Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 15 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 2402 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Thoughts on EICR code?

alanblaby
I fitted an electric shower for a Social Housing tenant in November.

The CU is in a built in garage, with direct access from the kitchen. The CU is close to the garage ceiling, with the bath floor around 400mm directly above it..

I fed it from the CU, to an isolation switch, in the garage, next to the CU, then out through the outer wall, in plastic conduit, then direct into the back of the shower unit. All sealed/glued, 10mm T+E, so no current carrying capacity problems, all RCD'd etc.


An outside Company has now done an EICR, and flagged up as a C2 that the shower has no local isolation.

I cannot see how it gets any Code at all. We use 2 different makes of shower, I can't remember which one was fitted.

One of the Manufacturers instructions say:

"The shower unit must be permanently connected to the electrical supply, direct from the consumer unit via an electrical isolation switch with a minimum contact gap of 3 mm. The switch must be readily accessible and clearly identifiable and sited out of reach of a person using the shower over a fixed bath or shower tray, unless the switch is pull cord operated"


The other says:

"A separate, permanently connected supply is taken from the consumer unit to the appliance through a double-pole switch. The switch can be a ceiling mounted pullcord type or a wall mounted switch in an adjacent room."


No. 1 is fully compliant I think.

 No.2 (which I don't think I fitted) may be slightly against the Instructions as it says the isolator should be in an adjacent room.


Even so, I cannot see how a C2 has been seen fit to code this.

462.2 is met - Isolation is provided.

510.3 says "shall take account of Manufacturers instructions"


(510.3 used to say 'follow Manufacturers instructions", it changed in the 18th iirc)


Any thoughts on this, and have I missed anything, before I start arguing on Monday?

Thanks

Alan.
  • 0
    It is in garage below, so adjacent.  Isolation is satisfied. I suspect it was not what they expected, so got trigger happy with a C2.

    It is not emergency switching or stopping, it is just a shower.  The fact instructions say it can be ceiling or wall mounted but states, also, that  wall mounted should not be accessible by someone using the shower, indicates this is not something for any type of emergency isolation.  Showering is a solo event, most of the time, so there is not a second person outside the shower watching for something to go wrong and leap into isolating mode.
  • 0
    DZ's little black book is going to become a large black book!


    I trust that the isolator is labelled: 514.1


    C3 if not?
  • 0
    Chris Pearson:

    I trust that the isolator is labelled: 514.1

     




    Yes!

    In a black sharpie, as my label printer has died, and I have no call to replace it nowadays.


  • 0
    alanblaby:
    Chris Pearson:

    I trust that the isolator is labelled: 514.1


    Yes!

    In a black sharpie, as my label printer has died, and I have no call to replace it nowadays.




    I didn't doubt for one minute, but that was the only non-compliance that I could think of. ?


  • 0
    The question is how can it be potentially dangerous the answer is it can’t so how do they reach C2. If anything the isolator is the leak link with electric showers and should only be used for maintenance.
  • 0



    The obvious question is why each manufacturer is suggesting a switch. Is this for isolation, functional switching, mechanical maintenance, emergency switching off or what? And does it matter that standard shower switches have no means of locking off? A similar question could be posed of extractor fan switches placed outside a bathroom.




  • 0
    The regs don't actually require an isolator switch for a shower. Therefore the manufacturers instructions are wrong in requiring one. MIs are guidance only and don't have to be followed, especially when they are wrong.


    The EICR is clearly wrong as well. You can't give a C2 for something that is not required.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    alanblaby:

    I fitted an electric shower for a Social Housing tenant in November.

    The CU is in a built in garage, with direct access from the kitchen. The CU is close to the garage ceiling, with the bath floor around 400mm directly above it..

    I fed it from the CU, to an isolation switch, in the garage, next to the CU, then out through the outer wall, in plastic conduit, then direct into the back of the shower unit. All sealed/glued, 10mm T+E, so no current carrying capacity problems, all RCD'd etc.


    An outside Company has now done an EICR, and flagged up as a C2 that the shower has no local isolation.

    I cannot see how it gets any Code at all. We use 2 different makes of shower, I can't remember which one was fitted.

    One of the Manufacturers instructions say:

    "The shower unit must be permanently connected to the electrical supply, direct from the consumer unit via an electrical isolation switch with a minimum contact gap of 3 mm. The switch must be readily accessible and clearly identifiable and sited out of reach of a person using the shower over a fixed bath or shower tray, unless the switch is pull cord operated"


    The other says:

    "A separate, permanently connected supply is taken from the consumer unit to the appliance through a double-pole switch. The switch can be a ceiling mounted pullcord type or a wall mounted switch in an adjacent room."


    No. 1 is fully compliant I think.

     No.2 (which I don't think I fitted) may be slightly against the Instructions as it says the isolator should be in an adjacent room.


    Even so, I cannot see how a C2 has been seen fit to code this.

    462.2 is met - Isolation is provided.

    510.3 says "shall take account of Manufacturers instructions"


    (510.3 used to say 'follow Manufacturers instructions", it changed in the 18th iirc)


    Any thoughts on this, and have I missed anything, before I start arguing on Monday?

    Thanks

    Alan.


    Hi Alan, don’t waste your time worrying about it, Have you got a complaints procedure in place? Let the complainant do all the legwork ;)

     


  • 0
    I think the answer is in a IET Guidance Note, the answer being you need a cooker switch but not a shower switch 


    It is too late to look tonight.
  • 0
    Sparkingchip:

    I think the answer is in a IET Guidance Note, the answer being you need a cooker switch but not a shower switch 

     


    I presume you mean a 1G 45A switched isolator, if so, that is what has been fitted.

    The more I think about it, the more I'm getting wound up about it.

    The same company recently also did a number of EICRs on an estate I maintain. One had wrong polarity at the shower - when, apparently, it had been tested. Another one hadn't noticed the use of a lighting pendant in the small bathroom, along with an isolator switch for the fan at the side of the bath. To get out of the bath, you banged your head on the lampshade. And it was classed as satisfactory..


Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines