Fan Fuse

[Pinto Baz]

I have just been given a periodic test report with a code 4 fault: Bathroom fan not fused at 3A. The fan is fed from the lighting circuit which is supplied via a 6a MCB. Does anyone fuse down fans fed from lighting circuits? Does anyone make a triple pole fan isolator with double pole fusing for timer fans?

It's only a code 4 so I will ignore it, just it's a new one on me!

 

[Pinto Baz]

Thanks guys, I was just wondering if anyone did fuse down their fans, and the impression I am getting is that they don't. (Which is the impression that I have always had.) The only way I can see to do it to with this already fitted 230v timer fan would be to chop a fuse spur in next to the switch, which would look awful, and fuse down all the bathroom lights with the fan.

I would always want to see an isolator on any piece of fixed equipment, and I am sure there is a reg for that,who wants to wait for an electrician to arrive before you can have the lights back on

 

[telectrix]

Thanks guys, I was just wondering if anyone did fuse down their fans, and the impression I am getting is that they don't. (Which is the impression that I have always had.) The only way I can see to do it to with this already fitted 230v timer fan would be to chop a fuse spur in next to the switch, which would look awful, and fuse down all the bathroom lights with the fan.

I would always want to see an isolator on any piece of fixed equipment, and I am sure there is a reg for that,who wants to wait for an electrician to arrive before you can have the lights back on

be even worse if you hads to wait for a plumber to turn up.

 

[nickblake]

I must admit i do use a fused spure to supply the bathroom lights and fans , this was something id heard thta fans require a fuse for protection ,so during my elecsa anual survey i asked the question and the reason for it was due to a fire where a guy had died caused by the fan siezing ,i have come across this on several occasions in fact one was a shop in manchester that caused ove £300,000 worth of damage ,as has been said its not in the regs but down to manufacturers requirements which should be taken into consideration when installing fans or within the design ,the spark in the case of the fire was fined for neglegence ,although it wouldnt warrent a code , us sparks should read the instructions and adhear to them

 

[Pinto Baz]

Food for thought. Not sure that fusing down from 6A to 3A would have made any difference though, fitting fans with a thermal cut out seems more likely to me to prevent a fire.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

This thread could run and run. and there are some interesting replies. I was told that the manufacturers instruction take precedence over the wiring regulations.
So if you install say a shower, the manufacturers instructions will say "Must be installed in accordance with the installation instructions, and must be protected by a residual current device, if in doubt contact a qualified electrician" or words to that effect. That tells me that it must be fitted to the current edition of the wiring regs, and if there is no RCD then one needs to be fitted. The fan scenario is the same, if the instructions say fit a 3 amp fuse, then you have no choice but to fit a 3 amp fuse. If it doesn't then you done need to. Either way i will just throw some more fire on the argument so to speak. If it is wired into the lighting circuit on a 6a MCB etc, then that has to be far safer in my mind than fitting a FCU with a 3amp fuse. Why, because when the fuse blows, Mr homeowner will bang a 13amp one in cos that is all he has, 6amp MCB is safer all day long than a 13amp 1361 fuse.

Cheers.........Howard

 

[telectrix]

bit of common sense there Sir Kit, you must be taking your medication.

 

[tonys]

Not a bad post there Howard

 

[SirKit Breaker]

bit of common sense there Sir Kit, you must be taking your medication.

The medication is at about 8pm, common sense all gone by about 9.30pm and completely trashed by midnight, then Spain on sunday 24 degrees and some San Miguel off to see my dad for a few days

 

[nickblake]

Howard you lucky man nothing like a nice ltr of san miguel in the sun in spain

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Howard you lucky man nothing like a nice ltr of san miguel in the sun in spain

Its even better at the price he pays in the local watering hole, about 80-90 cents a pint.......I'LL HAVE A VERY LARGE ONE. I will be there on Sunday just in time for first orders at about 1130am. On the 6.40am easyjet out of Liverpool on Sunday morning to Malaga.

Bring it on....

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Bs7671 does require us to follow manufacturer's instructions.
As such, if they have not been followed, a code should be applied.
If the instructions are not available, then a code 3 might be appropriate.

 

[ian.settle1]

When fitting a CPD it is fitted not to protect the equipment on the circuit but the cable that is supplying the circuit.

 

[nickblake]

Its even better at the price he pays in the local watering hole, about 80-90 cents a pint.......I'LL HAVE A VERY LARGE ONE. I will be there on Sunday just in time for first orders at about 1130am. On the 6.40am easyjet out of Liverpool on Sunday morning to Malaga.

Bring it on....

You lucky lucky guy wifes got me lined up to do the garden ,stitches or not lol have a great time my friend

 

[Ace]

Thanks guys, I was just wondering if anyone did fuse down their fans, and the impression I am getting is that they don't. (Which is the impression that I have always had.) The only way I can see to do it to with this already fitted 230v timer fan would be to chop a fuse spur in next to the switch, which would look awful, and fuse down all the bathroom lights with the fan.

I would always want to see an isolator on any piece of fixed equipment, and I am sure there is a reg for that,who wants to wait for an electrician to arrive before you can have the lights back on

Hi Baz,

Common practice retro-fit now would be to install a 30mA RCD fused spur outside the bathroom (commonly at high level above the door) and feed the lighting and fan via that. Stick a 3A fuse in that bad boy and away you go. You can stick any type of fan in you like so long as the current demand is of the lighting / fan (s) is no greater than 3A.

Hope this helps

 

[Risteard]

As spinlondon says - assuming that the manufacturer's instructions stipulated a 3A BS 1362 fuse - then the absense of such a fuse does lead to a non-compliance with BS 7671, namely the Regulation that he mentioned which requires adherance to manufacturers' instructions. As said by others, the protective device is to protect the cable rather than the appliance but that is a separate issue.