Do Electric showers have to be RCD protected?

[mdbalson]

Do electric showers have to be RCD protected


Is there a reg stating that they have to be RCD protected

 

[JohnD]

1) Preferably, yes

2) No (this may change)

But it is frequently in the manufacturer's instructions which you must follow

and it is a sensible precaution (electricty+water+copper pipes+wet skin)

 

[EdwardCurrent]

Hello,

As John has said ,I dont think that there is a reg that states rcd protection, although this will change with the 17th ed ?.
But the manufacturers installation instructions will always include RCD protection.
If the shower is not in a bathroom then it is a reg ??? 601-08-02 can someone confirm this please

Thanks
Ed.

 

[mdbalson]

Yes in the 17th it looks like it will change:

The following major changes are incorporated in Part 7:
Section 701 Locations containing a bath tub or shower basin.
Zone 3 is no longer defined.
Each circuit in the special location must have 30 mA RCD protection.
Supplementary bonding is no longer required providing the installation has main bonding in accordance with
Chapter 41.

But I was not sure if in the 16th, RCD protection for showers was required.

It is in a Bathroom in my Neighbour's house. As I am putting right some boges done by a "Well praised Qulifyed Industrial Electrician"(At other jobs that he had done).

I will make a New post later on, after I have done the jobs, and there maybe some pictures of the boges & of the remedial work, which I will post up.

 

[streetlighter]

Nothing worse in my view than an electric shower on a BS3036 with no RCD protection usually 6mm cable and they have installed a 9.5kw to replace the old one.
Then you get the "its worked fine for years" response when you tell the owner the wiring needs to be upgraded.

 

[mdbalson]

Nothing worse in my view than an electric shower on a BS3036 with no RCD protection usually 6mm cable and they have installed a 9.5kw to replace the old one.
Then you get the "its worked fine for years" response when you tell the owner the wiring needs to be upgraded.

This shower has been supplyed from the old cooker ccu in the kitchen (as there is a gas hob/oven), as well as a double socket, which the kettle, washing machine, tumble dryer & Freezer is plugged in to.

It is supplyed from a rewireable fuse and no RCD.

 

[scousespark]

What exactly are you planning on doing to fix this?

 

[mdbalson]

What exactly are you planning on doing to fix this?

I am going to replace the Consumer unit with a split-load one.

Disconnect the double socket & put it into the ring circuit.

Change the ccu for a 45mm 1gang surface box, put a 40 amp terminal block inside the surface box, & put a 1 gang blank plate over the box.


So then the old cooker circuit is just for the shower.

 

[scousespark]

What exactly are you planning on doing to fix this?

I am going to replace the Consumer unit with a split-load one.

Disconnect the double socket & put it into the ring circuit.

Change the ccu for a 45mm 1gang surface box, put a 40 amp terminal block inside the surface box, & put a 1 gang blank plate over the box.


So then the old cooker circuit is just for the shower.

Why are you changing the CU, but still using the crap design you've come across. The correct way would be to run a new circuit straight to the shower.

What state is the current installation in, given you've decided to do a CU change?

 

[equitum]

It is in a Bathroom in my Neighbour's house. As I am putting right some boges done by a "Well praised Qulifyed Industrial Electrician"(At other jobs that he had done).

I will make a New post later on, after I have done the jobs, and there maybe some pictures of the boges & of the remedial work, which I will post up.

Sounds to me like you are bodging the boges done by the qulifyed bogeyman.

EDIT: Drunken ramblings removed.

 

[mdbalson]

Why are you changing the CU, but still using the rubbish design you've come across. The correct way would be to run a new circuit straight to the shower.

What state is the current installation in, given you've decided to do a CU change?

I am changing the CU so that there are MCBs instead of fuses, & also so that
the shower & all of the sockets are RCD protected.

To run a new circuit for the shower would mean having run the cable all the way from the bathroom down through the floor, into the little hall outside the kitchen, through into the front room, & all the way to where the TV is (In the corner by the Front door), as the Meter Cupboard is beheid the TV.

Also the cable would have to be run in mini Trunking.




So what, is it wrong to still run the shower from the old cooker circuit, as it would only be the shower on that circuit.

 

[scousespark]

MDB said

I am changing the CU so that there are MCBs instead of fuses, & also so that
the shower & all of the sockets are RCD protected.
-------

What state is the current installation in?
Do you know how to test (and have the required equipment), what the results mean and how to find and fix faults? None of your posts mention any testing and indicate you are fairly new to the game. Are you competent enough to issue certificates? Also, there is Part-P to consider.
Why did the original spark not think a CU change was required.

-----------------------------------------

MDB said
To run a new circuit for the shower would mean having run the cable all the way from the bathroom down through the floor, into the little hall outside the kitchen, through into the front room, & all the way to where the TV is (In the corner by the Front door), as the Meter Cupboard is beheid the TV.
----

Electricians occasionaly run cables where it is difficult to reach.
This run doesn't sound that difficult mate.

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MDB said
Also the cable would have to be run in mini Trunking.
---
Why?

----------------------------

MDB asked
So what, is it wrong to still run the shower from the old cooker circuit, as it would only be the shower on that circuit.

---
It's bad practice joining cable like this. It's what DIYERS do. As a spark you should look to install an unbroken circuit.
As for this job.
What's the shower current rating?
How long is the run and what is the cable size?
Are there any CFs to apply (apart from the fuse)

 

[securespark]

See here: http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=93203

No RCD.....

 

[scousespark]

Secure, I wasn't suggesting leaving things alone. I was just asking why this guy had decided to do what he wants to do.

 

[securespark]

No, I wasn't passing comment, just posting the pictures to show what can happen...