Bathroom fans

Megaohm7 · Feb 5, 2012

Went to look at a job today where a fan needed to be replaced in the ensuite shower and a fan in the bathroom. The ensuite shower was actually a walk in shower straight off the bedroom, the screen being made up of those glass blocks. In the area that is zone 2 is a double socket!! . I know you cant apply the regs retrospectively but you can point out the potential dangers. Back to the fan for the en-suite. There was one there originally and had a twin+cpc feeding it although this had a 3 pole fan isolating switch on the wall which also isolated the seperate light too. A bit of rewiring needed there with some 3 core+cpc as the client wants the fan to run on for a bit. I then asked to see the C/U to see if there was any RCD protection but there was none. I wasn't happy about fitting a new fan in this situation. The C/U in question was a Wylex 10 way with BS 3871 breakers in. I've suggested RCD protection should be considered and the client is interested in getting the C/U replaced. I'm concerned about the double socket next to the shower enclosure. Not 100% sure what to suggest really.. Any suggestions???

batty · Feb 5, 2012

Well as you are altering the wiring to the fan this will need RCD protection I personally would point out advantages of having RCD protection and see what they say. If socket is to near to shower it will need removing or moving surely.

Megaohm7 · Feb 5, 2012

I've already pointed out the safety aspect of rcd protection Batty but with the socket It could be blanked off as there are others in the room that can be safely used. I will be giving a price to fit a new CU as well as the other work required but have pointed out that the price is subject to satisfactory testing of the installation. It's a tnc-s and all bonding is in place.

ProDave · Feb 5, 2012

Re the socket in zone 2, it's not a question of regs not being retrospective, it's a matter that since at least 15th edition it's not been allowed to have a socket in a bathroom, so it never complied when it was put it.

You could issue a danger notice but that's another can of worms.

Just advise the client it should be removed.

And yes the other alterations will need an RCD which will be clumsy with that board, so I would be suggesting a CU change as being not much more expensive that messing about with stand alone RCD's and a whole lot neater and better.

green-hornet · Feb 5, 2012

What I do when faced with any installation that I am not happy with, as in this example, I give my advise on what needs to be done, andif the client is reluctant I go onto the next job.

Megaohm7 · Feb 5, 2012

Re the socket in zone 2, it's not a question of regs not being retrospective, it's a matter that since at least 15th edition it's not been allowed to have a socket in a bathroom, so it never complied when it was put it.You could issue a danger notice but that's another can of worms.

Just advise the client it should be removed.

And yes the other alterations will need an RCD which will be clumsy with that board, so I would be suggesting a CU change as being not much more expensive that messing about with stand alone RCD's and a whole lot neater and better.

I'm giving a qoute for a new CU Dave and going down the lines of blanking off the socket. Although the socket is technically in the bedroom it is positioned just by the entry into the walk in shower. I pointed out the potential danger to the client and he agreed with me. I will be testing the installation beforehand soefully nothing else major comes to light.