spur above work top for applience sockets

[underdog]

ive allways fitted a fused spur abouve any socket below work top height as all other sparkies i have ever worked with have done and i was tought it was needed.
my 17th regs teacher said it wasnt needed as the switch on the socket outlet meets the reg requiring isolation.
i think im been misled somewhere here!

 

[jeremy]

I would say that if the socket is inaccessable then it's not suitable for isolation, I've always fitted dp switches as part of the circuit, then spurred the socket off that.

 

[underdog]

would a dp switch or even switched fuse spur be classed as suitable isolation though? and is there a specific reg to state it must have a means of isolation or has this come about from roumers?

 

[stuart569]

Of course it would!Think its more to do with building regs but i may be wrong.You should not have to touch or lean over the appliance to isolate it

 

[underdog]

i can see the why its convienent to be able to switch from above, but a 'switch' in my opinion is not a safe means of isolation as it cant be locked off.
the customer doesnt want any acccseries on show, especially not switched fused spurs!

 

[stuart569]

Anyone working on it would know about safe isolation procedures.I think its more of a way of quickly isolating in an emergency or piece of mind when the customer goes on holiday or the appliance is not in use.Have a socket in the cupboard adjacent to it then!That's what I and many others do

 

[Marnik]

A switch may not be a suitable means of isolation, but an FCU is.

 

[stuart569]

A double pole switch?Yes it is!

 

[jumpin jax]

i think that the idea of isolation above worktop has gone too far, recently i worked on a kitchen and there were so many fused isolation points i had trouble fitting in an extra socket the customer wanted. Apart from the cooker switch if you have kids, how often have any of you isolated an appliance except for working on it using above worktop switches?

 

[stuart569]

I agree but in a lot of jobs I do now it specifies all white goods to have isolation above worktop.Annoys me!New builds/rewires that is

 

[jeremy]

i think that the idea of isolation above worktop has gone too far, recently i worked on a kitchen and there were so many fused isolation points i had trouble fitting in an extra socket the customer wanted. Apart from the cooker switch if you have kids, how often have any of you isolated an appliance except for working on it using above worktop switches?

Whenever you get round to doing a PIR and need an easy way of isolating appliances, or you find a convulsing body touching the dishwasher, accessable isolation will be your Godsend.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Make sure the CU is always in the kitchen, above the worktop, suitably IP rated of course, thus removing the need for any extra isolation items:bucktooth:

 

[D Skelton]

There is no requirement in the regs to provide local and accessible isolation to any non fixed appliance. If you need to isolate for whatever purpose then the main switch at the CU serves this purpose very well. That said, I do always fit double pole switches for difficult to access sockets under the worktop as I think it is far better than leaving therm without.

If the appliance is fixed however and contains a motor, ie. A built in dish washer, then it does need a readily accesible means of switching off.

 

[jumpin jax]

Whenever you get round to doing a PIR and need an easy way of isolating appliances, or you find a convulsing body touching the dishwasher, accessable isolation will be your Godsend.

so when you see the convulsing body touching the metal body of the dishwasher you reach over and isolate with the metal accessory switch the customer wanted above the worktop which is also connected to the raised potential

 

[telectrix]

no, you only get there to rectify the fault after the convulsing body has been removed. said body would screw your IR readings up.