Wiring a 10.5 KW shower run

notoriousgib83 · Feb 23, 2011

Hi,

I'm currently a student doing my C&G 2330 Level 3. I've been asked to wire in a shower for a friend who's just bought a house. Now before you say it I know it's notifiable and I will be arranging a Part P registered spark to come commision it.

My question is the shower is 10.5KW and I'm going to wire it in 10mm on a 50A MCB, with regards to the cable run I'm not sure whether it's okay to feed from the floor and up to the shower unit or whether it must come down the wall from above (the loft). The cable is going to be capped, plastered and the wall tiled. I'm just querying this as it has to go past zone 0 up to the shower if I run it from the floor up the the unit.

You opinions would be appreciated.

Guest123 · Feb 23, 2011

Where will the isolation switch be positioned???

Paul.M · Feb 23, 2011

The bathroom zones are for appliances and not a cable run behind a wall with tiles. Are you confusing it with safe zones? Run it from below, the shortest route and as Lenny says where are you going to put the pull cord?

notoriousgib83 · Feb 23, 2011

Hi I was going to place it on the ceiling just behind the bathroom door, which is just to the left of the shower cubicle door. With this in mind it probably is best to run the cable from above isn't it. Is this an acceptable location?

notoriousgib83 · Feb 23, 2011

Thinking about it, in my en suite at home there isn't an isolator. The circuits are protected by an RCD though. Should there be one.

Paul.M · Feb 23, 2011

Yes mate, you need local isolation for all appliances. Sounds like you've answered your own question with regards to you run. Just have a look where you will be drilling the holes for the shower unit, you don't want to make that mistake. I've never done that of course

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notoriousgib83 · Feb 23, 2011

Thanks for the help guys much appreciated.

sjm · Feb 23, 2011

notoriousgib83 said:
Hi I was going to place it on the ceiling just behind the bathroom door, which is just to the left of the shower cubicle door. With this in mind it probably is best to run the cable from above isn't it. Is this an acceptable location?

Hope your ceiling is high because pullcord mechanisim should not be in zone 2.

sparks1234 · Feb 23, 2011

Didn't think pull cords were included in zone 2

sjm · Feb 23, 2011

Taken from NICEIC pocket guide 1-2.
Insulated pull cord is acceptable in all zones. Pull cord switch mechanism not allowed in zones 0 1 and 2.

sparks1234 · Feb 23, 2011

I only put that in because I asked the NIC tech helpline that exact same question about 6 months ago when I had pulled a light pul switch in a shower room at about 2350mm, the builder then built a bulkhead and pulled the cable through at 2150mm. They said it was Ok but he did refer to the BRB

sjm · Feb 23, 2011

So the builder changed the design and dropped you in it, no change there then lol. Did the tech line say to do a risk assesment?

notoriousgib83 · Feb 23, 2011

No the ceilings are pretty low.....bit buggered then because the bathroom is pretty small and there aren't really many places in it that aren't either 0,1 or 2. Probably look at the insulated pull cord option.

pushrod · Feb 24, 2011

notoriousgib83 said:
No the ceilings are pretty low.....bit buggered then because the bathroom is pretty small and there aren't really many places in it that aren't either 0,1 or 2. Probably look at the insulated pull cord option.

If the ceiling is above 2.25m you are ok with a cord pull isolator, still site it sensibly though. If ceilings are lower then cord pull needs to be more than 60cm away from edge of shower tray/bath. If the room is really small it needs to go in the most sensible available place, remember BS7671 is non-statutory, but outside the room is also a possibility.