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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. 

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  • 0

    Hello Alan. I don’t believe there is a specific requirement in BS 7671 for appliances to have a local means of disconnection or isolation; the consumer unit can be used for this purpose. However, some manufacturers of built-in appliances advise that the appliance should be able to be disconnected when it is installed. Therefore, the need for a local means of isolation may vary, but in the worst case, it would be a C3 (134.1.1) defect in my opinion. 

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  • 0

    Hello Alan. I don’t believe there is a specific requirement in BS 7671 for appliances to have a local means of disconnection or isolation; the consumer unit can be used for this purpose. However, some manufacturers of built-in appliances advise that the appliance should be able to be disconnected when it is installed. Therefore, the need for a local means of isolation may vary, but in the worst case, it would be a C3 (134.1.1) defect in my opinion. 

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  • 0 in reply to AMK

    This is an interesting debate.  BS7671 18 edition AM2 plus corrigendum is the minimum requirement but it States to refer to manufactures instruction for appliance.  Now some appliances sold in the UK have BS EN compliance or equivelant and some don't.  Especially some that are purchased online.  Question does the manufacturer recommendation supersede BS7671 if there is no BS EN?  I have seen many instructions with questionable English and grammar

    Picture this scenario.  You are working to the regulation BS7671 for a new install or you are testing and existing install.  EICR so to speak or an initial verification.  The EICR should be tested to the install addition which could be the 16th but the initial verification should be to the 18th AM2 with the provision for 18th edition AM1 depending on the life cycle of the project and when the design was done.

    Further points to consider.  A lot of manufacture warranty will be voided if supplied with a flex and moulded plug top which is cut off to install into an FCU.  In this case the diligent designer needs a switch which is accessible connected to a non-switched socket.  However if the the appliance comes with no flex and plug top connected the the design should call for a accessible switch to a FCU.

    This can lead to confusion.  Lets say you are install an oven and gas hob.  They are separate appliances.  The hob comes connected with a flex and moulded plug top so this you connect to your isolatable plug and socket arrangement.  The Oven comes with no flex so you connect this using some H07F flex into a FCU

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