Why aren't AFDD's a requirement in hotels like they are in HMO's

[David1977m]

I understand that the IET say AFDD's 'must be considered' for hotels, however in HMO's, High Risk Residential Buildings, Student accommodation and care homes they are a requirement on sockets not exceeding 32Amps as stated in BS7671 (421.1.7). Why wouldn't hotels be compulsory? Is it just a cost thing or is there a valid reason? (I bet you can't guess what L3 Unit I'm doing extra study for? ).

https://electrical.------.org/cours...onsumer-guidance/arc-fault-detection-devices/

 

[David1977m]

IET saying to consider AFDD's

 

[littlespark]

Possibly because hotels are commercial, and will (should!) have a programme of frequent testing in place. Fixed wiring and PAT.

Other accommodation, although tested, may have the occupants own equipment plugged in.

I know AFDDs are for sensing arcs in either fixed wiring AND portable appliances, but its more likely from some students dodgy cheap toastie maker.

 

[David1977m]

Possibly because hotels are commercial, and will (should!) have a programme of frequent testing in place. Fixed wiring and PAT.

Other accommodation, although tested, may have the occupants own equipment plugged in.

I know AFDDs are for sensing arcs in either fixed wiring AND portable appliances, but its more likely from some students dodgy cheap toastie maker.

I get what you are saying, and it sounds logical, however in GN3 it's the same periodic inspection times as HMO's or offices of routine check yearly and maximum time between inspections of 5 years. Plus, you get dodgy cheap people like my 80-year-old dad who takes his own mini fridge and toaster away with him in the UK every month . It just seems like they forgot about hotels, I thought maybe there was something else covering hotels that I had overlooked.

 

[littlespark]

Hotels generally are just for sleeping in. Not cooking… (apart from “cooking” a cup of coffee, but kettles are supplied and tested) whereas HMOs, student accommodation etc are for “living” in

Taking your own fridge and toaster to a hotel is not the expected norm.

Saying that, everybody will be taking phone chargers these days…. And if you’re in a hotel for any length of time (personal experience, 6 weeks on a job) you might take a games console to alieve evening boredom.

 

[Rockingit]

I think it’s simply that a) hotels are considered a controlled, maintained environment with a raft of other existing safety measures such as fire suppression and b) the push for AFDD’s was largely from the fire service after Grenfell (understandably). I all but live in hotels (I’m typing this sat in the lobby of one right now!) and on no occasion ever have I been tempted to interfere with the installation or pack a dodgy microwave oven in my suitcase.