Replacement Bathroom Fan - Advice appreciated

[LeBlur]

a like for like replacement just needs to be similar fan. does not have to be the same make/model. as such, no paperwork is required. adding a pull cord would be modifying the circuit and a minor works certificate completed by a competent person. strictly speaking this would be notifiable and a RCD fitted if not already in situ for the circuit.

So, (almost got my head around all this) if I went with the Greenwood Airvac RF90, just using the inbuilt humidistat (as is now), the fan could just be swapped over and job done. No notification required. No paperwork required. Not even an
Electrical Installation Certificate?

If I added a pull cord, for manual control as desired, then notification and certification required. Also an RCD would need to be fitted.
As the fan looks like it is presently fed via a fused link into the lighting circuit in the loft, will a new feed down to the fuse box be needed for this?

Looking at the suggested in-line fan up in the loft option….this would either need control from the bathroom light switch or from another pull cord, or even a separate humidistat unit. As all these options would be ‘modifying the circuit’ I presume they would require notification/certification?

 

[telectrix]

yes on most points. to get round running cable from fuse board, a RCD FCU could be fitted to the bathroom lighting and fan.

 

[nickblake]

Have a look at Envirovent these are cracking fans very quiet one thing you should take into consideration is the manufacturers instructions most now require the fans to be fuses down

 

[LeBlur]

yes on most points. to get round running cable from fuse board, a RCD FCU could be fitted to the bathroom lighting and fan.

I found a forum discussing RCD FCUs in a proposed job. I must admit a lot of the jargon went over my head but there did seem to be a lot of opposing views on the subject. IET Forums - Is this an acceptable way of complying with the 17th edition?

 

[LeBlur]

Have a look at Envirovent these are cracking fans very quiet one thing you should take into consideration is the manufacturers instructions most now require the fans to be fuses down

These fans look very impressive. I will certainly consider these.

I’m not sure I understand the phrase “to be fuses down”.

 

[telectrix]

he meant fused down , to 3A from the lighting which is generally 6A.

 

[LeBlur]

he meant fused down , to 3A from the lighting which is generally 6A.

Many thanks for the clarification. The existing fan feed is already fused at 3amp so is ok with this.

 

[LeBlur]

I’m now looking at two particular fans in earnest:

Greenwood Airvac RF90 (with humidistat) - Centrifugal, IP44, 21 l/s, 20 watts, 41dBA @ 3m, 2 year warranty.

Envirovent Silent 100 Design (with humidistat) – Axial, IP45, 22 l/s, 8 watts, 26.5dBA @ 3m, 5 year warranty.

The Envirovent fan appears to win on most factors, although centrifugal does appear to win more votes than axial for pushing/pulling air. The one thing I do like about the Greenwood fan is that it has an easily cleanable filter in the front. Anyone with 3 females in their house will probably know what a mess talcum powder can make of a fan and ducting :teeth_smile:

Any views on these two fans?

Many thanks for all the help on the electrical side of things. It has all been a great help and really appreciated.

 

[LeBlur]

One thing I have noticed today is that the wiring diagram for the original Greenwood Airvac fan stated that there should be a ‘double pole isolating switch’.

The only thing in circuit for this fan is the 3amp fuse in the loft.

As the circuit will therefore be changing, it looks like I am going to have to go down notifiable/certification route anyway as this will need to be in place for the new fan.

Are there any stipulations on where the ‘double pole isolating switch’ should be located, or could this be in the loft next to the 3 amp fuse (not very handy)?

I’m also having second thoughts on the two fans I’ve suggested, as this video seems to show the poor performance of the ‘flat front cover’ fans.
Silent Fan with High Air Extraction Power - the "Fan Power" Challenge by EnviroVent - YouTube
This has surprised me as the video is actually by Envirovent and they do a flat front cover axial fan – one of the ones I chose.