brick wall and then a flimsy door. Is it safe to insulate around the box? Like with a foam spray or something? What would you recommend? Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Garret

tommythecat

Photo attached.

disposableFish

Better to ask over on the electrical forum as there's specific rule that'll apply here.
Iikely you won't be able to do most of what you have in mind.

tommythecat

disposableFish wrote: »

Better to ask over on the electrical forum as there's specific rule that'll apply here.
Iikely you won't be able to do most of what you have in mind.

Thanks. I’ll try there.

listermint

tommythecat wrote: »

Thanks. I’ll try there.

No it's not safe don't ever put spray foam around unshielded cables. What I mean by unshielded is cable outside trunking.

Spray foam can react with he pvc shielding on the cables and melt the shielding away over a period of time .

No Bueno. Your best bet here is to shield the door. Make it properly air tight with gaskets.

BryanF

Generally around cabinets use Mineral wool, but only actual mineral wool, product name rockwool

https://www.rockwool.co.uk/applications/fire-protection/

In close proximity to wiring junction with cabinet consider using a putty pad https://www.rockwool.co.uk/product-overview/fire-stopping-products/intumescent-putty-pads-en-gb/?selectedCat=downloads

Calahonda52

OP, you need to figure out where the cold is coming from, is there an breeze blowing through the holes.
As noted above, no foam, just suitable material that wont attach the cables.
Interesting wiring, what year is the house, 60/70'Ss?

Cerco

You could well have cold air entering behind your meter box.
You may find the bock work was roughly opened out to run in the supply cables similar to the block work around your consumer unit.

Noticed you have two open threads with responses for the same issue. Ask mods to combine them.

tommythecat

Yeah it’s 70’s. It’s a bit of mess. I sealed the door pretty good which has helped a lot. It’s a wooden frame all around except the bottom which is open into the cavity wall. I will try the rock wool suggestion thanks.

Calahonda52

Depending on the size of the hole a fireproof putty might be easier.

Risteard81

A distribution board should not be located inside a press.

BryanF

Risteard81 wrote: »

A distribution board should not be located inside a press.

Is that Clause 530.6.1 or where is this referred to the regs? Thanks

Risteard81

BryanF wrote: »

Is that Clause 530.6.1 or where is this referred to the regs? Thanks

530.5.4

BryanF

Thanks for that

‘ Rule 530.5. 4 states that a distribution board shall not be located in a storage cupboard. If the distribution board ends up in a storage cupboard then the installation will not comply with the wiring rules thus cannot be certified. ‘

And is ‘storage cupboard’ defined, for example if it was a ‘service cupboard’ with nothing ‘stored’ in it? Or a dedicated fire rated cupboard?

Berserker5

I'd say service cupboard is OK but not cupboard for general storage

Haven't thought much about it as you don't see much enclosure in cupboards now