EICR coding for lack of local isolation of kitchen appliances

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
  • If you are going to replace a lamp in a fixed electrical installation lighting circuit you may well have a pull cord switch,  two or more way switching in corridors, sensor switching, timers, remote switching, etc.

    So you cannot actually identify when the lamp is turned off and may indeed need to turn the MCB off or pull a fuse to remove a  broken lamp that may have exposed live parts.

  • A very valid point.  Hopefully in this process you will prove dead and lock off as recommended

  • If you are going to replace a lamp in a fixed electrical installation lighting circuit you may well have a pull cord switch,  two or more way switching in corridors, sensor switching, timers, remote switching, etc.

    Even if you had a lone one-way plateswitch installed the right-way up, you still can't use that for switching off for mechanical maintenance (which includes relamping) - since switching off for mechanical maintenance now requires the devices to be rated for isolation (reg 537.3.2.1 demands compliance with regulation group 537.2) - which according to table 537.4 switches to BS EN 60669-1 aren't.

       - Andy.

Reply
  • If you are going to replace a lamp in a fixed electrical installation lighting circuit you may well have a pull cord switch,  two or more way switching in corridors, sensor switching, timers, remote switching, etc.

    Even if you had a lone one-way plateswitch installed the right-way up, you still can't use that for switching off for mechanical maintenance (which includes relamping) - since switching off for mechanical maintenance now requires the devices to be rated for isolation (reg 537.3.2.1 demands compliance with regulation group 537.2) - which according to table 537.4 switches to BS EN 60669-1 aren't.

       - Andy.

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