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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

  • Sparkingchip:

    Quite, however I the real world how many plumbers and gas fitters carry a MCB lock off kit?


    Some years ago I installed a central heating boiler circuit with a B3 MCB in the consumer unit and a double pole switch next to the boiler, the British Gas guy who came to service the boiler was a bit sniffy because he said there had to be a SFCU so he could take the fuse out and put a cable tie through the fuse holder with a sign attached to it.


    The consumer unit, boiler and double pole switch were all within two metres of each other in the garage, so with the MCB being lockable and every thing be in close proximity it complied on all counts.


    Andy Betteridge 




    I totally agree. I install isolators, SFCUs etc next to everything. However, the regs don't require it to be local. I always think of everybody who will be involved in the future. As far as I'm concerned it is both safer and gives the person working on the equipment confidence that it's isolated. Unfortunately, the regs don't require it and therefore this issue with reporting it in an EICR.

Reply

  • Sparkingchip:

    Quite, however I the real world how many plumbers and gas fitters carry a MCB lock off kit?


    Some years ago I installed a central heating boiler circuit with a B3 MCB in the consumer unit and a double pole switch next to the boiler, the British Gas guy who came to service the boiler was a bit sniffy because he said there had to be a SFCU so he could take the fuse out and put a cable tie through the fuse holder with a sign attached to it.


    The consumer unit, boiler and double pole switch were all within two metres of each other in the garage, so with the MCB being lockable and every thing be in close proximity it complied on all counts.


    Andy Betteridge 




    I totally agree. I install isolators, SFCUs etc next to everything. However, the regs don't require it to be local. I always think of everybody who will be involved in the future. As far as I'm concerned it is both safer and gives the person working on the equipment confidence that it's isolated. Unfortunately, the regs don't require it and therefore this issue with reporting it in an EICR.

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