Boiler in bathroom

[0Floz0]

Hi everyone,

We have a combi boiler in the loft conversion. We are going to put an en suite in there (no idea why previous owners didn’t). I was doing some reading and somewhere said it’d need to be rcd protected? Is that right?

It’ll be about 50cm away from an enclosed shower and about 80cm away from a sink (it’s in the corner of the room). Is there anything stopping me from doing this?

I’m going to put a cupboard round the boiler, mostly for aesthetic. From reading I need a 50mm gap all round?

I did try and find the answers in the wiki and other posts but some seem quite old so wary there may be changes in regs.

Thanks all

 

[Baths'N'Gas]

Boiler needs to be in a cupboard, with the required clearances, according to your boiler.

 

[0Floz0]

Boiler needs to be in a cupboard, with the required clearances, according to your boiler.

Thanks for the quick response. Any ideas on the rcd requirement? Reading conflicting info on it so would be good to get an opinion.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Have you checked the installation manual for your boiler?

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Thanks for the quick response. Any ideas on the rcd requirement? Reading conflicting info on it so would be good to get an opinion.

How is it currently wired and will this change?

 

[muggles]

Partly depends on the boiler. Without knowing the make & model it's hard to give accurate guidance

 

[Madrab]

As far as I am aware, any electrical device operating within any of the zones in a bathroom needs to be covered by an RCD. If it's in its own cupboard then that may change that requirement but I'd always err on the side of caution. Shouldn't be difficult to tie an RCD onto the spur feeding the FCU from the CU?

May be an question for the electrical forum?

 

[0Floz0]

Have you checked the installation manual for your boiler?

It’s about 10 years old I think. I don’t have one but will look online to see if I can find a copy.

How is it currently wired and will this change?

It’s wired into a fused connection unit. Not looking to change this if it can be helped but I may need to shift the socket slightly closer to the boiler as it’d be outside the cupboard in its current place.

Partly depends on the boiler. Without knowing the make & model it's hard to give accurate guidance

It’s a Vaillant ecotec plus 831

As far as I am aware, any electrical device operating within any of the zones in a bathroom needs to be covered by an RCD. If it's in its own cupboard then that may change that requirement but I'd always err on the side of caution. Shouldn't be difficult to tie an RCD onto the spur feeding the FCU from the CU?

May be a question for the electrical forum?

Fair point. I was hoping the cupboard would negate the issue as it’s safe from splashing. I’m not sure which spurs it’s on. But I could just get a socket with rcd built in instead couldn’t I? Rather than tracing it back to the CU as I can’t touch that myself?

 

[oldbutnotdead]

First thing, have a look at your consumer unit(s) (take a pic and share it here if you don't know what you're looking for).
Second, if you are creating an ensuite presumably there will be new cabling for lights etc?- any NEW cabling, lights, sockets must be RCD protected now.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Slightly conflicting information from the 2006 EcoTEC manual to the approx 2012 manual - the latter stating refer to BS7671 electrical wiring regulations.

 

[0Floz0]

First thing, have a look at your consumer unit(s) (take a pic and share it here if you don't know what you're looking for).
Second, if you are creating an ensuite presumably there will be new cabling for lights etc?- any NEW cabling, lights, sockets must be RCD protected now.

Thanks
Picture attached.

 

[Londoner2]

I had a new boiler installed in a shower room, it was about 2m away from shower and 1m away form sink basin, still passed regs.

 

[Madrab]

I had a new boiler installed in a shower room, it was about 2m away from shower and 1m away form sink basin, still passed regs.

Recently I presume? Is the circuit covered by an RCD, if it isn't, then I may be wrong but I don't believe it should have.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Thanks
Picture attached. View attachment 303601

It looks as if all your circuits apart from EV are RCD protected. No need to worry..

And a cupboard within the bathroom would be considered out of zone.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Recently I presume? Is the circuit covered by an RCD, if it isn't, then I may be wrong but I don't believe it should have.

Think the 'new cabling etc must be RCD protected' change was about 18 months ago. There are requirements for earth bonding in bathrooms where supplies are not RCD protected which can get complex.