Posted By NeilTonge I am looking for a steer on the requirements to fit local electrical isolation to motors. Three of our electrical engineers are convinced that there is a requirement in the 16th Edition wiring regulations to have a local isolator fitted within one metre of a motor. A further electrical engineer disputes this and I have been asked to mediate. Having reviewed the wiring regulations all I can find is that there is a requirement to have lockable isolation for every motor. This would make sense to me as it ensures safety during maintenance when coupled with our isolation procedures and training. However for convenience of maintenance it may be wise to fit local isolation to groups of motors as a minimum. In our example this could happen in an electrical panel 3 mtrs away which seems safe to me. Can anyone quote the section of the wiring regulations my three engineers remember which requires local isolation within a mtr as they can't and I can't find it? Thanks, Neil

Posted By Frank Hi Neil FYI BS 7671 2001 rule 131-14-02 states the following: Every fixed electric motor shall be provided with an efficient means of switching off, readily accessible, easily operated and so placed as to prevent danger In theory Engineers want them as close as possible but common sense should prevail and if the 1 Metre rule they want can’t be met then normally it’s within sight of and you are still within the rules as above as long as the Isolator clearly states the Drive Number of the equipment it is Isolating then there will not be a problem. Hope this helps I know what engineers can be like I work with them all the time. Any problems drop me a line Frank