Kitchen to Bathroom conversion

[Robojin]

A mate of mine is altering a granny flat Kitchen to a bathroom, the ring and cooker circuits are being removed and the pendant is being changed to 4x firelighters (IP65), switch is out side no plans to change that, the work of course is notifiable (and since a soil stack is involved, LABC have been informed already by the builder)

So the question is will they insist on a RCD on the lighting even though this is an minor alteration?, its no a major issue as the flat has a small 6way Db which I can swap over for a new 6way with RCD/RCBO's, or even if they don't do I still need to RCD to meet regs as I'm only making a minor alteration?, it goes without saying my mate would pay for it but would rather not if it's unnecessary

The ring back to the bedroom is an alteration, so just a case of investigating it's current path under various floors, although he has no diagrams this should be straight forward (famous last words)

 

[ichinen]

Personally I would fit an RCD. Especially if there's no supplementary bonding...

Your mate will be safer with an RCD anyway. Don't you think?

 

[green-hornet]

I am afraid they will insist on rcd protection for all circuits going into the bathroom.

 

[Evans Electric]

Yes , all bathroom circuits via an RCD.

Deke

 

[Robojin]

Personally I would fit an RCD. Especially if there's no supplementary bonding... Your mate will be safer with an RCD anyway. Don't you think?

Bonding is in place from the kitchen boiler, the old boiler is not being removed (no patch that's not the granny)

Oh dear more work for me

 

[Robojin]

Hmmm working for mates can be painful

Doesn't really want to replace sub-Db,

Since I have 3x 5A lighting CB's although I did not have time to check the lighting CB arrangement in the flat, but possible kitchen is on own circuit so.....

options:

Try finding an 63A RCD compatible with sub-Db (more chance of lotto I think), as I could remove the 40A no longer needed and check the arrangement the 5A's (only 4 rooms so 3x lighting seems OTT)

or ....

would it inappropriate to use one of these replacing with a 5A fuse

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/BRH92.html labelled with 5A max, although of course I have no control what the fuse might be replaced with

I know Andy will go Option 3 - tell your mate not to be such a tight wad and replace the board

 

[green-hornet]

One of the major problems when dealing with friends and family is the urge to do the cheapest you can with the influence of your family or friend influencing your judgement.

What I do now is tell them that this is the way it should be done, and for a friend or family member who I love dearly I would not do it any other way.

You get all materials at cost and you get my labour for half price or whatever, which is rather like buying a silver shadow rolls royce for

 

[Robojin]

One of the major problems when dealing with friends and family is the urge to do the cheapest you can with the influence of your family or friend influencing your judgement.What I do now is tell them that this is the way it should be done, and for a friend or family member who I love dearly I would not do it any other way.

You get all materials at cost and you get my labour for half price or whatever, which is rather like buying a silver shadow rolls royce for

 

[green-hornet]

One of the main talking points when the 17th edition was being discussed was the upgrade and maintenance on a 16th edition installation.

There was on very good and plausable solution to save ways in the consumer unit and that was to

a, fit a rcd to the upstairs socket circuit

b, take a feed via a fused spur from the sockets upstairs to feed all the circuits going into the bathroom.

The main advantage of this method is the ability to isolate all power to the bathroom locally, so even under fault or emergency a simple flick of the switch would disconnect all power to a potential dangerous location.

The problem when incorporating more than one 30mA rcd in a circuit is always going to be discrimination, which trips first, and do you really want to go down three flights of stairs to switch the rcd in the cu?

They are unlikely to replace the 5amp fuse in a rcd fused spur with one of a greater rating under normal circumstances, but never underestimate and if you are going to use one label it for 5amp only.