Communal emergency lights / fire panel connected to resident's CU

[ma701ss]

Hi, I have noticed that in a house converted into flats, in the communal hallway there is an emergency light and fire alarm panel that appears to be connected to one of the residents consumer unit. The consumer unit is in the hallway by the residents entrance door. The other two flats would appear to have their consumer units inside their flats.

Firstly, is it a good idea to have a resident's CU in a communal area, in an unlocked area?

Secondly, what could the implications be on the fire safety in this arrangement? Should the fire panel and emergency lighting not have its own CU and electrical meter (currently the owner of one flat pays the cost of the power consumed by these because of the connection to their CU)?

I am not an electrician!

Thanks

 

[Guest123]

Hi

Are you sure it's not the Landlords CU thats in the communal hallway???

Usually this will power the communal areas lighting, emergency lighting, fire alarm and cleaners socket outlets???

 

[ma701ss]

I saw cables running to the resident's flat from it, but thinking about it this could be for the fire detection equipment in the flat. The resident did say when i mentioned it that it's his CU and that he claims money back every 6 months for power consumed for the communal equipment. There's only a few cables running to the flat from the CU though so if it was his CU there would be a bunch of cables surely?

 

[bugsy]

I agess with Lenny , double check to make sure it's not landlords CU , Landlords C U should cover all common part's IE lighting, cleaners S/O fire alarms and EM lighting, EM lighting and fire alarms should be on seperate OPD's and isolation devices indentified and labled correctly

 

[ma701ss]

ok will check thanks