- Reaction score
- 2,814
Came across a consumer unit today, where there is no means of isolation of the N, see below.
The property is a flat, fed with 4-core SWA plus a separate 16mm2 E, from a TN-C-S supply via a TPN switch fuse in a communal meter cupboard.
There are 3 supplies - 24hr, plus 2 off-peak supplies (immersion, storage heater).
You can see two additional main switches on the right (fed by the blue and the yellow cores of the SWA).
Since there is only one N bar in the consumer unit, I guess a practical option was to just not switch the N.
Reg 461.2 tells me it is allowed to omit switching N from a TN-C-S supply (providing a couple of conditions are met).
Reg 462.1.201 tells me the main switch for use by ordinary persons must interrupt both live conductors of a single phase supply.
Technically if the main switch is the TPN isolator (in the locked communal cupboard) then this might be OK?
But the flat occupier would regard the 3 main switches on the consumer unit in the flat as the main switch, and this is not OK?
My initial reaction was this is not allowed, but I'd be happy to be corrected.
NB there is a warning to switch off all three main switches on the outside casing of the consumer unit to isolate it.
The property is a flat, fed with 4-core SWA plus a separate 16mm2 E, from a TN-C-S supply via a TPN switch fuse in a communal meter cupboard.
There are 3 supplies - 24hr, plus 2 off-peak supplies (immersion, storage heater).
You can see two additional main switches on the right (fed by the blue and the yellow cores of the SWA).
Since there is only one N bar in the consumer unit, I guess a practical option was to just not switch the N.
Reg 461.2 tells me it is allowed to omit switching N from a TN-C-S supply (providing a couple of conditions are met).
Reg 462.1.201 tells me the main switch for use by ordinary persons must interrupt both live conductors of a single phase supply.
Technically if the main switch is the TPN isolator (in the locked communal cupboard) then this might be OK?
But the flat occupier would regard the 3 main switches on the consumer unit in the flat as the main switch, and this is not OK?
My initial reaction was this is not allowed, but I'd be happy to be corrected.
NB there is a warning to switch off all three main switches on the outside casing of the consumer unit to isolate it.
- TL;DR
- Query about a consumer unit not switching N in the main switches.