Cooker isolators and the like

A friend of mine actually had a washing machine set on fire once. Later in her new house, she was most insistent that the washing machine socket would have a separate isolator switch and that it wouldn't be above the washing machine!

We don't have a cooker supply, but I'm with ebee on this one.


My preferred approach with not only the cooker, but also other white goods, is to have a labelled isolator above the work-surface in line with the sockets. Then a cooker outlet or unswitched single 13 A socket.


If your washing machine suddenly started emitting smoke, how would you expect an ordinary person to isolate it? (In some households, it may be normal for the cooker to emit smoke! ? )

To the OP,  there was a requirement of sorts for emergency switching  By whom or what, I cannot recall, but it is why the rocker switch is RED.  Some new switches are still red, but others are plain. I suppose it depends if you decide its emergency switching or not if you fit one. If it is RED and it is hidden, then that is technically pants IRO  it being accessible. The RED colour thing is still there in the regs somewhere.


Edit to add  537.3.3.5 is the somewhere

Agreed DaveZ but people do, so would you pref to give em an isolator.


There`s nowt like folk.


Folk who drill a hole in the bottom of the boat to let the water out.

Folk who try to rid Acne with sandpaper.

Stark Raving Mad they are! Why do they do it?

That ebee is exactly why you should not have an extinguisher in a kitchen!

Also, the 13 Amp socket on the cooker switch panel is very useful as an alternative supply if the ring sockets trip off, or you are working on the ring final and need a brew up or wish to keep the fridge freezer working..

.

Well Norman, you`re obviously not cynical ?


Anyway, Fire flood or cleaning I am happy if there is an isolator close by and obvious by position or label. I`m not happy if not. Am I odd? Is it an age thing? how does everyone else feel about this?


Note - fire or flood (well wet thru then) I feel happier if it`s isolated before dealing with it in the correct (or incorrect) way. How many people actually stop to think of the best way to deal with a chip pan fire etc in real life?

This is obviouly a requirement of NICEIC membership. We had our kitchen renewed last year and seemed a good ida to have the kitchen people sort the electrics out. New hob and oven unit to replace the hob unit and oven - same but new. Naturally he wanted to fit a new 10mm cable to replace the oid 7/044. I must have upset himwhen I pointed out the loading of the new cooker was actually less than the old, but he used the old cable - then proceeded to install the new 60A cooker switch right at the back above the top shelf of the oven unit. I'm 6ft tall and not even able to see it right at the back. " It's where we always put them" came the excuse so I just asked how was a normal person supposed to isolate the cooker even to clean it. I'd won't go into how sockets can be installed1/4" out of level so that must be another requirement even when just an inch apart!!


It's our age, it seems!

Thank you David - my BIG mistake about the extinguisher!  Our firepoint has a fire blanket also, for dealing with pan fires etc.  Likewise, in the garage for flammable liquids. Note to self - engage brain before using keyboard!

Regards,

            Colin Jenkins.