Does the fan isolator in a bathroom have to be on the outside wall?

[atm-12]

Hi,

I am apprentice electrician about 1 year and a half into my course. I have been asked to install a fan in a bathroom which I am quite capable of doing, I just need to know if I can put the isolator inside.

I have been asked to do it in trunking, so I was going to trunk from the pull switch to the fan via the light fitting depending how its been wired. I'm guessing it is against regulations to isolate inside, but it would be easier if I can.

Thanks.

 

[Sparky Stu]

Hi atm-12

i believe that if the fan isolator is on a pull cord it can be located within the bathroom but if it were a switch it would have to be outside of the room. Hope this helps

 

[Steve1412]

You can put the fan isolator inside the room so long as it is outside zone 2.

 

[ezzzekiel]

if there is a window then you dont need an isolator

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Remember it will come under part P......you will need to register it to comply with the law......although I doubt you will be hung,drawn and quartered if you dont.

 

[sjm]

if there is a window then you dont need an isolator

Do you mean you don't need a fan?

 

[Amp David]

I will always put the isolator in. Never seen anything about not fitting one when theres a window.

In the room outside of zone 2 or usually above the door outside, as most jobs i get are having the bathroom walls redone so its easy to install it there

 

[ezzzekiel]

Do you mean you don't need a fan?

An extractor fan supplied from a lighting circuit for a bathroom WITHOUT a window should have its own means of isolation otherwise maintenance of fan would have to be carried out in the dark.
its all in the book.

 

[Amp David]

Worked in a bathroom last week and the window was about 9 inches by about 36 inches, new build so right up against the next house. Even on the sunniest of days there wouldn't be enought light coming in throught that size of window. Didn't have an isolator in until I put one in.

 

[telectrix]

so, to sum up. if there's a window , not letting in enough light to see the fan, you don;t need an isolator. if the client has cfl lighting , you need an isolator, even though you still can;t see it with the lights on. all boils down to the good old torch. think we all know how to use one

 

[ezzzekiel]

just saying what the books say i would peronnaly fit regardless

 

[telectrix]

i always fit isolator. better overkill tan fall foul of the LABC jobsworth part peee gestapo

 

[nick611]

you need a fan ,window or not, its building regs not electric regs.isolator is because all motors need local form of isolation and a fan is a motor.switch can be in bathroom outside zone 2 if rcd protected or a pull switch.if room has no window then fan must be timer model with 15 mins run on.

 

[Amp David]

Just think the window rule is a bit of a joke, thats all

 

[Ponty Massive]

you need a fan ,window or not, its building regs not electric regs.isolator is because all motors need local form of isolation and a fan is a motor.switch can be in bathroom outside zone 2 if rcd protected or a pull switch.if room has no window then fan must be timer model with 15 mins run on.

Spot on. Local isolation for maintenance work. What about the perminent live for the timer? Has to be a 3-pole isolator (if the fan indeed has a perm live and switched live).

Shower unit, cooker outlets etc...local isolation for maintenance purposes.