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

  • State Suggested Helpful Answer
  • Replies 42 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 39 subscribers
  • Views 8526 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in

EICR coding for lack of local isolation of kitchen appliances

Alan B

I have been asked by a friend to provide a second opinion on EICR coding for kitchen appliances connected to sockets that can only be accessed by moving the appliance, in this case the appliances are free standing and it's in rented accommodation, not HMO.

It certainly contravenes current regulation 537.3.2.

Electrician that completed the EICR is coding it as a C2 and want's to install suitable isolators with associated costs and disruption. To my mind it's a C3 as it's a bit inconvenient but the appliances can still be isolated by turning a circuit breaker of at the CU. Alternatively everything is RCD  protected, moving a free standing appliance without isolation isn't that risky.

I then started to look for documentation  and articles to provide guidance on the sittuation without much luck. Plenty describing why it's required and how to achieve it.

How would others code this, are there any articles you are aware of on the subject. When was the requirement introduced?

Appreciate any input you have. 

Parents
  • 0

    The consensus seems to be that the arrangement is compliant and I agree. I assume that the  appliance has some form of on-off switch in which case 537.1 (ii) would not apply. Bearing in mind Grenfell, the circuit could be isolated at the CU should the appliance catch fire so I do not think that indent (i) applies either. If 537.1 does not apply, the whole of Section 537 does not apply.

    A local isolator feeding an unswitched socket is nice to have, but not necessary.

    I wonder whether matey tested these sockets. I would not so they would be put down as a limitation.

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    Hi Chris

    Just trying to play devils advocate a bit and also understand why in general the industry seems to believe that local isolation is required for kitchen appliances. That's certainly the overall consensus from what I have seen on face book, not saying they are right but the opinion has to be based on something.

    Also

    The statement, assuming the appliance has some form of on off switch is interesting.

    The two appliances in question were a fridge and a washing machine

    To my knowledge fridges don't have on off switches.

    My current washing machine does not have an on / off switch, just a rotating controller, when in the top position it's in a standby mode and the touch screen still works.

    Looking at this article https://professional-electrician.com/technical/isolation-and-switching/ they mention that mechanical maintenance includes changing a bulb.  

  • 0 in reply to Alan B

     they mention that mechanical maintenance includes changing a bulb.  

    Indeed it does - checkout the definition in section 2 of BS 7671. Which brings us nicely to another tangent - these days the requirements for switching off for mechanical maintenance are pretty much the same as for full isolation - i.e. ordinary lighting plate switches won't do (fine for functional switching, but not for isolation or mechanical maintenance) - so to replace a lamp in the front room already requires use of the MCB or main switch. So if it's acceptable to plunge an entire floor into darkness to replace a lamp, what's the problem with throwing the MCB on the kitchen power circuit before working on a kitchen appliance?

       - Andy.

Reply
  • 0 in reply to Alan B

     they mention that mechanical maintenance includes changing a bulb.  

    Indeed it does - checkout the definition in section 2 of BS 7671. Which brings us nicely to another tangent - these days the requirements for switching off for mechanical maintenance are pretty much the same as for full isolation - i.e. ordinary lighting plate switches won't do (fine for functional switching, but not for isolation or mechanical maintenance) - so to replace a lamp in the front room already requires use of the MCB or main switch. So if it's acceptable to plunge an entire floor into darkness to replace a lamp, what's the problem with throwing the MCB on the kitchen power circuit before working on a kitchen appliance?

       - Andy.

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