This discussion is locked.

You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Local Isolation For A/C Internal Units

Hi

Doing EICRs, and the remedials resulting from them.

An issue had been raging as to whether an internal unit needs to have a local isolator.

There have been 2 schools of thought over this issue with others I am working with.

First one:

It is a an electromechanical piece of equipment and needs a local isolator even though it is being fed by an external unit that has it's own isolation.

Second one:

It is fed by the external unit and they are both one piece of equipment even though they are split with the two parts in different places. Turning off the isolator to the external unit isolates all the equipment.

In my opinion a local isolator is still needed as there is no way of knowing if the internal unit is definitely part the the external unit being isolated. It may just be off at the controls.

I have come across many A/C units that have been installed by A/C engineers and they have not put an isolator on the internal unit. I'm wondering if there is a reason that they don't or if it's just ignorance of the regs on their part. I would have thought their training would have included that. Is there something that they know that means they don't need to install an isolator to the internal unit?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks

Parents

0 Sparkymania over 5 years ago

davezawadi:

It is a requirement of the EAWR that one tests dead before any work is carried out. Perhaps he doesn't know how to do that? Therefore this is a spurious claim which does not bear any scrutiny.

OK. I presume you are talking about the A/C engineer. I agree with you about that. This was also my argument as well. The regs do not require "local isolation" to the internal unit that is part of a split system and can be isolated at the supply to the system externally.

I agree with the A/C maintenance engineer about installing isolators on internal units for maintenance otherwise they have to go running about to find the external unit which is on a locked roof or compound and the extra time it takes etc, etc but that is not part of an EICR to report what may be inconvenient to a maintenance engineer. They should take that up with the installers.

However, I'm not sure what you mean by a spurious claim. Are you referring to the "wrong isolator being locked off" reason?. Like I say, this is all agreed with the client. They are not laymen who don't understand. They are electricians and building services engineers.

For my part I would prefer not to have to report or do remedials on them. They are mostly in carpeted offices, above desks etc. A right pain.

Remember, an EICR may include things that have been agreed with the client. If they have requested that all internal units must have isolators then that's their right.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Cancel

Reply

0 Sparkymania over 5 years ago

davezawadi:

It is a requirement of the EAWR that one tests dead before any work is carried out. Perhaps he doesn't know how to do that? Therefore this is a spurious claim which does not bear any scrutiny.

OK. I presume you are talking about the A/C engineer. I agree with you about that. This was also my argument as well. The regs do not require "local isolation" to the internal unit that is part of a split system and can be isolated at the supply to the system externally.

I agree with the A/C maintenance engineer about installing isolators on internal units for maintenance otherwise they have to go running about to find the external unit which is on a locked roof or compound and the extra time it takes etc, etc but that is not part of an EICR to report what may be inconvenient to a maintenance engineer. They should take that up with the installers.

However, I'm not sure what you mean by a spurious claim. Are you referring to the "wrong isolator being locked off" reason?. Like I say, this is all agreed with the client. They are not laymen who don't understand. They are electricians and building services engineers.

For my part I would prefer not to have to report or do remedials on them. They are mostly in carpeted offices, above desks etc. A right pain.

Remember, an EICR may include things that have been agreed with the client. If they have requested that all internal units must have isolators then that's their right.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Cancel

Children

No Data

Local Isolation For A/C Internal Units

Community Rules & Guidelines