Location of bathroom extractor fans isolation. Can you help?

[grrinc]

Hello all.

Could any of you kind folk answer a quick question for me.

A customers has supplied an Icon 15 ( http://www.iconfan.co.uk/icon/icon-detail.asp?ProductID=1 ) which she wants located above a bath through the wall. Because of the height of the soffit outside, it will force the vent to be fitted in Zone 1. She also doesnt want to see the isolation switch at all. Can a switched rcd spur be used and located in the crawl space above the bathroom. Access would be via a cupboard door in loft conversion.

Many thanks for your time.

 

[RF Lighting]

I take it from the link you supplied that the fan your customer has bought is SELV?

If so then you will ok to mount it in zone 1 or beyond providing the fan is IPX4 or better.

The isolator needs to be readily accesible, so you could either mount it outside the bathroom, or fit a pull cord adjacent to the fan.

You will also have to mount the tranformer somewhere in zone 3 or beyond too.





Guide to bathroom zones : http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/Pocket Guide 1.pdf

 

[grrinc]

Cheers RF, but the the fan is not the SELV. She basically bought a the 240 model cheap and has been told that as long as it is protected by a 30mA RCD, ( which she dosnt want to see either ) then it is ok. I remember this from a while back too, but it could be old news now. Until my sparky shows up, I dont know wether to tell her to change it, or carry on and fit it for Monday. I am guessing here that one of these http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CM4904.html in the upstairs cupboard will be ok. If it becomes a pain, I will buy an SELV model myself, but I would like to arm myself up with some answers.

Thanks again.

Edit - that 240model is still IPX4.

 

[wizbongre]

I've just fitted a new extractor fan as part of a bathroom refit and in doing so placed the isolater switch above the bathroom door out on the landing. I managed to find one that is completely white with no black writing on it and it took my better half 2 days to notice it

Maybe an option?

 

[securespark]

Cheers RF, but the the fan is not the SELV.

It has to be to go in Z1.

 

[grrinc]

Thanks Securepark. I have pretty much decided to get the SELV model anyway. However, in my quest for knowledge, I happened across this today.......

http://www.diydata.com/electrics/bathroom_electrics/bathroom_electrics.htm

Down the page it mentions....

Zone 1
Requires electrical products to be IPX4 or better, or SELV with the transformer located in zone 3 or beyond. If the fitting is 240v, a 30mA RCD must be used to protect the circuit.

Would you, or anyone, consider this out of date or just pain bad advice?