Rcd spur for Bathroom electrics

[Thrashman]

Hi Everyone ,
I hope everyone is having an awesome week,

I know this question has probably been covered before on previous posts, but wanted to get everybody else’s opinion and take on it.

So I’m quoting on a job and it entails replacement of existing central light in the bathroom for five times new LED spotlights, a new LED mirror and New ceiling mounted extractor fan with fan iso switch .

The existing fuse board is an old Wylex re-wireable, So currently no RCD protection.
I have talked to the customer about the benefits of upgrading the existing fuse board to a new consumer unit but of course they don’t currently want to spend the money even though they are considering upgrading it in the future on my advice.

So to provide RCD protection for the new work and 3amp ocpd for the fan I am considering the option of relocating the mains feed to the bathroom through an RCD spur with 3 amp fuse located on the exterior of the bathroom And from there to all my alterations as listed above.

Had considered putting the RCD spa at the origin of the installation but as I have yet to survey, this could cause havoc with Borrowed neutrals etc, Oh my option above seems the most plausible and best way to move forward to comply.

what do you all think , any better options ??

thanks in advance

?

 

[radiohead]

There is no guarantee that any future amendments will include these devices as satisfying additional protection. In my opinion to ensure compliance with BS7671 as opposed to entering a departure I would not fit them and if that means a consumer unit change then so be it. Departures as we know have to ensure safety outside the scope of BS7671 is not compromised and never having had much faith in rcd sockets and spurs I would not be using them to fulfil a departure.

I read somewhere that the IET had admitted the omission was an error which would be rectified. Personally I would have no concern at all with using an RCD FCU if it was appropriate for an instance of additional protection needing to be installed for a minor alteration to an existing circuit.

 

[westward10]

How would you confirm it provides additional protection as required by BS7671.

 

[radiohead]

How would you confirm it provides additional protection as required by BS7671.

I wouldn't, in fact I doubt I'd even note it as a departure. I'd record on the MW cert under the description of work carried out that an RCD FCU has been installed as a means of additional protection, and have no doubt at all that the RCD FCU will do exactly that. There is not a snowballs chance in hell that if a case went to court anyone would be prosecuted for installing a device with the correct tripping current, which tripped in the required time (measured and recorded) and was manufactured by a reputable manufacturer.
Some things are just not worth getting overly particular about.

 

[westward10]

Nevertheless it is a departure no matter how you dress it but if that is your manner of things fine by me.

 

[Ian1981]

How would you confirm it provides additional protection as required by BS7671.

Consult manufacturers instructions and if need be reference bs7288 and make sure that at 5x the rating of the rcd socket/spur, it disconnects within 40mS.
Other than that I’m not sure how you would go about proving that the degree of safety is no less than full compliance with bs7671.

 

[Andy78]

How would you confirm it provides additional protection as required by BS7671.

Even though the standard has been omitted (either temporarily or permanently) as being recognised for use, if reg 415.1 can be fulfilled then surely the requirements for additional protection have been met although technically a departure ?
The departure would be no less safe than technical compliance.