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Combination Distribution Boards from IES offer electrical installers the invaluable benefits of precise pre-assembly. From factory settings to temporary sites and homes – wherever power distribution is needed, Combination Distribution Boards save time for installers with bespoke configurations.

In this blog, we will present the advantages of IES Distribution Boards, and detail the IDE electrical enclosure range that is used for production.

Perfect for planning; ready for installation

IES configures distribution boxes to installers’ requirements, readying them for installation in a broad variety of applications. Our time-saving service wires electrical enclosures with single or multiple sockets; ideal for building information management systems that allow wiring to be planned out in advance.

The potential advantages of our Combination Distribution Boards for pre-assembled power distribution systems are numerous, including; economising on space during construction planning; shortening construction timelines; reducing the risk of delays and cost overruns; supporting more environmentally-friendly building strategies; and ultimately, simplifying installation.

Let’s look at the type of bespoke Combination Distribution Boards we offer at IES. We can provide any assembly combination in the following units:

IP67 enclosures with assembled and wired sockets

We offer Distribution Boards with assembled and wired power sockets using IDE IP67 enclosures. Select between surface enclosure capacity of 9, 13 and 26 modules. These units come with transparent windows that are PC tinted and offer UV protection. The boxes are recommended for outdoor and industrial environments, particularly locations that require substantial protection against splashes, dust and impacts, such as swimming pools, garages and docks.

IP65 enclosures with assembled and wired sockets

Our pre-assembled and wired Distribution Boards using IDE IP65 enclosures offer a surface enclosure capacity of 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 or 24 modules. Manufactured from halogen-free plastic materials, their transparent, PC tinted windows provide UV protection. A wide range of power sockets and protections are available for selection depending on usage requirements. Their IP65 rating makes them certified to protect against low pressure water jets and dust, while an IKO8 impact resistance rating can withstand a weight of 1.7kg dropped from a height of 300mm.

Plastic site panels

You can also choose to utilise IES Distribution Boards for site panels models with the IDE PRYMA IP67 and Star IP65 enclosure ranges. The PRYMA models offer an 8, 12 and 24 module capacity with a transparent window, while the STAR models offer a 26, 39, 52 or 56 module capacity with a transparent window. Assembly can include combinations of wired interlocking sockets, IP67 Schuko-type sockets, protections and an emergency push-button.

Junction boxes with power sockets

You can also utilise our junction box range, which offers an IP67 series of assemblies with standard power sockets. Made from halogen-free plastic materials, the three largest models are available in a transparent PC-tinted cover or opaque shock-proof cover.

Speedy solutions for bespoke project requirements

With expert engineers and a custom build facility, IES contrives to offer a high quality solution for customer electrical distribution board requirements.

For more information about our bespoke distribution board service click here – alternatively, call 0117 916 3688 or email [email protected]

From industrial locations to warehouses, workshops, depots and construction sites – IDE PRYMA Enclosures can be critical to the installation of power points for fixed machinery or portable tools. This halogen-free series offers exceptionally high durability, being ideal for the housing of power sockets, control elements and signalling apparatus.

In this article, we shine a spotlight on IDE PRYMA Enclosures’ numerous qualities.

Protection and resistance

IDE PRYMA Enclosures – which are available with a 9, 13 or 26 module capacity – are IP67-rated; offering 100 per cent protection against solid objects such as sand and dust, while having been tested to work underwater for at least 30 minutes. Manufactured from ultra-strong plastic materials, the product offers an IK08 resistance to impact, providing protection against the equivalent of 1.7kg dropped from 300mm above the impacted surface. You can also count on a glow wire resistance of 650 °C, Class II double insulation, and maximum operating voltage of 1000 V AC/1500 V DC.

Transparent window with UV protection

The transparent, tinted PC windows which are a feature of all IDE PRYMA Enclosures offer UV protection, safeguarding electrical elements from potential damage from natural light and lighting systems. These windows are able to guarantee the IP protection of the assembly, being pressed to the sealing gasket. Padlock support is offered as an optional accessory.

Simply assembled and wall mountable

IDE PRYMA Enclosures are supplied with rails and accompanying accessories, coming in a bundle containing all supports and screws necessary for straightforward assembly. Clear assembly instructions are provided, along with module identification strips. Depending on the model, IDE PRYMA Enclosures can be secured to the wall via screws placed in locking screw housings (67TC09), or wall mounted directly from housings located at the base (67TC13 and 67TC26). Dielectric strength and protection are assured thanks to watertight caps for these housings, which are provided in the accompanying accessories bag.

High performance frame and base

The frame of IDE PRYMA Enclosures offers secure placement for power sockets in its blank areas – one positioned vertically, and another at a 30° to prevent the crossing of cable bundles. Dependable protection from water and dust is guaranteed by the frame perimeter’s sealing gasket, while rigidity is assured by reinforcement ribs structured within the frame’s interior. The base is comprised of four perfectly flat walls which are ideal for the installation of smaller elements such as pushbuttons and pilot lights. The bottom of the base offers supports and housings for the attachment of neutral bars, earth bars and the DIN rail. A frame-base hinge system provides enhanced manoeuvrability between the parts.

Manufactured by IDE

The PRYMA Enclosures range is manufactured by IDE Electric, a globally renowned producer of electricity distribution enclosures. The Spanish company is recognised for its innovative, quality solutions for a broad variety of low voltage industrial applications. IDE PRYMA Enclosures are certified by VDE.

Do you have any questions about IDE PRYMA Enclosures? Call 0117 916 3688 or email us at [email protected]

Browse top European brands in our IES Electrical product range today.

