Condensing boiler rules

Poppycat

We just been told today by a company that does grants for warmfront that we need a new Condensing boiler to replace our combi boiler.

As there is a shortage of space in our house, the only suitable place is where the present boiler is, in the bathroom just above the toilet.

Unfortunately we have to have the boiler enclosed in a cupboard to comply with the rules is that correct? He was adamant about this, he told me that they would o fit the boiler and an electrician would come later to finish of the electrical work, however he would do it unless the boiler was in a enclosed space. Apparently the rules state or so I been told because there is a chance you may get electricuted To me this sounds absurd, why produce a boiler that has a risk like this.

The boiler is a vaillant it could be vaillant ecoTEC plus

lapat

i take it you are replacing like for like combi boiler yes...?
and no water regs dont state anything about enclosing any type of boiler inside a cupboard

caveat_emptor

Poppycat wrote:

We just been told today by a company that does grants for warmfront that we need a new Condensing boiler to replace our combi boiler.

As there is a shortage of space in our house, the only suitable place is where the present boiler is, in the bathroom just above the toilet.

Unfortunately we have to have the boiler enclosed in a cupboard to comply with the rules is that correct? He was adamant about this, he told me that they would o fit the boiler and an electrician would come later to finish of the electrical work, however he would do it unless the boiler was in a enclosed space. Apparently the rules state or so I been told because there is a chance you may get electricuted To me this sounds absurd, why produce a boiler that has a risk like this.

The boiler is a vaillant it could be vaillant ecoTEC plus

This is not true. All modern boilers are room sealed and can be fitted almost anywhere providing there is connection to the outside within the flue limitations.
Point about these boilers is that they CAN be fitted inside cupboards whereas the old non-sealed boilers couldn't. All the electrical connections are inside and out of harms way.
The boiler installation instructions will confirm this.
SECOND THOUGHT. Problem might be electrics in the bathroom hence need for cupboard. Call to boiler manufacturer would answer this.
Take a look at https://www.diydata.com/electrics/bathroom_electrics/bathroom_electrics.htm
find the boiler electrical protection from data sheet and see if it will fit in safe zones for that IP rating. If not your expert is right you need a cupboard..

lapat

you dont need a cupboard to hide your electrics just a 3amp fused spur

ffym

Sticking it in a cupboard does sound stupid, however,I don't think the issue is to do with the type of boiler, it's the safety of electrical equipment in the bathroom that's the problem. New regs have split bathrooms into different zones (good article here) There will be areas in your bathroom where a boiler should not be fitted, whether it's in a cupboard or not!
I agree with the other posts though that, provided it's outside zones 1 & 2, you can fit the boiler - with or without a cupboard.

robowen

The theory behind this, is that you are not supposed to be able to touch the boiler casing whilst you are touching water.
The cupboard has nothing to do with spent gases from the boiler. As you may know room sealed boilers expel gases outside.
If you can touch any part of the casing whilst you are in the bath, hands in basin, or hands in kitchen sink....then it should go in a cupboard.

rob

moneysavingplumber

Agree with Rob, many boiler installation instructions mark permitted 'zones' in the bathroom which give minimum clearances from bath, basin and showers, whereby you wouldn't need to enclose it in a compartment, but it's rare in most small modern bathrooms that it is ever far enough away.

Poppycat

Thanks. We cant touch boiler from a sink or bath but we could if you so wish touch the toliet and boiler.

across

poppycat they told us the same thing its in my kitchen, anyway i didnt put the cupboard on even though i agreed to at start and when the inspector came he never mentioned it!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think they just have a job to do to meet regulations! the surveyor told me the cupboard was necesary because steam would interfere with the electronics i still didnt put cupboard on!