Using CPC as live conductor.... ok i know, but...

[uksparks]

Hi,

Had to change a bathroom fan at the weekend for someone and they wanted it to be on a timer, but couldnt as the cable was buried in the wall and wouldn't move etc..

the cable that fed it was a three core flex, I the earth was not being used anyway due to the load on the end etc.

I know you are not meant to use the CPC as a live conductor, but if its flex and the same CSA and you were to correctly identify it with brown etc, would it have then been acceptable?

I didn't do it, but it made me think, oh i so could have used it, but it just seemed wrong. I can understand why you wouldn't do it in twin and earth, but surely where its flex or all conductors are the same CSA and have their own sheathing on them inside the outer, would it have been acceptable or not?

I am going to say not on the basis CPC is CPC and nothing else, any thoughts would been welcomed.

 

[Silly Sausage]

OK, solution...
SWA through the wall, run on the outside, back through the wall to the fan.
Job Done!

 

[Risteard]

As stated the green/yellow core of a multicore cable can be oversleeved (although from memory this was not permitted under the 16th Edition). However it is not a practice I like, and there is still a requirement to provide a cpc at the accessory (which would generally nullify the benefit of oversleeving the green/yellow).

 

[uksparks]

I changed the fan and left it to just come on and off with the vanity unit light. The bloke was happy.

but yes, crap arrangement there was power to the vanity unit, a pull switch on that turned the vanity unit light on and the fan.

Nothibg ense to say really, I gave it some thought and didn't do it as it's wrong. I got paid and I went out the door.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

The regs are guidance only, this seems to get overlooked. Common sense must prevail, and if this is the only way to do it, then do it, but justify your reasons why on the appropriate form. We know this as a DEPARTURE from BS7671.

You can deviate from the regs for all sorts of reasons, but they must be complied with
AS FAR AS IS REASONABLY PRACTICAL (SEE EAWR 1989) but whatever and however you do things must still be at least as safe the requirements of the regs. I can't see anyone getting killed or injured because you have used an insulated core which is the wrong colour. Put the correct colour sleeving on, and call it job done. If someone comes along at a later date and does themselves harm because they didn't know what they were doing (DIY Charlie springs to mind), then they shouldn't have been messing about in the first place. Your paperwork exonerates you of all blame.

Cheers…………Howard

 

[Silly Sausage]

The regs are guidance only,

Said so many times before.
No, BS7671 is a minimum requirement, the accompanying GNs etc are guides to the regs.
A deviation from the regs is perfectly acceptable if that deviation is an improvement.

 

[guest119]

Alter the fan supply to a permanent feed and fit a fan with a pir or humidistat or whatever built in?

Boydy