D.B. McIntyre asks whether there should be concern over a cable passing through the consumer unit in a flat, since if the consumer unit's main switch was turned off, the cable would not be isolated. His question is answered by SELECT (Theme - Regulations and Legislation):
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Question: We are carrying out a Periodic Inspection Report (PIR) on a domestic flat. The supply to the flat is from a central distribution board, while the sub-mains supplying the flat comes in through the back of the consumer unit, then goes out the bottom of it into a private landlord's meter. The cable then goes back to supply the consumer unit.We are wondering if there should be concern over the cable passing through the consumer unit, as there may be confusion if somebody switches off the main switch on the consumer unit - and then presumes that the cable has been isolated, which it will not have been.
Answer: This is not an ideal situation and you are correct to highlight your concern.
Regulation 514.11.1 requires a warning notice to be fixed in each position where there are live parts present that are not capable of being isolated by a single device.
The location of the isolator should be indicated unless there is no possibility of confusion.
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