Should a bathroom extractor have an isolator?

Owain_Moneysaver

The fan must have an all-pole isolator.

If the isolator is not under the control of someone working on the fan, it must be lockable-off. (Most MCBs don't meet the all-poles requirement, so the main switch on the consumer unit must be used.)

If the bathroom doesn't have natural light then isolating at the MCB or main switch woudln't be acceptable under good practice as it would also isolate the light in the room, making maintenance of the fan awkward.

YorkshireBoy

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

The fan must have an all-pole isolator.

If the isolator is not under the control of someone working on the fan, it must be lockable-off. (Most MCBs don't meet the all-poles requirement, so the main switch on the consumer unit must be used.)

But, as I said earlier, if the supply forms part of a TN system then the neutral may be presumed to be "reliably" connected to earth, meaning isolation via (single pole) MCB is allowable.

Unless I mis-read that as well?

Hintza

We have just completed a self build and the sparky came back and fitted two isolator switches outside our bathrooms for the fan.

He was going for some super duper accreditation though and wanted to use our house as one of the houses he was to be tested on.

I am still unsure wether it was as you suggst best practice or required. Felt a bit like overkill to me.

Didn't cost me any extra though.

pinkteapot

Mankysteve wrote: »

A Humidstat is the cure to your problem.

Thanks, but we don't have a problem because we have separate switches for the lights and extractor fans.

*debbie*

Thanks for all your feedback and help folks. Just to update you, the boss's electrician came in and had a minor fit at the work done and spent the day re-doing loads of stuff. He added an isolator and life is now all quiet on the toilet front!