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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

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  • Just got home from work and saw all the new comments.Been a late one.

    Thanks everyone for commenting.

    I have now got it more clear in my mind.

    I will be discussing this with my supervisor as to the wrong coding of 2 when it should not be coded but only reported as to clients request.


    Ajjnewsbury:

    Regarding your first comment on my comment. I am talking about a situation where these items may have been locked of for an extended period of time and you have had no control over that. I have come across these situations. I normally termporarily re-energize the circuit, if possible, to confirm that the remote isolator is the correct one. Problem is, if the equipment can't be enrergized due to the fault. You then have to disconnect the supply cable to the equipment terminals first. With a local isolator - no problem.


    Regarding you second comment on my other comment. I was only referring to practicalities, not to requirements of the regs.
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  • Just got home from work and saw all the new comments.Been a late one.

    Thanks everyone for commenting.

    I have now got it more clear in my mind.

    I will be discussing this with my supervisor as to the wrong coding of 2 when it should not be coded but only reported as to clients request.


    Ajjnewsbury:

    Regarding your first comment on my comment. I am talking about a situation where these items may have been locked of for an extended period of time and you have had no control over that. I have come across these situations. I normally termporarily re-energize the circuit, if possible, to confirm that the remote isolator is the correct one. Problem is, if the equipment can't be enrergized due to the fault. You then have to disconnect the supply cable to the equipment terminals first. With a local isolator - no problem.


    Regarding you second comment on my other comment. I was only referring to practicalities, not to requirements of the regs.
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