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Bathroom Boiler Question

jason1234

Ok, so… I am hoping someone can help, I have googled to the end of days and receive conflicting feedback

 

In my bathroom I have spun the bath 45 degrees which means the end of the bath is now facing the airing cupboard door, this cupboard houses the combi boiler.  The door now opens over the back of the bath but is only accessed for maintenance, you can still get good access to the boiled despite this layout.

After making this change I realised that this means the front of the boiler front is now 35mm from the back edge of the bath, the switches etc are on the back wall to the side of the boiler which is c700mm from the edge of the bath and protected by RCD downstairs… In the regs (BS7671) the boiler is now in Zone 2, the regs state that any electrical item in zone 2 must be IPX4 rated, which is ok as my Boiler is rated to this level.  However the regs also state that the boiler switches and controls must not be reachable from within the bath… I think this is where my issue lies.

My plan is to make the airing cupboard lockable, with a key (twisty security key that can be removed from the room), I believe this makes the cupboard exempt from the zoning issues I am concerned about, but I am not quite sure… whilst it will be a nightmare to move the bath somewhere else (plastering and plumbing are complete), I want to avoid nasty surprises like someone coming in later and stating that the layout of the bath and boiler breach regs, subsequently I would then need to remodel my already new bathroom.

Any thoughts / guidance on this would be greatly appreciated

  • 0

    Your solution of locking the door preventing access to the boiler and switches seems to be a sensible solution. Is the door solid or is louvred.

    701.32.1 applies. Doors etc. limit the extend of locations and zones.

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to Zoomup

    hi there, thanks for your quick response, i haven't installed the door as yet (i ripped the old door out as was old), my plan would be solid as its a big cupboard so plenty of air space for the boiler.  Do you think this satisfies the regs if its locked with a solid door?

  • 0 in reply to jason1234

    Yes I do think that a locked solid door complies. Effectively you have created a separate room. You may wish to consult a Gas safe engineer regarding overheating and necessary ventilation of the airing cupboard..

    Z.

  • 0 in reply to Zoomup

    thanks Z, appreciated

  • 0

    Do chat with a tame gas fitter, but boilers in cupboards in bathrooms are certainly not unknown.  Wiring wise ideally not  a 13A socket but fixed wiring is certainly OK. Depending on the boiler model  there will be some need both for ventilation and at the same time to discourage damp air from corroding it. Where are the other walls for this cupboard going - no chance to have a vent out to the landing or wherever instead of the door ?

    Mike.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    Hi Mike

    see attached sketch, hopefully makes sense... its not to scale :-)PDF

  • 0

    701.32.1 applies. Doors etc. limit the extend of locations and zones.

    Agreed - so any door will do as far as BS 7671 is concerned as long as it effectively limits the extent of the location - it doesn't necessarily have to be locked. The main door to the bathroom itself wouldn't be locked to prevent people reaching a socket on the landing and there's a long history of plate switches for immersion heaters in airing cupboards that would be in easy reach of someone using the bath if the cupboard door were open.

       - Andy.

  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    Thanks Andy, appreciate your comments! 

  • 0

    Assuming the boiler is at high level (higher than the bath), the door swings over the bath to the external wall and the casing can be removed with the door open. This means that a gas "engineer" would have to stand in the bath (at the sloping end) or on the bath edges to service the boiler, not ideal really.

    The compartment ventilation requirements will be specified in the Manufacturer's instructions. Hopefully you have a copy, else they usually can be downloaded via the manufacturer's site. Some modern boilers don't need any ventilation.

  • 0 in reply to OlympusMons

    Hi O

    The boiler is hung at upper body level, whilst it looks like you need to stand in the bath, it is more than viable to stand at the edge of the bath and reach the boiler without too much bother.  however you make a good point, my plan (my wife’s plan) was for me to fill the void between the end of the bath and the cupboard with some sort of pull out draw and tile the top, I could leave the void allowing full access to the boiler from the front… thanks for your response!

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