bathroom fan 3 pole isolator

[coddog]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a particular distance from a bathroom fan that the 3 pole isolator needs to be mounted within?

 

[Chri5]

As long as you follow the rules for bathroom zones and suitably IP rated items (if in zone) it isn't set.

The purpose of an isolator is simply to allow cleaning and service work without taking down the function of the lights.

Obviously this is a firm requirement in a bathroon with no natural light. If the room has daylight then the use is optional since you could service the unit under natural light.

Most put them outside the room, above the door which prevents it being played with by a 3rd party when your cleaning the fan

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If the room has daylight then the use is optional since you could service the unit under natural light.

I've heard that failing on is not unknown, and that even with a window you'd therefore want a 3P isolator so that you could turn the fan off until it could be serviced.

 

[Chri5]

Okay, but any major fault would hopefully pop the MCB / RCBO.

Horses for courses of course, but is there a reg that says 'must' when room has day light.

 

[ericmark]

314 DIVISION OF INSTALLATION is main regulation and it states facilitate safe inspection, testing and maintenance. 514.11.1 and other regulations have also to be taken into account but second point has to be natural light.

Only where there is NO NATURAL LIGHT can the fan's operation be controlled by the light switch. So one will always need to isolate independent from light and the switch does need to be of type where it can't be re-energised without the use of a tool or key.

Where there is an opening window the fan is not required and in such cases of course it can be switched any way one wants as it is just an addition but where there is natural light and no opening window it needs an independent method of switching.

Even with independent switching it needs to be either always on or have a run on this is all covered in Part F but also position of switches is covered in Part M and heat recovery efficiency is covered in Part L and the problems with causing a depression and sucking flue gases from other parts of the house is covered in Part J and it is the way it is all split up that causes the problems.

Health and safety regulations normally require any isolator where possible to be insight of the operator or if that is not possible as close as possible and where there could be any confusion it needs to be labelled. See 514.1.1

If the fan is supplied from a larger supply and the isolator also includes a overload disconnection device (fuse) to protect the cable due to a reduction in cross sectional area then 434.2.1 stipulates max 3 meters of cable between reduction in cross sectional area and fuse. So as with all spurs max of 3 meters.

I wonder why Part P says bathrooms are special????

 

[Chri5]

Ta for that Eric (thums up smilie).