Gas Boilers on Plug Tops

[jibjob]

This may of been covered before but did a search and couldn't find anything relevant.

Just wondered if anybody had any opinions/thoughts on boilers connected via a plug top as opposed to say FCU.

One of the letting agents I do work for is currently having a run in with a tenant over a boiler on a plug top claiming it to be unsafe/illegal practice and threatning allsorts.

 

[rocker]

Nothing wrong with it in my book - would prefer to see switched fused spurs, but as long as the fuse in the plug top is correctly rated it's fine.

 

[Des 56]

I think the requiremewnt is for double pole isolation of the boiler

That can be acheived by a switched fused spur or a non switched socket,the latter being the safest method

 

[telectrix]

I think the requiremewnt is for double pole isolation of the boiler

That can be acheived by a switched fused spur or a non switched socket,the latter being the safest method

FCU is only single pole switched. at least most are.

 

[Amp David]

MK are double pole

 

[telectrix]

ah, don't use MK myself. nobody round here stocks MK

 

[jibjob]

Anymore thoughts re OP?

 

[Des 56]

FCU is only single pole switched. at least most are.

My excuse
I never use single pole for any isolation,I only fit double pole sockets as well (posh or what )

 

[accordfire]

This may of been covered before but did a search and couldn't find anything relevant.

Just wondered if anybody had any opinions/thoughts on boilers connected via a plug top as opposed to say FCU.

One of the letting agents I do work for is currently having a run in with a tenant over a boiler on a plug top claiming it to be unsafe/illegal practice and threatning allsorts.

It isn't unsafe or illegal. The plug top should have the correct rating of fuse in it, but it achieves the double pole isolation requirement just fine. Reg 537.3

 

[nickblake]

MMM best way of safe isolation to be able to remove the plug , and its in the regs to ,as the guys have said as long as the fuse is the correct value in accordance to the manufacturers instructions , as for the illegal bit , its a word that get thrown round way to much , as the regulations are not statutory it cant be illegal ,non compliant yes, illegal no

 

[SKY]

Some boiler manufacturer's in there instructions do say that the boiler must be connected to a switched FCU with a fuse rating of 3A.

Looking at my manual now "Vaillant" and it does say FCU.

Seems a bit harsh for an agent to be concerned about this.

 

[Spudnik]

Most FCU's nowadays are double pole.

Tis why there are four terminals on the back

 

[Spesh]

I might be talking out of my bum here so please dont shoot me down in flames but I was under the impression that a FCU should be used for a few reasons, some mentioned here before such as boiler manufacturs requirements etc but I've got something in my head that was a recommendation by the old corgi regs about minimum contact gaps in the means of isolation required to a be a certain distance (much like shower pullcords I guess) that could not be met by a socket switch but was by a FCU. Again, I could be talking out my bum here but its in my head for some reason

 

[DPG]

Surely when the plug is removed from the socket the isolation gap is pretty huge! Daz

 

[Andyfm]

And some boilers (normally combis) come with a plug attached