I agree with both
@EFLImpudence and
@JohnW2 the problem is of course we have definitions done by BS7671 and by the laws which do not always align with each other, the
The Electricity Safety Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 said:
“consumer’s installation” means the electric lines situated upon the consumer’s side of the supply terminals together with any equipment permanently connected or intended to be permanently connected thereto on that side;
has been another debated, with
BS7671:2008 said:
Electrical installation (abbr: installation). An assembly of associated electrical equipment having co-ordinated characteristics to fulfil specific purposes.
BS7671:2008 said:
Appliance. An item of current-using equipment other than a luminaire or an independent motor.
which is how electricians look at what should be tested under the testing and inspecting of in service electrical equipment (PAT testing) and an electric installation condition report (EICR) an this is not helped with the governments own guide lines.
[SIZE=3]Guide for landlords[/SIZE] said:
What will be inspected and tested?
The ‘fixed’ electrical parts of the property, like the wiring, the socket-outlets (plug sockets), the light fittings and the consumer unit (or fuse box) will be inspected. This will include permanently connected equipment such as showers and extractors.
What about electrical appliances like cookers, fridges, televisions etc?
The Regulations do not cover electrical appliances, only the fixed electrical installations.
We recommend that landlords regularly carry out portable appliance testing (PAT) on any electrical appliance that they provide and then supply tenants with a record of any electrical inspections carried out as good practice.
Tenants are responsible for making sure that any of their own electrical appliances are safe.
See
guidance on portable appliance testing (PAT).
Tenants and landlords may consider registering their own electrical appliances with a product registration scheme.
So the law seems to say anything which is "intended to be permanently connected" which would include fridge, freezer, washing machine, etc, where they are only unplugged for maintenance and the guidance says these are not tested with an EICR which would line up with IET/BSi ideas, also the law puts the DNO outside the EICR but the IET/BSi expects them to be inspected.
The idea is courts will decide, so anything which is unlikely to cause a court case in real terms you do what you think is fit. Which again in real terms means owner occupied do what you want, and use common sense. The only time we are really worried is with rented property or property where there are paid people working in them, be it carers, social services, ambulance, police, gardener, or handyman. Remember with an electric shock at work it has to be entered into accident book and the person must attend hospital and the hospital has to inform HSE.
As to rooms where others are not allowed, call it a man cave, or radio shack, I really don't know, I know anyone visiting a radio shack is not allowed to talk unless licensed or invited as their voice can be heard on radio waves, but I would also say it is a quarantine area nothing should be removed as may not be safe, and only skilled persons allowed unless invited as there may be items under repair which could cause injury, RF burns are very nasty they take ages to repair. Personally I would say code LIM with any EICR for a radio shack, which in real terms was like a man cave.
So simple, just use common sense, I am sure if any LABC inspector is made aware of some thing which does not comply, the result will be a verbal warning to make it comply, and a court case would only result if you refused or some one is injured. Even the council I found did not follow the Part P rules when doing work in a private home, so why worry.