Section 8.1.3

Meter Boxes

Openings in walls for meter cabinets shall be structurally adequate and prevent dampness entering the home. Meters and associated equipment should be located to be accessible and not subject to damage.

  • Openings to meter boxes built around a former.

  • Cavity trays to be placed one brick above the opening with a minimum bearing of 150mm on each side of the reveal.

  • Meter boxes should be installed around 1.2m above the finish ground level to the bottom of the meter box.

  • DPM provided behind the meter box built into the block work.

  • Cavity tray installed 1 course above the lintel to prevent moisture re-entering the cavity via the lip of the meter box.

  • Meter box and service duct installed plumb and level.

  • Sealed in matching external grade sealant.

  • Meter boxes must be accessible, limited landscaping in these areas.

  • Provided edgings and gravel around low lying gas boxes to prevent damp.

  • Air bricks should be a minimum of 180mm away from gas boxes.

  • Under cloak should project the gable by 38mm – 50mm when using plain tile or slates.

  • 30mm – 60mm when using interlocking tiles.

  • A minimum of 100mm depth of concrete when compressed with the mortar struck and pointed when green using the same mix.

  • Pointing should be neat without excessive mortar on the tiles or slates.

  • Lead flashing will typically be required to link in with a cavity tray.

  • Lead must be installed into brick course by a minimum of 25mm below the cavity tray.

  • Mortar must be raked out prior to the roofer installing the lead and an abrasive wheel must not be used to prevent damage to the cavity tray.

  • Patination oil must be applied to all lead work.

  • Stepped flashing must be installed into the brick joint below the stepped cavity tray.

  • Where slates, plain tiles and flat interlocking tiles are used, soakers or a secret gutter should be installed.

  • Brick joints can be sealed with an appropriate lead sealant.

  • Masonry chimneys projecting through a roof will sometimes require 2 cavity trays to link in with the apron and box gutter.

  • The apron would be installed below the lower tray, the tray will be formed downwards at the apron and upwards on any elevation which enters the roof space.

  • Stepped flashing is the installed but not linking in with a stepped cavity tray.

  • The box gutter is installed below the upper tray. In this area, all side of the tray would form downwards.

  • Flashing to dummy chimneys will be installed as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.