Hand Driers

depends on the wiring available and the power of the drier.  Make sure that it can be isolated locally for maintenance/cleaning. I'd expect a local fused spur or isolator, perhaps a few feet above, for access by the cleaner or maintenance staff  but not too tempting for fiddly fingers.

It needs to be in a place where it will not get that wet, and where dripping hands going to it will not spoil the wall or floor finish.

The circuit that supplies it will need RCD protection.

Mike.

Not aware of any specific restrictions on hand dryers.

The general regulations about proper materials and workmanship apply.

Local isolation for safe maintenance, probably via a switched fused connection unit.

mapj1: 

..

 where dripping hands going to it will not spoil the wall or floor finish.

..

Mike.

Just to emphasize this, i have seen radiators installed below hand driers and they have gone brown with rust. Might have to give some thought about these areas depending on amount of expected use.

Thanks for that.  Any experience with specific makes?  Are Dyson worth the price tag?

personally i am not keen on the dyson blade types. Too powerful, water goes evrywhere, and easy to accidentally touch the sides while drying, also not easy to access for short people, because of top entry

i like the ones with a swivel so you can dry your face, Madonna in “Susan” film :)

Also like UV light ones, though not sure how effective they might be

Desperately Seeking Susan is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman, starring Rosanna Arquette and Madonna.

For the actual wiring I would like to drop in conduit from the ring main in the attic above 

There appear to be two options

Unfused spur from the ring to a fused switch above the drier; final foot in flex.

Fused spur from the ring to an unfused switch above the drier; final in flex.

The second looks safer but I understand that the first is acceptable.

(I an asking these questions here rather than at my local electricians because I am self isolating and can't get to him)

Indeed either is OK - but is the Ring RCD protected, and how heavily loaded is it already ? 

If you suffer from vandals then switched spur near the ceiling and last 4 feet in flex in mini trunking may be another option.

And a bit of sense regarding loading and diversity - are folk likely to be queuing up to dry hands non-stop like motorway services (when a dedicated circuit may be better), or is it more like a 5 min burst twice an hour where in terms of loading on the ring it is not much worse than a kettle or the cleaner's vaccum.

Mike.

The loft is a sun-main protected by an RCD The ring supplies a couple of 250w black heaters and we occasionally use a vacuum cleaner.

The maximum building occupancy is about a dozen but usually half that.  And vandals are not allowed to work for the charity

As an aside…. all the hand-driers at work have been disabled for “COVID related reasons” (fear of the water droplets being turned into an aerosol mist & passing on a infection).

What is the learned Forums view on this objection to hand driers? Possible fact or COVID myth?