External insulation

Nigzcurran

Hi can anyone tell me how this electric meter box should have been finished? I presume they should have put insulation in it somehow?

10-10-20

Nope, that's pretty much it. They can't insulate the box nor realistically fill the voids around it with insulation either.

You might back-fill some of it with expanding foam, especially in the around the incoming pipes at the bottom, but that's on you if you do. Personally I would, I'd fill the voids leaving the black trunk open.

Nigzcurran

Ok thanks for that, I'll fill those two holes myself. Just seems strange that they go to so much trouble insulating everywhere but leave that big area open to the cold

Biker1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058364415/external-insulation

Is that a cavity wall or hollow blocks. If it's a cavity then it should have been pumped before the external insulation was installed.

Nigzcurran

They tested it prior to any work and said it wasn't suitable for being pumped. Spoke to the contractor today and he said they don't insulate the box due to fire safety but he'll fill the holes with expanding foam

hesker

Out of interest do you have a chimney and did they insulate that above the roof

Nigzcurran

We have a chimney and it wasn't insulated. We got the attic insulated and they said it doesn't need roof vents. Seems to be different requirements for each individual house

andyd12

The likes of this should be fitted before being wrapped:

https://www.jupiterblue.co.uk/meter-boxes-c56/electric-meter-box-for-external-wall-insulation-ewi-retrofits-p362

Nigzcurran

Thats very cool. Great idea and makes sense, I'm still in shock that they dont insulate the box! On a separate note I got virgin to come out to tidy up the cables which had been removed from the old facia and to be fair to them they did a great job putting up new trunking to match the pvc facia

TimHorton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122512221#Comment_122512221

Did the External Insulation go right to the top of the wall (remove/replace soffit) and meet attic insulation? Also did they go 300 mm below internal finish floor level with the insulation ?

Nigzcurran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122514149#Comment_122514149

Yep insulation went from the very bottom of the house to the very top

TimHorton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122514521#Comment_122514521

That does not answer my question. Is it done like this video or did they stop at soffit leaving a massive cold bridge. Which is it ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6T4g_YBfAc

Nigzcurran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122514699#Comment_122514699

Only went as far as the soffit

whizbang

and with a cavity not filled, might as well have stuck the Ewi on the garden wall

Nigzcurran

Cavity was not suitable for filling. Are you saying the job they do is pointless?

TimHorton

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122522041#Comment_122522041

They say the heat will escape upwards through the cavity if the cavity is not filled.

Calahonda52

Lets be crystal here re pumping the esb box with X foam which would touch the ESB cable, especially older cable like this as it interacts with the foam and the insulation degrades, also cables are designed to be air cooled…..

https://www.esbnetworks.ie/docs/default-source/publications/your-meter-cabinet.pdf?sfvrsn=12695144_16#:~:text=An%20outdoor%20meter%20cabinet%20must,)%20electricity%20meter(s).&text=The%20meter%20cabinet%20must%20be,acceptable%20subject%20to%20proper%20access.

seal the holes with airtightness tape

Nigzcurran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122529764#Comment_122529764

Any point in insulating the door of the meter box?