Spur in bathroom...it's zone issues time

Old Tiler 63165 · Apr 22, 2014

Hello folks,

Had a call from a very elderly lady last week on account of her bathroom fan heater packing up. Upon inspection I found that the plastic pullcord switch mechanism had deformed and finally snapped through years of use....as they do. Designed to fail by my reckoning. OK,so just replace it right? I'm not sure it's that straightforward in this case.

The existing heater isn't rated for use in zone 2,but that's exactly where it is. An IPX4 heater would resolve that. The headache is the flush mounted unswitched fused spur with flex outlet that's also in zone 2 and is even closer to the the shower enclosure than the heater. My gut feeling is that somebody installed the shower and consequently put the heater and spur in zone. The issue of the fused spur outlet in zone 2 remains the grey area to me. It doesn't incorporate a switch but is clearly not splashproof. It is taken from a 30mA RCD protected socket ring circuit,which is obviously good,but if I'm doing a minor works and taking responsibility for it,it's got to be right.

Short of going surface-mount-tastic at the nearest socket outside of the bathroom (walls sadly not stud) and bringing a new spur in out of zone,has anybody got another spin on this one? I just want to put a fan heater in,preferably without too much mucking about,and in a state of compliance. If I can somehow make the existing spur outlet comply in situ or install an IPX4 alternative,it would really reduce time and cost. It's going to be hard to justify more cost to an elderly lady living on a tight budget.

Any takes on this please?

Cheers :wink5:

Octopus · Apr 22, 2014

You could suggest to the lady that a fan would be the way to go. The likely hood she won't understand the regs, nor want to get involved.

EDIT: Unswitched fused spur in Zone is not an issue IMHO, nor is a flex outlet as long as its exiting downwards.

Benjamiin · Apr 22, 2014

masterseal or equivalent spur? ugly I know but easiest method??

HappyHippyDad · Apr 23, 2014

You could install one of these :

Electric IP24 1800W Slim Electric Bathroom Washroom Wall Mounted Fan Heater | eBay

Although your main worry seems to be the FCU. I thought that an unswitched FCU or flex outlet plate was ok in zone 2 as Murdoch says, but having looked at Table 8.1 in the on-site guide it does suggest IPx4 for 'current using equipment/accessories, is a FCU or flex outlet plate an accessory?

If you really are unhappy with its position then I guess you'll either have to move it to 60cm's away or fit an IPx4 FCU (bit excessive).

Badged01 · Apr 23, 2014

I think its all electrical equipment in Zone 2 needs to be IPX4. And as long as the FCU isnt switched then it should be OK in Zone 2 (provided its IPX4!)

Richard Burns · Apr 24, 2014

Whilst the requirements of the regulations require IPX4 equipment within zone 2 (and 1), and a standard fused spur does not technically meet this requirement, since you are not changing the fused spur it could be left in situ and you are simply undertaking maintenance replacement of the heater (using an IPX4 heater).
Ideally the FCU should be either replaced with an IPX4 FCU or the location of the FCU be moved out of zone 2, either by extending the cable to a new position or, depending on the run of cable, shortening the cable to the new position, however the likelihood is that you have a safe zone coming down / up for the FCU and this could not be maintained by a sideways movement so relocating the cable run would be required.
You have to decide how far you need to go to upgrade an existing circuit due to an accessory change.
For instance is the circuit 30mA RCD protected as is now required.