ELV (24v dc) and barriers/obstacles for safety.

[jimseng]

Hello.
I am trying to establish what the regs say about access to my LED drivers which I am installing in a cupboard set into the timber frame of my new build. The system is 24v DC (powered from solar batteries, there is no mains involved at any point). I am building a box set into the wall and the carpenter has suggested using some fixing where the front of the cupboard/box can be removed without using a tool. (Such as magnets). This is so we can make the panel as invisible as possible with no screw heads showing, it will be flush with the plasterboard and plaster finish and painted. I expressed concern about the whole access to live terminals without the use of a tool thing but I have only found ambiguity about whether this applies to 24v DC or not. Can someone point to what the actual regs say?
One point to make is that in order to pry the front of the panel off one would have to insert something like a thin blade or screwdriver into the gap between the front panel and the wall to remove it. Perhaps that counts as the use of a tool? Regulations seem to be an art rather than actual rules.

[markc]

If only 24v then no precautions necessary - good practice to mitigate fire of course, terminals can be exposed .. as in vehicles etc.

[Nickfromwales]

@jimseng

 

https://tradeaccesspanels.co.uk/product/fire-rated-plasterboard-access-panels/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17336436168&gbraid=0AAAAADqcc2NvcVDH3OPU6cTaBGL9O6YYE&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk_bPBhDXARIsACiq8R3L6SPOQXz1gdePeNbesc0EaPv1Q_Guurb7OuhtdCA38PNVFVlX5ugaAjOaEALw_wcB

[SteamyTea]

This seems to explain it all quite well.

You can put a sticker in there saying what it is.

 

https://voltage-disturbance.com/power-quality/difference-between-elv-selv-pelv-and-felv/

 

1 hour ago, billt said:

You might want to edit that rather offensive post.

Yes, I agree.

[ProDave]

One of my more unusual jobs was to wire a very remote public toilet.  The wiring consisted of a 12V wind turbine and a small solar panel to charge a 12V battery that ran a small low power fan to ventilate the composting tank, and a small 12V light and switch.

 

Building control still wanted an EIC for the work, even though as far as I am concerned it does not come under BS7671

[SteamyTea]

13 minutes ago, ProDave said:

BS7671

Be so much simpler if it was available free of charge.

What does section 543.3.201 say?

[jimseng]

Great. Thanks everyone. I'll carry on with my pretty panel.

[Alan Ambrose]

Not sure I get the use cases of all the xELVs (elves ?) described in the link but still - seems reasonably certain that 48V PoE, 24/48V LED lighting, low voltage sensors, 24V Loxone etc etc etc don’t fall under Part P. And, of course, ethernet, RS485 etc. No reason though not to use sensible fusing, smoke sensors etc, particularly in high-current situations. I’m planning to use a bunch of ELV with fewer than usual 230V circuits.

[-rick-]

4 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

seems reasonably certain that 48V PoE ...  don’t fall under Part P

 

Not sure about that but I do know that PoE cabling has been added to the 4th amendment of the 18th edition (current) electrical regs. Which strikes me as an overreach, are data installers going to need to become qualified electricians now?

[SteamyTea]

5 hours ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Not sure I get the use cases of all the xELVs

Think some of it is to do with earthing/bonding.