Picture 1 – Temporary distribution board
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This is a temporary distribution board installed outside of a building under construction.
I would say that by the way of its mounting and installation, this electrical panel was meant to operate as a weatherproof one.
But of course, it was not.
It is not installed directly under rain and sun. There is a roof above it.
Usually a fire alarm panel installed for an electrical substation is permanently mounted with similar conditions, just outside the entrance door of the substation.
The IP protection for the fire alarm panels is usually IP46 at least.
Picture 2 – Temporary electric sockets
Now let’s look at the socket outlet installed on the temporary panel.
Picture 2 above shows one socket that was being utilized to supply some electric tools that was being used by the workers inside the building under construction.
Readers not familiar with work conditions at construction sites may find the temporary panel and the was the socket is being used a little shocking. However, this is real construction habits in practice.
For the uninitiated, please notice that the practice in Picture 2 is on of those WHAT NOT TO DOS. Please do not get confused and follow this example.
The supply is taken from the socket without the use of proper plug. Some may argue that the size of the phase and neutral conductors may be large enough to handle the supply current from the corresponding protective MCB (miniature circuit breaker).
However, observe the socket outlet at the far right. A closer view is shown in Picture 3 below.
Picture 3 – Burned 13A socket outlet
Notice burn mark around one of the socket pin holes. This is the “LIVE” terminal of the socket.
You would get this mark if you use the socket the way photographed in Picture 2. It was cause by fire sparks when the live wire is pulled out of the socket without turning off the socket switch.
It can also be caused by fire or heat because the contact between the live conductor and the socket terminal inside was not good enough to handle the current taken by the electric tools being operated.
In any case, this would be a very good source of electrical fires.
This particular temporary was actually outside the building and there was not really anything that could catch fire. However, if it were inside the building, it would be a real fire hazard.
Picture 4 – Damaged socket outlet
This another type of damage caused by the method of taking supply shown by Picture 2.
I bet the worker who caused this would say there was not really a problem there. But if the socket pin hole could be damaged that way, then the conductors inside could also be shorted and become a real source of electrical fire.
Before I go on to another temporary electrical panel, notice that the green earth wire was not inserted into the Earth terminal in Picture 2.
This does not really need another reminder, but genuine beginners may interpret this the wrong way. ALWAYS CONNECT THE GROUNDING WIRES WHETHER YOUR EQUIPMENT IS EARTHED OR NOT.
Picture 5 – Another temporary distribution board
This one was installed inside the building under construction. Here the actual temporary DB itself was adequately installed. Only the 13A socket outlet was not properly used.
Notice the similar burn mark around the LIVE pin hole at one of the sockets (Picture 6).
Picture 6 – Another abused 13A socket outlet
I have been doing supervision works at construction sites for many, many years around this country. It is not easy to force the contractors to practice proper use of electricity at a construction site all the time.
This is made much worse by the practice of turnkey and design-and-build type of contracts.
There are many sub-contractors and sub-subcontractors involved. This makes the management of site safety a really challenging work.
What can be done effectively is to try to control the area around risky areas.
In the above examples, the best is to ensure the areas around the temporary electrical panels are clean, with no materials or debris that can catch fire if and when there are fire sparks from the improperly used temporary socket outlets.
The second thing you can do is to shut off the incoming supply to all the temporary electrical panels during lunchtime or after work hours.
Fires at construction sites are not rare incidents. These proactive actions can reduce those statistics.
I add one more picture below for the curious, in case he wants to know how the wiring is done for the temporary panel in Picture 5 above.
Picture 7 – "Internal" wiring of the temporary electrical panel
Isn't that one sexy-looking internal wiring work?
Visit this post, Temporary electrical installation pictures, for more pictures of temporary electrical installations.
If you are looking for the pictures of permanent installations, then visit Electrical installation pictures.
I have also sent some pictures on internal view of socket outlet extension unit. See them at this post, Electrical socket extension unit.
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