Bathroom lights RCD etc

[timo]

Called to quote for installing some IP rated down lights in a bathroom. Told guy he needed an RCD for altering light etc and he wasnt pleased. Some old un-named mcb's in his C.U so i told him either a seperate 1 way c.u would do it or a new C.U all together to bring it upto date. Nope didnt want it Why do people think its just put that there and off you go..... Grrrr

Anyways i was thinking, could a RCD Spur be fitted outside the bathroom (above door etc) to feed the new lights in the bathroom, would this do?

 

[DurhamSparky]

people think that we take them for rides and that gear costs us 20p for a job load..!! Walk away from it,

RCD spur = £25
cheap RCBO = £13 with £2.00 enclosure plus cable... probably cost same price, what suggests he will not want to pay for the RCD spur either...!

its a notify job as well...! let some cowboy do what he wants and chase bigger fish mate!!

 

[jmtisme]

people think that we take them for rides and that gear costs us 20p for a job load..!! Walk away from it,

RCD spur = £25
cheap RCBO = £13 with £2.00 enclosure plus cable... probably cost same price, what suggests he will not want to pay for the RCD spur either...!

its a notify job as well...! let some cowboy do what he wants and chase bigger fish mate!!

Would you need rcd on lv downlights

 

[confused-fuse]

regs say RCD in bathroom ( zoned areas )

Regulation 701.411.3.3 now requires that additional protection shall be provided for all circuits of the location by the use of one or more RCDs having the characteristics specified in Regulation 415.1.1. This is a significant change. Previously (601-09-02), only
fixed current using equipment (other than electric showers) located in zone 1 required 30mA RCD protection and current using equipment (other than fixed current using equipment – such as a washing machine, if suitable for use in a bathroom, connected through a fused connection unit) in zone 3 required 30mA RCD protection. Regulation 701.411.3.3 means that all circuits, including lighting, electric showers, heated towel rails, etc., will require RCD protection, not exceeding 30 mA.

 

[pushrod]

regs say RCD in bathroom ( zoned areas )

Regulation 701.411.3.3 now requires that additional protection shall be provided for all circuits of the location by the use of one or more RCDs having the characteristics specified in Regulation 415.1.1. This is a significant change. Previously (601-09-02), only
fixed current using equipment (other than electric showers) located in zone 1 required 30mA RCD protection and current using equipment (other than fixed current using equipment – such as a washing machine, if suitable for use in a bathroom, connected through a fused connection unit) in zone 3 required 30mA RCD protection. Regulation 701.411.3.3 means that all circuits, including lighting, electric showers, heated towel rails, etc., will require RCD protection, not exceeding 30 mA.

All parts of the location not just the zones.

 

[jmtisme]

All parts of the location not just the zones.

Yep your correct just checked the regs

 

[timo]

So id be ok just to spur the new lights and leave the rest of the light circuit as is?

Still would test all the light circuit out etc but only my work in bathroom would be rcd from the spur and comply ?

ta

 

[ezzzekiel]

yup, as long as you rcd the light into the bathroom via rcd spur then you have done all that is needed

 

[shagg]

I would cross bond eveything aswell

 

[ezzzekiel]

or rcd everything in there

and main bonds etc etc

 

[8145keith]

Not so, the feed from the consumer unit to your lights in the bathroom will all so require RCD protection, if they are less than 50 mm buried into the fabric of the building.
Assuming you have all so confirmed bonding ECT.
Regards KJ

 

[timo]

Not so, the feed from the consumer unit to your lights in the bathroom will all so require RCD protection, if they are less than 50 mm buried into the fabric of the building.
Assuming you have all so confirmed bonding ECT.
Regards KJ

They are existing and not new keith. Only thing i will be changing is the bathroom light to 4 down lights.

 

[8145keith]

Hi there, You have to conform to, to days regs if you are installing any new equipment eg bathroom lights, you have to bring the circuit you are working on and the bonding at the Origen up to today’s standards.
Regards KJ

 

[ezzzekiel]

depends on how you interprit the regs and has been argued before, as you are only concerned with the bath light, then i wouldnt worry about using rcd spur to protect that part.

 

[8145keith]

Hi there, When you alter an existing circuit, you have to confirm the circuit can supply the addition load, and subsequent fault currents, there for you have to test the hole circuit, and confirm it complies to current regs,
Regards KJ

 

[ezzzekiel]

your more than capable of deciding wether the circuit can meet disco times and handle additional loading, and also capable to decide wether an inline rcd would cover the part of the installation being worked on or wether it would need you to install additional protection upstream.

as the electrician the buck stops with you, you make your decision on the installation.

 

[8145keith]

Hi there, you don’t have to its all set out in the regs, that’s why we have them.

　
Regards KJ

 

[ezzzekiel]

To comply with BS7671 all circuits in a domestic bathroom need to have additional protection by a 30mA rcd. The normal way is to introduce the device(s) in the consumer unit. This can be achieved however in other ways eg rcd spurs etc. If all circuits are covered with rcd protection, main bonding has been carried out, and earth fault loop results are acceptible for all bathroom circuits then supplementary bonding may be omitted in the location.

 

[8145keith]

Hi there, That sounds good to me, however I’m still not sure about RCD spurs to feed lighting installed in a bathroom, You still need to provide RCD protection to the circuit feeding the spur if its buried less than 50 MM in the fabrication of the building. Eg most domestic properties, unless you can confirm it has sufficent mechanical protection.
Regards KJ

　

 

[shagg]

Not so. If it's an existing circuit this will be to the old reg's, And the only requirement is to protect the part of the circuit you worked on via an RCD, So an RCD spur unit is fine as long as you cross bond and the main bondings in place.