Enclosures for Electric Meter Boxes are Critical Components to Housing Them and Choosing the Right Materials for the Covers is More Important Than Most People Realise!
Standard Plastic for Most Homes
Polypropylene is the typical material used for domestic metering installations and it generally offers a good all round solution. If housed in a typical domestic environment i.e. a house with average exposure to weather then a polypropylene meter enclosure will be perfectly acceptable.
GRP for Coastal or Exposed Sites
Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) is a durable material which can handle the worst of the weather including strong UV light and salt air. Over time standard polypropylene electric meter boxes can become brittle and discoloured, this can happen within a few years in very exposed locations. More on an Electric Meter box can be found at www.meterbox.co.uk/electric-meter-boxes.
Steel for Commercial Settings
Commercial meter boxes are normally made from steel powder-coated to a finish that matches the building’s colours. These boxes are heavier than their plastic counterparts, more expensive but more durable. It is unlikely that a standard Electric Meter box made from plastic would provide the necessary level of security and protection for a domestic or commercial meter box located in a high footfall area of a building.
Colour-Matching the Finish
Powder-coat or painted finishes can be specially made to match your brickwork, render or other types of cladding. Many suppliers use the RAL colour charts to specify their finishes, so it is worth checking if your preferred supplier can supply in a specific colour.
Recessed Versus Surface-Mount
A recessed meter box would be used for installations in masonry or brick construction, such as in a kitchen wall, whereas a surface mounted meter box can be used on any type of wall, but the material used for the enclosure must be able to withstand the full weather.
Check the IP Rating
The IP rating, which is essentially a rating of how waterproof and dustproof an enclosure is, needs to be of a certain rating or above for outside use. The rating of IP44 and above is generally acceptable for outside use. Any scratches, fading, or even cracking of the finish will obviously compromise the weatherproofing of the enclosure over time. The assessment of domestic energy installations, as part of the assessment of meter installations in UK homes, will be supported by a correctly rated outdoor enclosure.
Using the right materials in the first place can save a lot of hassle in years to come.