I'm fitting 7 fixed appliances (oven, hob, fridge, etc) in a new kitchen. Each will have a cable outlet fed from individual RCBOs in a Consumer Unit in the next room.

The Regs say "permanently connected equipment ...... should be controlled by a switch, where needed. A separate switch is not required if the circuit breaker is to be used as a switch".

Do I have to provide individual DP isolator switches within 2m of each appliance, or will the RCBOs suffice?

I can't find anything within the regulations that stipulates you must have local isolation in a domestic environment, except for the cooker radial, although I would expect that it is regarded as good practice to provide local isolation.

Legh

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Why do we need Vernier Calipers when we have container ships?

http://www.leghrichardson.co.uk

"Science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space - but any objections."

I think that you used to be able to get away with using an MCB or RCBO for isolation, but i noticed p.179 of the new onsite guide stipulates a Swfused spur, S/O or DP switch.

i think that means if the mcb is close by..

expensive using 7 rcbos???

"expensive using 7 rcbos???"

It depends what client base you want.

Some are happy with the lower end of the market

Regards

BOD

The on-site guide is just that - it is a guide to a method of complying with the regulations, not the regulations themselves.

Regards,

Alan.

"permanently connected" does not necessarily include appliances plugged in to a socket behind the appliance.

It will, however, apply to appliances connected by Connection Unit (including Coocer CU) or Fused Connection Unit.

Most domestic installations are covered by the Reg that states there must be a DP isolator in the CU, meaning that can be used for isolation in any case of emergency.

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Eur Ing Graham Kenyon CEng MIET

Thanks for your comments. Perhaps I should have asked the question the other way: How would you connect 7 fixed appliances in the kitchen? Straight back to the Consumer Unit with individual MCBs and a DP Isolating Switch?

You're thinking parochially, and not speaking for the U.K. which currently includes Scotland. The building regulations here require local isolation for built in appliances!

Regards

I once did a kitchen with loads of appliances in, we ended up taking a 40A submain to a little unit in the top of one of the wall units. We then did exactly as you suggest, a separate circuit breaker for each appliance then wired straight to the appliance with no unsightly rows or banks of switches taking up the little wall space between work top and wall units.

Client was happy, big red book was happy, I was happy.

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Regard
Richard (Dick)

www.rllewellyn.co.uk

I'd be keen to fit local isolation for the oven and hob.

Coincidentally I had a conversation with a couple of kitchen fitters this morning who seemed stunned when I said that as far as I know there is no requirement to have local isolation for sockets supplying appliances below the worktop.

"What if an appliance fuse blows" said one of them.

Well what are you going to do, replace the fuse and blow another one or pull the appliance out to see what the problem is, in which case you can get to the plug fuse anyway.

oven/hob fixed appliance, local isolation not behind hob but within 2M, but is it classed as an emergency switch because of heat source and if so has the local isolator got to be visable?
what about hob extractor too?

Not really, a few years ago they might have been £50/£60/£70 each + VAT but now far cheaper.

I recently fitted a Dual RCD board , 2 Rings and one lighting covered by one RCD and 1 ring & one lighting covered by the other RCD then Four RCBOs for other circuits.

Wholesaler commented "Expensive way to do it" but I replied "Not that much when you consider the benefits that amount of discrimination between earth fault outages you might prevent".

One plain switch and all RCBOs now looks more attractive than it used to pricewise.

Having said that "Im still a frontender personally".

And yes you`ve guessed , I`m not frightened of rings. LOL

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Regards,
Ebee (M I S P N)

Knotted cables cause Lumpy Lektrik

Seems to be a few with the misconception that a cooker requires local isolation?
Not been required since the 15th.

Was the 2mtr rule for cooker switches not done away with?

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Dougie
Power Plus Electrical.co.uk

My mission is to live as long as possible......so far so good!