Bathroom refit, do I need a RCD?

[timhoward]

And a difficult question to answer, but I won’t hold you to it, if nothing changes, is the Flat likely to fail a EICR on the Consumer Units alone I.e. age and lack of ECB, assuming everything else in the flat is ok?

Do you know if there is supplementary bonding in the bathroom? If there isn't it would be much easier to change the CU than to add it.
Assuming it does have the supplementary bonding, and noting it is a a top floor so no sockets are likely to be used outside, it wouldn't have automatic C2's fail for lack of RCD protection according to BPG4. This assumes the installation tests as fault-free in every other regard.

No one should be entertaining a rental property without RCD protection these days though, it's just common sense that you want tenants to have a level of safety that is now commonplace among dwellings.

 

[DPG]

Hi DPG,
Not at the moment but I may do in the future.

I'd be very wary of renting it out with no RCD protection anywhere.

 

[Johnstar]

Hi Tim, thanks for your answer.
I accept that RCDs should be fitted for rentals and that is something to consider.
Re the sup. bonding. The pipes are all plastic (save the toilet) so there is nothing to bond. There is a bit more detail on that in my first post.
So given the plastic pipes and if the Flat passes all tests, there is no obvious reason why the current CUs should cause a fail assuming they are in good order?
How would a tester go about checking the plastic pipes?

 

[Johnstar]

I'd be very wary of renting it out with no RCD protection anywhere.

Yes, understood. I have been told I need an EICR by the management company. I’m starting to think that they have this wrong as I’m the owner and it’s not going to be rented in the near future anyway.
As it’s just me, I’m happy without any RCDs especially due to the cost ( I’m guessing hundreds of £s) but I’m worried that when I get it inspected it will fail. Now I’m questioning if I need to get it inspected at all?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Another thought.

In a building such as yours, each flat is its own fire compartment. This means that surfaces like ceilings are specified and installed as fire barriers.
Turning a fire barrier into something resembling swiss cheese to fit a few downlights need special consideration.

You must, must fit fire-rated downlights so that, should a fire start in your fire-compartment, that it cannot spread quickly, through your downlight holes and into the roof of the building.

 

[Johnstar]

Another thought.

In a building such as yours, each flat is its own fire compartment. This means that surfaces like ceilings are specified and installed as fire barriers.
Turning a fire barrier into something resembling swiss cheese to fit a few downlights need special consideration.

You must, must fit fire-rated downlights so that, should a fire start in your fire-compartment, that it cannot spread quickly, through your downlight holes and into the roof of the building.

A good thought, the downlights I was thinking of are 60 minutes rated (which exceeds that of the current single layer of 12mm plasterboard) IP65 rated and Insulation Contact rated. The loft space is compartmentalised from the other flats. It is a 2 story building with 6 flats.

 

[Taylortwocities]

A good thought, the downlights I was thinking of are 60 minutes rated (which exceeds that of the current single layer of 12mm plasterboard) IP65 rated and Insulation Contact rated. The loft space is compartmentalised from the other flats. It is a 2 story building with 6 flats.

A single layer of standard Gypsum plasterboard has no specific fire-resistance.
Your ceiling is probably one of the Fireline products - these are 15mm and covered with pink, not brown paper.

 

[Johnstar]

A single layer of standard Gypsum plasterboard has no specific fire-resistance.
Your ceiling is probably one of the Fireline products - these are 15mm and covered with pink, not brown paper.

I hope you’re right. It looks like standard board though and I’ve been around a lot of plaster board. Anyway, I probably won’t fit downlights now. Can’t afford for it to fail the EICR tests at the moment.

 

[Johnstar]

Do you know if there is supplementary bonding in the bathroom? If there isn't it would be much easier to change the CU than to add it.
Assuming it does have the supplementary bonding, and noting it is a a top floor so no sockets are likely to be used outside, it wouldn't have automatic C2's fail for lack of RCD protection according to BPG4. This assumes the installation tests as fault-free in every other regard.

No one should be entertaining a rental property without RCD protection these days though, it's just common sense that you want tenants to have a level of safety that is now commonplace among dwellings.

Hi again Tim, when I get it tested, how does the tester assess the supplementary bonding? If it is by inspection should I remove the bath panel so that they can see the pipes?

 

[Johnstar]

Yes, understood. I have been told I need an EICR by the management company. I’m starting to think that they have this wrong as I’m the owner and it’s not going to be rented in the near future anyway.
As it’s just me, I’m happy without any RCDs especially due to the cost ( I’m guessing hundreds of £s) but I’m worried that when I get it inspected it will fail. Now I’m questioning if I need to get it inspected at all?

So I have now read that a domestic dwelling should have a EICR every 10 years and if rented every 5 years