Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: DB above jacuzzi

  1. #1
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12

    DB above jacuzzi

    We have a situation - an indoor jacuzzi has a distribution board above it (see the photo).

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	db above jacuzzi.jpg 
Views:	271 
Size:	40.1 KB 
ID:	7807

    Can the db be there?

    And if it can, what IP rating would be required?

  2. #2
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts
    A friday funny ...let me go get my popcorn.
    Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.

  3. #3
    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East london
    Posts
    1,483
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked 141 Times in 134 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    We have a situation - an indoor jacuzzi has a distribution board above it (see the photo).

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	db above jacuzzi.jpg 
Views:	271 
Size:	40.1 KB 
ID:	7807

    Can the db be there?
    Hi Dave

    Couldn't give a quick answer but after checking the regs and for Ian's entertainment, I found the following.

    Firstly, I think we can agree that the jacuzzi is what is referred to in the regulations as a spa.

    The room that the jacuzzi is situated in, is a bathroom according to the definition.
    Definition 3.6 Bathroom ... a room that contains a bath, shower or spa.

    The regulations for a bathroom thus apply.

    Table 7.1 shows that distribution boards are only allowed outside zone 3.

    The DB board in the photo is in zone 1, so it is illegal and must be moved.


    Cheers and peace out ... Derek


    Added this morning .....

    Reg 7.1.4.3.6

    If a distribution board is installed in a room that contains a fixed bath or shower, it shall be outside zone 3 AND the enclosure shall have a degree of protection of IPX5.
    Last edited by Derlyn; 22-Feb-20 at 06:38 AM.

  4. Thanks given for this post:

    Dave A (23-Feb-20)

  5. #4
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Port Elizabeth
    Posts
    1,236
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked 304 Times in 258 Posts
    Hi

    If I look at the Jacuzzi , there is no water in it - So if there are no pumps connected could it not be regarded as a sunken sitting area , and then there would be no need to do anything.

    The next person that connects pumps then makes it a Jacuzzi and would have to go the whole 9 yards

  6. #5
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by GCE View Post
    If I look at the Jacuzzi , there is no water in it - So if there are no pumps connected could it not be regarded as a sunken sitting area
    No such luck with this one, I'm afraid. It may have been drained on the day, but it is fully functional.

  7. #6
    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East london
    Posts
    1,483
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked 141 Times in 134 Posts
    Hi Dave

    It would be interesting to know what the solution was.

    Had I come across this, I would have quoted to turn the DB around and let it face the room behind it. Plaster closed on the jacuzzi side, unless of course the room on the other side of the wall is the "real" bathroom, then you have a serious situation.

    Cheers and peace out ... Derek

  8. #7
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts
    Common sense would tell me to move the DB regards of the regs.

    In reality the first thing i would do is determine the zone and then look at the relevant specs.

    I have a socket outlet in my bathroom... visitors sometimes ask about it because i am an electrician and they have always been told no 230 VAC socket outlets in the bathroom..it is in the correct zone and suitably protected.
    Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.

  9. #8
    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East london
    Posts
    1,483
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked 141 Times in 134 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ians View Post
    Common sense would tell me to move the DB regards of the regs.

    In reality the first thing i would do is determine the zone and then look at the relevant specs.

    I have a socket outlet in my bathroom... visitors sometimes ask about it because i am an electrician and they have always been told no 230 VAC socket outlets in the bathroom..it is in the correct zone and suitably protected.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	41278786.jpg 
Views:	187 
Size:	22.4 KB 
ID:	7813

    My favourite T shirt.

  10. #9
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by Derlyn View Post
    Had I come across this, I would have quoted to turn the DB around and let it face the room behind it. Plaster closed on the jacuzzi side, unless of course the room on the other side of the wall is the "real" bathroom, then you have a serious situation.
    Our first thought too. As luck would have it, the other side of the wall is a bathroom

    To add to the problem, this jacuzzi is in an open plan space that includes the lounge and kitchen.

    At the end of the day, either the jacuzzi moves or the db moves... We are trying to arrange an onsite meeting with the purchaser to see if we can get agreement on a solution.

  11. #10
    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East london
    Posts
    1,483
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked 141 Times in 134 Posts
    Thanks Dave

    Challenges like this one are interesting and is what keeps me going.

    A couple of thoughts:

    If the DB was turned around facing the bathroom next door, would it still be inside Zone 3 in the bathroom ?
    If outside zone 3, one could turn it around and replace it with an IPX5 DB.

    Interesting is the fact that a room in which there is only a toilet or a toilet and washbasin is not defined as a bathroom.
    A DB would be allowed in such a room.

    Good luck

    Cheers and peace out ... Derek

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •