230v hair dryer swimming pool.

[conrad]

Standard 230 v hairdryers wired into rcbo protected spurs poolside, id say zone 2 but didnt measure. Hair dryer cable is 2 core, the cable had been damaged leaving the neutral snapped and exposed at the hairdryer end, floating neutral... Someone apparently grabbed the cable and received a shock. With no path to earth what would it take for the rcbo to operate. Maybe if the floor was wet enough to find a path etc. Iv recommened a hand dryer designed for the application be installed.

 

[SparkyChick]

The RCBO will operate either as a result of overload or more than 30mA leakage (leakage being the difference between the current flowing in the line and neutral) no matter how that leakage originates.

Theoretically if someone grabbed it and got a shock, they have completed a line/floating neutral to earth circuit and I would have expected the RCBO to trip if they felt it.

A dryer designed for the location is a good start, but maybe consider mechanical protection for the cable as well... PVC conduit perhaps.

 

[conrad]

Conduit wouldnt be practical. Obviously the hair dryer needs to be moveable to dry your hair. Lol... An ip type has no cable just a hose. In terms of the rcbo not operating, i didnt speak to the person who reported. Id say it was a flash when the cable broke and maybe they didnt get a shock. Installation is only 3 years old.

 

[SparkyChick]

What type of site is this?

I cannot for one second believe it would be a site open to the public with that kind of nonsense going on. I'm sorry, but I'd be suggesting to the client they loose the hair driers and put them in a more sensible place (like the changing rooms perhaps), and if they weren't willing to do that, I'd probably walk.

Zone 2 extends to 3.5m from the waters edge, but you're still going to be sopping wet if you walk that far. It's a disaster waiting to happen and I'd say the person this happened to is lucky.

In the case you described, then the RCBO won't trip because there was no overload, no fault current and potentially no leakage.

 

[telectrix]

never used a hair dryer in my life. what's wrong with a towel?

 

[Wilko]

It is possible to feel a shock at levels well below 30mA. Please also retest the RCD spurs including a ramp test. Exposed to the damp chlorinated air around a swimming pool for years who knows what their innards look like now

 

[conrad]

It is a new site. Local council public swimming pool. On the schedule its says 60898 which they must have been on originally. Poor design. Someone has put them on rcbo since but its not sufficient. I have not checked the regs yet but im sure they have to be designed for use or elv on swimming pool. To be fair the client has already been on and put the order in to replace. Theyre not on rcd spurs theyre on rcbos in the db which is in plant room..

 

[FatAlan]

never used a hair dryer in my life. what's wrong with a towel?

Agree. In my case it would be nice to have some hair worth drying.

 

[westward10]

Those hairdryers are not suitable if they are standard domestic appliances.

 

[StephenRowley]

You can get hair dryer where the fan and heater is affixed to the wall.
Just for example

1KW Wall Mounted Hair Dryer IP Rated with Shaver Socket - https://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.com/products/prod146282-1kw-wall-mounted-hair-dryer-ip?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbveBRDVARIsAKxH7vmbpi_mKYfGEXvcMg6DM7wrXGUpCrvwufdONn-AvEzLf5jnY7QAxoYaAq-mEALw_wcB

 

[SparkyChick]

You can get hair dryer where the fan and heater is affixed to the wall.
Just for example

1KW Wall Mounted Hair Dryer IP Rated with Shaver Socket - https://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.com/products/prod146282-1kw-wall-mounted-hair-dryer-ip?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbveBRDVARIsAKxH7vmbpi_mKYfGEXvcMg6DM7wrXGUpCrvwufdONn-AvEzLf5jnY7QAxoYaAq-mEALw_wcB

They look like they might be just the ticket. Decent containment on the cable and they'd probably be a good way to move forward.

 

[conrad]

Iv ordered 1.5 kw robus hairdryers... specifically designed for this use.

 

[Strima]

How often was the existing equipment formally inspected for serviceability?

New kit is all well and good but if processes aren't in place this could happen again.

 

[Marvo]

......im sure they have to be designed for use or elv on swimming pool. .....

I doubt you'll find ELV hair dryers. 2kw at 12volts will be 167Amps, I'm trying to picture what the trailing cable might look like...

 

[Baddegg]

I doubt you'll find ELV hair dryers. 2kw at 12volts will be 167Amps, I'm trying to picture what the trailing cable might look like...

That tickled me Marvo ha ha ha
Got hair dryer but can’t lift it off the floor!