A high level of performance is guaranteed by the range of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) Enclosures manufactured by IDE. From chemical, pharmaceutical or food plants to outdoor processing centres – the robust nature of GRP Enclosures, and the resistance they offer to chemical agents, make them the protection of choice for many installations.

Hot pressed, reinforced polyester

Our IP66 rated range of GRP Enclosures benefits from hot pressed polyester which has been reinforced with fibreglass and is halogen-free. These characteristics – along with a one-piece base that increases resistance to impact and guarantees maximum inner space – combine to produce an exceptional quality of product.

Reversible and symmetric

The design of IDE GRP Enclosures puts customer convenience at the top of the agenda, saving time and simplifying processes in a number of applications. Coming in a range of seven different sizes, these GRP Enclosures are both reversible and symmetric. This gives them much-valued versatility in the field for many different types of communications, electric, pneumatic and hydraulic installations.

Tested and rated 

The GRP Enclosures in this IDE range offer protection to the IP66 rating, which is defined as “dust tight and protected against powerful jets of water”. For resistance to impact, the opaque door option of GRP Enclosure is rated as IK10, meaning that on impact it protects against 20 joules, is vandal-proof, and recognised as extremely safe. The transparent door option has an IK08 impact resistance rating, being protected against five joules impact; equivalent to a 1.7kg mass dropped from a height of 300mm.

Tested for resistance to glow wire, these GRP Enclosures are capable of withstanding a temperature of 960°C, and have a thermic class of 150°C. They come in an opaque, grey white shade; the RAL9002 colour code.

What else?

IDE IP66-rated GRP Enclosures possess a variety of features that will be immediately attractive to the electrical trade. Their built-in, surrounding protection edge prevents water from entering when the door is open and ensures that the cabinet is straight in relation to the surface. These GRP Enclosures can be fitted without drilling thanks to quick fixture guides at the rear of the unit. They also benefit from corrosion-free internal Zamak hinges that warrant 180° door opening.

Electrical excellence

IDE Electric is a global leader in the production of plastic and metal enclosures for electricity distribution. The Spanish manufacturer – which is noted for its commitment to continually delivering innovation – provides quality solutions for a wide range of low voltage industrial applications.

Do you have any questions about IDE GRP Enclosures? Call 0845 226 7125 or email us at [email protected]

For a selection of top European brands, browse the comprehensive IES Electrical product range today.

From the time Thomas Edison created the first commercial electrical system in September 1882, there has been a need to protect against electric shocks. Electrical safety is quite simply a matter of life or death; but while technology advances in the electrical field have made today’s workers better protected than ever, things haven’t always been that way. In this article we track the evolution of electrical safety down the years…

1897 – Electrical safety guidelines incorporated into Factory Law

After commercial electricity began in the UK in the late 1800s, safety protocols were put in place to reduce the risk of electric shocks and fires. It can be said that the first major landmark for electrical safety in the country came in 1897, with the incorporation of electrical safety guidelines in Factory Law. That year, the Dangerous Trades Committee of the government’s Factory Department reported that there had been 14 fatal electrocutions over the past five years at electricity generators and substations. In 1902 came the appointment of the first Electrical Inspector of Factories, Gilbert Scott Ram, who proposed special regulations for electrical safety.

1910 – Scott Ram’s ‘Memorandum’

An explanatory document entitled ‘Memorandum of Electrical Regulations’ which was prepared by Scott Ram and sold for a price of 3 pence in 1910, was aimed at factory occupiers. It is one of the earliest examples of a regulatory code of practice relating to electrical safety. In his annual report that year, Scott Ram noted: “Reports from the Inspectors show that a good deal of work has been done in getting some of the more obvious defects remedied such as bare connectors, fuses, and switches etc repaired.”

1956 – Charles Dalziel’s electric shock research

Fast forward to the 1950s, and over half of British homes had access to electricity. Across the pond, Charles Dalziel’s studies into the electric shock became a benchmark in electrical safety. Dalziel was a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at UC Berkeley in California. His research delved into the effects of varying amounts of electricity on humans, which included tests on volunteers. This led him to the invention of the ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to prevent ground faults; a major cause of electrocutions in commercial and domestic settings. This miniature differential circuit breaker is still used today in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.

1982 – Ralph Lee and Arc Flash

Another electrical safety breakthrough should also be credited to the US. Ralph Lee’s 1982 paper ‘The Other Electrical Hazard: Electrical Arc Blast Burns’ highlighted a type of electrical hazard which does not need contact to cause injury. His research into electrical arc blast burns was pivotal in quantifying potential burn hazards by estimating incident energy volumes and the energy threshold. Protection practices are largely based on Lee’s work today.

1995 – Electrical safety guidance simplified

In the late 1980s, the government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made progress in communicating an understanding of ‘risk’, but practical guidance which defined risk was largely confined to the nuclear industry and high hazard sectors.  Smaller companies were still crying out for guidelines which helped them assess risks, especially those organisations without qualified expertise in-house. This changed with the introduction of simpler guidance such as the HSE’s ‘Five Steps to Risk Assessment’, published in 1995. Evaluating risks and deciding on precautions now had a clear structure.

2000+ – The development of PPE

In the post-millennium era, the development of PPE has significant, with electrical safety labelling becoming clearer to aid selection of PPE by people working on or near live systems. Workers now benefit from advanced PPE such as boots and gloves that have enhanced insulation properties, fabrics which are shock resistant, and complete arch flash protective garments. Other electrical safety solutions such as remote racking devices, arc flash blankets and rescue equipment have also emerged.

With new technology developing continually, there will always be changes to electrical safety solutions and regulations. As this article demonstrates, electrical safety has always required ‘moving with the times’.

Browse the IES Electrical range of Protective Devices here, including RCDs, RCBOs, MCB devices and Isolators.