Good Practise or Specific Requirement?

[Crosswire]

1) Fan isolator switches?

2) Earthing metal downlight rings holding a GU10 lamp?

3) Cable clamps in chocboxes


If poss quote Reg No.

Thanks!

 

[Octopus]

Back to the OP

1. Ok no local isolation required BUT many fans on the market now require fusing down to 3A so that should be complied with IMHO

 

[roukel01]

For the last three years my assessor has always checked a downlight to ensure the cables are secured using the cable clamps.

 

[D Skelton]

I may have to admit defeat here, i have looked and found nothing, This may be a case of NIC recommended and not BS7671 requirement.

I change my answer to "not got a clue but NIC say its needed"

And this is exactly my point! Since when did NIC become an authority on electrical installation? Never! It's groups like NIC, Elecsa and Napit and unofficial published 'guides' (I use the term loosely) such as The Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations that regularly propegate these types of nonsense rumours that often catch even the most experienced of electricians out!

I don't know what the rest of you think but I work to statutory regulations only (with the exception of BS 7671 and the OSG), regardless of what some pleb in an NIC shirt and tie who probably hasn't been near a regs book since the 13th edition tells me!

I'm totally not having a go at you mate, I just get really riled when I hear things like "But my NIC assessor told me I need to???" It's not your fault, it's theirs!

This is exactly the situation I'm in.

Myself and several other sparks are doing identical second fix flats on price. Out of 4 sparks I was the only one to use the cable clamps to secure the cables supplying Wago connections for GU10 metal downlights.

Took me me an hour longer than the other guys and they said I was mad.

I was pretty sure the 17th edition required secured cables, hence the move from JB's to chocboxes, but they had me doubting myself. Needed a second opinion.

Incidently the down lights came with a green /yellow flylead attached to the arm of the holder and terminated in a connector block next to the live and neutral. First time I have seen this but makes perfect sense.

We automatically earth all other 230v metal lights, so why should downlights be excepted?

In this situation yes you are absolutely correct, the unsupported cables would need to be adequately secured in the Chocboxes so as to prevent terminations from becoming loose.

 

[DPhilpott]

Fan is building reg, little green book, only if room has no window

 

[D Skelton]

Fan is building reg, little green book, only if room has no window

Absolute rubbish. Quote me reg numbers.

 

[Kiers1970]

it is blinking annoying installing 3 pole isolators.Surely this reg is really intended for larger motors, the domestic type bathroom fans couldnt cut through anything.
Don't building inspectors love pointing out you haven't fitted one.. 'sorry mate, its in the loft next to the remote fan' is my reply. pointless excercise.

 

[roukel01]

I thought the whole point in installing a fan isolator was for one reason only, if the fan is installed in a room where there is no window, and the fan is wired from the lighting circuit, it allows you to isolate the fan without isolating the lights, hence giving you light to work on the fan.

 

[D Skelton]

it is blinking annoying installing 3 pole isolators.Surely this reg is really intended for larger motors, the domestic type bathroom fans couldnt cut through anything.
Don't building inspectors love pointing out you haven't fitted one.. 'sorry mate, its in the loft next to the remote fan' is my reply. pointless excercise.

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! It's not a reg! lol. The regs don't even mention 3 pole isolators in relation to bathroom extractors. I know to those who know me on here it must seem like I go on like a broken record about 3 pole islolators but the rumours surrounding them really is one of my pet hates!!!!

Check out this link and all will be explained Bathroom extractor fans and 3 pole isolation a source of much controversy

 

[D Skelton]

I thought the whole point in installing a fan isolator was for one reason only, if the fan is installed in a room where there is no window, and the fan is wired from the lighting circuit, it allows you to isolate the fan without isolating the lights, hence giving you light to work on the fan.

Refer to the link in my previous post. It's a fallacy born out of the Electricians Guide to the Building Regs.

 

[roukel01]

I never mentioned rules or regs, just a general thought on the matter.

 

[D Skelton]

I never mentioned rules or regs, just a general thought on the matter.

I know you didn't, I didn't accuse you of doing so, my point is that your thought on the matter is misguided by this common misconception born out of the previously mentioned guide.

 

[roukel01]

I was installing fan isolators long before I even heard of the electricians guide to the building regs. Surley its a no brainer to install a fan isolator simply to make it easier to isolate should you ever have to return and replace it.

 

[ian.settle1]

Read Reg 537 this deals with isolation

 

[Deleted member 26818]

None of the three items listed are specific requirements of the Regulations.
There would be a requirement to earth the metal ring of a down light, only if it is an exposed-conductive-part.
The other two are just good practice.

 

[D Skelton]

I was installing fan isolators long before I even heard of the electricians guide to the building regs. Surley its a no brainer to install a fan isolator simply to make it easier to isolate should you ever have to return and replace it.

Like I said, refer to my link. Anyway, why fit an isolator when you've almost certainly fused the circuit down anyway. With, regards to your comment about The Electricians Guide to the Building Regs, it is guilty of propagating the myth about needing to fit one when there's no window, that's all.