Fan isolator switch inside bathroom

[robg97]

Hi,

When I moved into my house a few years ago, I replaced an old extractor fan with the one pictured without changing any existing wiring.

The fan has a humdistat which is overly sensitive even at the lowest setting (comes on in the night) so we ideally want to replace it with a timed fan connected to the light switch.



Photo shows the situation in the bathroom.

The fan is wired straight to a junction box in the loft, no switched live.
The switched live from the light switch (middle) does not enter the junction box, it goes straight to the first spotlight.
The other pull cord switch (right) is empty and is not a 3-pole switch. It previously had two lives wired to it that were disconnected at the other end, so I removed them.

My question is: can I wire a 3-pole isolator switch or 3-pole pull cord with a surface mount backbox in place of the existing empty pull cord, in order to then wire a timed fan into the light switch?

I've looked online at the regs and can't find anything definitive. I understand that standard practice is to fit the isolator outside the bathroom above the door. But it'd be a pain to do so, as you'd have to move the wiring so it came down from the loft to above the bathroom door and then cut into the wall to put the switch in. It's a not a new house (1920s) and the walls just crumble even when you drill a small hole so want to avoid this if I can. Also, I believe light switches are meant to be outside the room and this one is within zone 2. The empty pull cord is outside of zones 0,1,2.

I'm not worried about doing the actual wiring, as I know what needs to be done there. But I'll need an EICR eventually so want to make sure everything in the bathroom will be okay so the house can pass that.

Not an electrician so would appreciate any qualified opinions!

 

[EFLImpudence]

My question is: can I wire a 3-pole isolator switch or 3-pole pull cord with a surface mount backbox in place of the existing empty pull cord, in order to then wire a timed fan into the light switch?

I suppose you can if you want to.
The isolator is not a requirement under the regulations; just a personal choice and some will say because the manufacturer shows one in the diagrams you must have one but you don't.

I've looked online at the regs and can't find anything definitive. I understand that standard practice is to fit the isolator outside the bathroom above the door. But it'd be a pain to do so, as you'd have to move the wiring so it came down from the loft to above the bathroom door and then cut into the wall to put the switch in. It's a not a new house (1920s) and the walls just crumble even when you drill a small hole so want to avoid this if I can. Also, I believe light switches are meant to be outside the room and this one is within zone 2. The empty pull cord is outside of zones 0,1,2.

Yes, light switches are not allowed in the zones; outside the zones is fine.

I'm not worried about doing the actual wiring, as I know what needs to be done there. But I'll need an EICR eventually so want to make sure everything in the bathroom will be okay so the house can pass that.

Why will you need one? Are you going to let the property?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Also, I believe light switches are meant to be outside the room and this one is within zone 2.

Which one is that?

 

[robg97]

I thought isolators were a requirement - was only intending to fit one for that reason!

In a few years I plan to move out but keep the property to rent out, so that's why I'll need an EICR in the future. Any issues with not having an isolator then?

The light switch is the one in the middle, is it outside zone 2 because it's on the ceiling?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I thought isolators were a requirement - was only intending to fit one for that reason!

Nope.

In a few years I plan to move out but keep the property to rent out, so that's why I'll need an EICR in the future. Any issues with not having an isolator then?

Depends if the inspector knows what he is doing.
Lots of problems with rented sector reports since they were introduced.

The light switch is the one in the middle, is it outside zone 2 because it's on the ceiling?

If the ceiling is more than 2.25m from the floor level then outside zones.

 

[robg97]

Brilliant thanks for the help!

 

[Murdochcat]

Depends if the inspector knows what he is doing.
Lots of problems with rented sector reports since they were introduced.

There were problems with EICRs long before the requirements for them in the rental market.

And a lot of the problems are the lack of clarity in the legislation and the ambiguity in BS 7671