Do you need a bathroom fan Isolator Switch

[JohnW2]

Also, from lots of experience, tenants rarely understand condensation and think it and mould are left by the landlord.

Indeed, and a crucial thing which a lot of people (by no means all them tenants) don't seem to understand about condensation is that it occurs when moist/humid air comes in contact with a cold surface.

Their thinking concentrates on removal of that moist/humid air, but they don't seem to understand that, so long as any such air remains, there will be some condensation if the walls/ceilings/whatever are cold - so, if people really want to avoid all condensation, they need to maintain a reasonable temperature into the room (before they introduce humid/steamy air into it).

Kind Regards, John

 

[frank999]

Thank you all for the double (and single) confirmations on the DP Isolator SW.

I am sure the science of mould growth is an indepth one, but heat and ventilation are required as mentioned, I once had a tenant with a mould obsession (OCD might be the correct phrase), windows in the bathroom thrown wide open in January, always like a fridge in there. I then had one tenant with a Scale obsession, within months the sanitaryware taps had most of the chrome stripped by over use of harsh chemicals. I then had another that would never open a window or door, or run the extractor when cooking up a storm in the kitchen, the walls would be running in water.

Not that I am the 'Mould Police', but I gather its generally not a healthy thing to breath the spores in. Maybe that point would convince those that prefer to disable an extractor fan that its not such a good idea.

 

[sparkwright]

Can't be bothered to read all the comments on this thread, but easiest options to me include:
a) a dp key switch.
b) a quieter fan that won't annoy anyone.

 

[JohnW2]

Can't be bothered to read all the comments on this thread, but easiest options to me include:
a) a dp key switch.

I've seen that approach attempted with "determined to silence the fan" tenants. Unfortunately, they were sufficiently' 'determined' that, having been deprived of an electrical means of silencing it, they simply pushed something through the grill of the fan, stopping the blades rotating (resulting in the fan motor overheating and causing it's thermal cutout to operate).

If the tenants are sufficiently 'determined' that approach will therefore only (possibly!) work if one has an in-line fan to which they don't have access - I say 'possibly' work, since they might still try to push something long and flexible up the duct to jam the fan!!

b) a quieter fan that won't annoy anyone.

Again, that might only be doable 'to the satisfaction' of the tenants if it were an in-line fan, not actually in the room.

Kind Regards, John

 

[frank999]

they simply pushed something through the grill of the fan

And then they remove whatever it was they stuffed up there when the landlord comes to inspect, I had some Humidistat Fans that burnt out before, I just assumed it was unreliable electronics. You could examine the rotor blades for any deliberate damage, to determine responsibility.

Inline fan sounds a good solution, providing you can get to it if it goes wrong.

Lots of tenants these days require an Ensuite, but these are often added to the corner of existing rooms to allow this, and you could argue that they should accept that an airless window less boxy steamy room will require motorised ventilation. On the other hand a very quiet fan will remove the annoyance factor, which I also get.

Another thread 'Whats the quietest inline fan with humidistat'

 

[JohnW2]

they simply pushed something through the grill of the fan
And then they remove whatever it was they stuffed up there when the landlord comes to inspect, I had some Humidistat Fans that burnt out before, I just assumed it was unreliable electronics. You could examine the rotor blades for any deliberate damage, to determine responsibility.

Once the motor has burned out, they could obviously remove the 'something' (and not reported the 'not working fan'). I doubt that you would see any dmage on the blades - it's very easy to stop them rotating.

Inline fan sounds a good solution, providing you can get to it if it goes wrong.

Indeed. It's probably only really viable if there is an accessible roofsppace above the room.

Lots of tenants these days require an Ensuite, but these are often added to the corner of existing rooms to allow this, and you could argue that they should accept that an airless window less boxy steamy room will require motorised ventilation. On the other hand a very quiet fan will remove the annoyance factor, which I also get.

Probably. However, as I often remind people, the 'problem' is usually that of condensation, sometimes leading to mould etc., and condensation happens when moist air hits a cold surface. Avoidance of condensation therefore probably depends as much on keeping the room (walls and ceiling) warm as it does on attempts to mechanically remove the moist air.

Kind Regards, John

 

[PeakSteve]

Most people abhor a noisy fan running at night, and tenants can go to destructive lengths to stop them!

Have you considered replacing the *fan* with a silent (almost silent) version?

TLC do a good range, and the NV 'Monsoon' range are good value.

 

[JohnD]

See

Another thread 'Whats the quietest inline fan with humidistat'

 

[frank999]

Thanks for the tip, I just have to remember these thoughts on the next job.

 

[LukeE]

Hi All, i appreciate this is an old feed, but as it is still actively found via a google search I would like to ask the experts where Reg.464 (both 464.1 and 464.2) would come into play if a fan in a WC/Bathroom is somehow excluded?

 

[JohnW2]

Hi All, i appreciate this is an old feed, but as it is still actively found via a google search I would like to ask the experts where Reg.464 (both 464.1 and 464.2) would come into play if a fan in a WC/Bathroom is somehow excluded?

All 464.1 and 464.2 require (for anything) is that there is a means of effective isolation to facilitate maintenance.

That 'means of isolation' does not have to be a dedicated 'isolator' for the equipment concerned - the required isolation can be achieved by isolating the circuit involved (and 'locking it off, if required to satisfy 464.20) at the Consumer Unit - or, indeed, by 'switching off' (and 'locking off' if required) the entire installation..

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

I would say neither has any specific relevance to extractor fans as the isolation required can be achieved by switching off the circuit over current protection device.

Local isolation is not required by the regulations for any domestic appliance.

 

[JohnW2]

Too slow

 

[EFLImpudence]

D'oh.

 

[opps]

Also, from lots of experience, tenants rarely understand condensation and think it and mould are left by the landlord.

I used to explain that they do not complain about dust - it's how the world works - and willingly sweep/clean it up but get them to wipe away condensation or clean mould - nope, landlord fault.

I seldom work in the rented sector, but yeah, I have seen tenants close trickle vents on windows, turn off extractors fans, use clothes horses, never open windows and then blame the landlord when the condensation turns to mould.