Prosecution

[tigerpaul]

We had our ECA assessor visit today and while we were chatting he mentioned a case in London where a contractor had done an apartment block. There was a fan in a bathroom which had gotten stuck and the motor had caught alight and caused a major fire. Everything he'd done was as per BS7671, except however he hadn't fused the fan down to 3A as per the fan manufacturers instructions. Now this contractor has been prosecuted.
Now how many times have you seem a bathroom fan fused down to 3A? I haven't at all, it's always just the 6A Mcb providing protection.

 

[markc123]

Can't say i have either, although i fuse heaters down when wiring them from a FCU accordingly so no idea why i don't do a fan when i look at it that way lol

 

[tigerpaul]

I don't know if its that case in lakanal house, only what the ECA assessor said, which I already stated.
It's worth looking at the fan instruction now though I guess.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

That Lakanal story is tragic.
I can't understand why they were on the phone rather than legging it down the stairs?

 

[markc123]

Im liking that post, as in i agree with what spin has said.

Tragic story. That poor fella lost everything.

 

[Silly Sausage]

That Lakanal story is tragic.
I can't understand why they were on the phone rather than legging it down the stairs?

Possibly trapped by smoke or fire.
Been there myself!

I think the cause of the Lakanal case was a faulty TV, listening to the radio earlier.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Question is would a 3a fuse rather than a 6a mcb have stopped the fan catching fire...somehow I doubt it.

 

[londonlec]

Sounds like manufacturers making our lives even harder. Its easier said than done installing 3a protection to existing wiring, all at minimal cost (because the customer wants the job done for 50p), and with no distruption.

 

[onions1066]

We have been through this with the niceic and we now have to code an unfused bathroom fan as a code 2, we've been doing this for a couple of years now and to be honest we come across it all the time, but yes we've been through this a few times on here manufactures instructions should be followed at all times and yes they do state 3 amp fuse for fans

 

[Marvo]

Question is would a 3a fuse rather than a 6a mcb have stopped the fan catching fire...somehow I doubt it.

I doubt it too. Most reputable makes of small extractor fan motor have sufficiently high impedance to prevent dangerous LRA currents in the case of failure. You often see it stated on motors that they're 'impedance protected' or something similar. That combined with the choice of non-combustion supporting plastic mouldings would be the best fire protection.

I'm also not comfortable with allowing manufacturers to dictate the configuration of the supply, even more so if you follow that above local best practices or written regulations.

 

[Plonker 3]

We have been through this with the niceic and we now have to code an unfused bathroom fan as a code 2, we've been doing this for a couple of years now and to be honest we come across it all the time, but yes we've been through this a few times on here manufactures instructions should be followed at all times and yes they do state 3 amp fuse for fans

How can you code something when the chances are the instructions are not available too you? Maybe note it if they are not available but can't see how it is a code 2.

Sorry my mistake yes I can its the NIC and they make the rules up.

 

[onions1066]

Unfortunately I don't make the rules, as far as they are concerned every fan should be fused end of, if they assess a job and its not and we don't note it they want to see where we got the information from that its not required.

They do make there own rules but that's because they can,

 

[snowhead]

From the States but still a fan;

Bathroom Fan Fires

 

[SYKRAPS]

And if the fuse blows how often would it be replaced by the house owner with a 3a one............not very often is my guess so then who is liable and how would the spark prove that they fitted a 3a fuse?

I understand fitting dp or 3p isolation for maintenance reasons though!!!

 

[Robert Turnbull]

Why isn't there a triple pole fan isolator with a fuse in it on the market?

Or if there is I've never seen one.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Why isn't there a triple pole fan isolator with a fuse in it on the market?

Or if there is I've never seen one.

I believe that there is.