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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. 

  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    Valid point in an average sized 3 bedroom dwelling

  • 0 in reply to Sergio Fernandez

    Same if you had to replace a socket; or change a lamp fitting. If the job is short such as replacing a lamp in a fridge, all well and good. If it is a bigger job, you are probably going to have to pull the appliance out in any case.

  • 0

    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.

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

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

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

    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.

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

    I have to say that if I was simply changing a blown lamp (BC or ES), I wouldn't worry too much whether the holder was on or not. You soon find out.

  • 0

    If you isolate the entire installation at the consumer, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit, turn off a switch and unplug the appliance you can still be electrocuted working within the appliance. 

    https://www.walb.com/story/19823265/update-deadly-microwave-was-not-plugged-in/

    Neither unplugging an appliance or using double pole switch to isolate it is a guarantee of safety when undertaking mechanical or electrical repairs within an appliance, in fact not even isolating the entire circuit or installation is.

    I know that doesn’t answer the original question, I fitted double pole switches over the worktop for the washing machine and dishwasher in my own kitchen, but the freestanding fridge freezer just has a plug and socket behind it, however it has an on/off switch inside it as part of the temperature control.

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

    I remember hearing of many an engineer getting a belt of a CRT TV or monitor back in the day

  • 0 in reply to Sergio Fernandez

    Indeed - the charge is stored for ages - many hours on the CRT - the glass serves as a low value but very high voltage capacitor, and if the cathode heaters are off there is no bleed path for something like 20kV- until you touch  it...
    I can certainly confirm (from personal experience) it packs a significant punch....

    Mike

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip
    Sparkingchip said:

    If you isolate the entire installation at the consumer, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit, turn off a switch and unplug the appliance you can still be electrocuted working within the appliance. 

    https://www.walb.com/story/19823265/update-deadly-microwave-was-not-plugged-in/

    I find that conclusion very odd. "Roddy managed to walk into his sister's room and tell her what happened before he collapsed. He later died at the hospital." A shock puts you into ventricular fibrillation and you die on the spot unless somebody arrives promptly with a defibrillator. I wonder whether they bothered to do a post-mortem?

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