The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement

Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 23 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 8109 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Cooker isolators and the like

ebee
In my formative years electrical, I was brung up that an isolator for a cooker etc must be nearby, say within 2m and obvious as for useage (or clearly marked) as a readily available "rapid use switch" in case of say chip pan fires etc. Rather than having to locate them in cupboards or go to the CU etc to switch off and possibly plunge the whole house into darkness.



Modern folk and their kitchens, it seems some folk have an aversion to them.


Call me old fashioned but my order of preference is 1/ Safety, 2/ Functionalability and 3/ Asthetics.


Any views on this Folks?
Parents
  • 0
    Hello Ebee.

    The 6ft distance for a cooker control was a requirement in the 14th Edition, 1966, Regulation A29.  This became 2m with metrication in an Amendment in1970. The requirement for a local cooker switch has seemingly disappeared over the years, probably with the 15th Edition (1981) and "harmonisation".  As it is no longer a requirement, one can omit it and still comply with the Regs.  Also, as it is not a requirement, if one is installed it can be fitted wherever one wishes within reason, as the 2m rule doesn't apply to something that is not required.  Generally, I still work to A29 for this, but in my own situation preferred to locate both the oven and hob switches by the kitchen exit door where the fire extinguisher is located.  One can then isolate the power and approach the hazard from a safe direction armed with a fire extinguisher.  For maintenance, I lock off the RCBO in the CU and do not rely on an unlockable switch.

    Regards,

               Colin Jenkins.


Reply
  • 0
    Hello Ebee.

    The 6ft distance for a cooker control was a requirement in the 14th Edition, 1966, Regulation A29.  This became 2m with metrication in an Amendment in1970. The requirement for a local cooker switch has seemingly disappeared over the years, probably with the 15th Edition (1981) and "harmonisation".  As it is no longer a requirement, one can omit it and still comply with the Regs.  Also, as it is not a requirement, if one is installed it can be fitted wherever one wishes within reason, as the 2m rule doesn't apply to something that is not required.  Generally, I still work to A29 for this, but in my own situation preferred to locate both the oven and hob switches by the kitchen exit door where the fire extinguisher is located.  One can then isolate the power and approach the hazard from a safe direction armed with a fire extinguisher.  For maintenance, I lock off the RCBO in the CU and do not rely on an unlockable switch.

    Regards,

               Colin Jenkins.


Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines