Bathroom extract fan

[Maboza-Ritchy]

Hi
Firstly, I'm a spark to trade but been away from the contracting for over 30 years.
I have been asked to replace an extract fan in the bathroom. The home owner tells me that you must now have a spur unit fused at 3amp for the fan as this is now a regulation. The current fan (to be replaced) is a timer fan wired off the lighting circuit. This is not a fancy fan with a built in light.

Can someone please advise if a replacement fan wired off the lighting circuit must also be wired through a spur unit fused at 3amp?
Thanks in anticipation from someone who is not up on the regs.

BTW I think the modern term for a spur unit is a FCU.

Steveo

 

[RF Lighting]

If the fan is supplied from a lighting circuit rated at 5 or 6 amps, then there is no need for an FCU. (This would only be required if the fan was supplied from a higher rated circuit)

However there really should be some sort of local isolator for the fan which isolates all live connections (i.e. all phase(s) and neutral(s))

 

[luminaire]

Yes it should have a 3A FCU so that you can isolate the fan should you need to work on it.

 

[Taylortwocities]

The instructions probably say 3A FCU if the fan is to be wired into a ring circuit. No FCU is necessary if its into the lighting circuit, you do need an isolating switch for the fan, however. 3-pole if its a timer fan.

 

[Maboza-Ritchy]

Hi all
And thanks for the replies. It does make sense to install an isolation switch although this would be easier to wire in a new install rather than to retrofit.

TTC, do you get triple pole isolating switches? Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks to all again for quick response.

 

[RF Lighting]

Three pole fan isolators here, or at any wholesaler.

If I am retrofitting an isolator then the easiest way tends to be to install a 3 pole pull switch adjacent to the fan, and only leave 6" of string dangling from the ceiling to prevent people using the isolator as an on / off switch.

 

[Maboza-Ritchy]

RFL
Thanks for this info, I didn't realize you could get 3 pole isolators for fans. The pull cord will be ideal for this application.

Thanks again.