Help - temporary electric shower - permitted under Part P regs or no?

louisdog

Hi all

We are about to remove our boiler so we can knock down the garage it is in and have our extension built, then we'll get a new boiler and central heating installed.

But in the meantime, we need an electric shower.

There is some 6mm or 10mm electric cable (not sure which) going from the consumer unit up to the loft and across it the corner of the house where our bathroom is.

I want to bring that cable through the ceiling into the bathroom, wire an electric shower up, and then plumb it in by T-ing off a 15mm cold water pipe in the loft.

I want to install it in the current shower cubicle but without drilling the tiles, so I was planning to screw it to some batons attached to a very strong metal shower basket shelf unit.

I have bought a 7.5kW shower, 40A MCB and a 50A rated ceiling isolator switch for the above project.

Does anyone know if this will meet Part P regs, and also, be safe? I am unsure about having the electric cable exposed rather than in the wall, and also about having the shower unit mounted on wood attached to a shower basket.

Anyone got any thoughts please?

Thanks

Alex

1984ReturnsForReal_2

To be compliant with regs the shower needs to be wired to the consumer unit not guessed.....

Get an electrician.

louisdog

Thanks, I am not sure what you mean by guessed though? Which bit?

Really hoping for advice on whether the cable supplying the shower can be surface mounted, and whether anyone had any comments about locating it on a shower basket.

Plan B would be to locate it on the wall above the separate bath, but still the cable will be surface mount not in the wall.

The cable is either 6mm or 10mm and was installed 2 years ago to supply a hot tub.

Cheers
Alex

1984ReturnsForReal_2

louisdog wrote: »

Thanks, I am not sure what you mean by guessed though? Which bit?

Really hoping for advice on whether the cable supplying the shower can be surface mounted, and whether anyone had any comments about locating it on a shower basket.

Plan B would be to locate it on the wall above the separate bath, but still the cable will be surface mount not in the wall.

The cable is either 6mm or 10mm and was installed 2 years ago to supply a hot tub.

Cheers
Alex

This is what I know (think I know - but could be wrong because I am not electrically qualified - yet)


All new installs for electric showers is 10mm cable

All new installs have to be wired back to the consumer unit & have their own MCB

& I should imagine showers have to be installed/mounted correctly and earthed (according to manufacturers instructions) with external double pole switch to get anywhere near complying with the regs.


Let alone having to be a registered as a competent person to self-certify work.

Owain_Moneysaver

There is no problem with surface cable in itself.

However the shower has to be permanently fixed to the structure of the building following the manufacturer's instructions.

Is the consumer unit RCD protected?

Is the cable in good condition throughout and can you test it for insulation resistance and earth continuity using a calibrated test meter?

Are your bathroom lights and any other accessories appropriately located and IP rated?

AIUI Part P does not have an exemption for temporary works, so you would need to include it in your extension building regs application.

louisdog

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

This is what I know (think I know - but could be wrong because I am not electrically qualified - yet)


All new installs for electric showers is 10mm cable

All new installs have to be wired back to the consumer unit & have their own MCB

& I should imagine showers have to be installed/mounted correctly and earthed (according to manufacturers instructions) with external double pole switch to get anywhere near complying with the regs.


Let alone having to be a registered as a competent person to self-certify work.

Thanks.

My research has indicated that 6mm is ok for short runs on an 8.5kW shower but I better check that now and may need to replace the cable

Got the MCB so that's no prob, and the double pole switch thingy.

Sounds like I need to check on the shower mounting then.

Plan is to install it all and then get electrician to hook it up at the consumer unit end.

He is supposed to be calling back so will be interesting to see what he thinks (probably be horrified at our plan lol).

Cheers
Alex

louisdog

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

There is no problem with surface cable in itself.

However the shower has to be permanently fixed to the structure of the building following the manufacturer's instructions.

Is the consumer unit RCD protected?

Is the cable in good condition throughout and can you test it for insulation resistance and earth continuity using a calibrated test meter?

Are your bathroom lights and any other accessories appropriately located and IP rated?

AIUI Part P does not have an exemption for temporary works, so you would need to include it in your extension building regs application.

Thanks.

D'oh to the permanent fixing, sounds like we may need to go to plan B of over the bath, or else screw to the wall outside the shower and drag the hose over into the shower cubicle when we use it.

Consumer unit is RCD protected, was only installed 2 years ago, so that's something. Cable installed at same time so hopefully ok still but no idea about checking as you mentioned - presume sparky could do that part.

No idea re bathroom lights etc either.

Argh why is nothing simple

1984ReturnsForReal_2

louisdog wrote: »

Thanks.

My research has indicated that 6mm is ok for short runs on an 8.5kW shower but I better check that now and may need to replace the cable

I think its all 10mm now

1984ReturnsForReal_2

louisdog wrote: »

Consumer unit is RCD protected, was only installed 2 years ago, so that's something.

The shower has to have its own protector.

louisdog

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

The shower has to have its own protector.

Oh bum Good news though, electrician is coming round Friday to take a look :j

Thanks for your help!

WestonDave

There are 2 questions here - firstly will such a set up meet Part P - answer almost certainly not, but given that half the country has non compliant installs, its hardly evidence of imminent danger. The real question is whether something safe and workable can be set up for a short period of time to get around the building period, and whether an electrician will be willing to instal something which can't be signed off, and thereby risk his reputation if it were ever picked up on an inspection. You need a pragmatic electrician to look at what you have on site and work with you to make something work - you are very unlikely to be able to jump through all the full Part P hoops.