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Discuss Additional electrical socket for boiler in loft in the Central Heating Forum area at PlumbersForums.net

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Can anyone tell me if its actually a reg or just good practice that a switched socket outlet (as well as a switched spur) MUST be fitted next to boilers in lofts so when service engineer visits there is somewhere to plug in equipment should he need it ?

I have always done it but wasnt sure if it was actually a regulation
 
Just good practice as far as I know
Regulations cover ladder, lighting and boarding
 
No requirement in regs for a socket.
I wouldn't put one in, apart from my core drill and breaker everything I have is lithium powered!
 
Not sure there are any actual gas regulations that for boilers in loft, although I'm happy to be proven wrong.
As far as I know it is just general health and safety for a permanent ladder, correct lighting, boarding and a rail around the hatch. Most manufacturers will require this for warranty to be honoured.
Electrical isolation on a fuse spur is appropriate for any location. However it is a nice addition if there is a socket as well.
I can't see any reason for additional gas and electric isolation on the landing. Only one thing I often consider is a filling loop and pressure gauge in the airing cupboard or such like for easy top ups.
 

Regulations​

BPEC CEN1 Guidance regarding roof installation of a gas boiler is:

  • Flooring provided to the boiler for service access
  • The boiler has to be mounted on a wall capable of withstanding weight.
  • Loft to be accessible with retractable ladder
  • Must have fixed lighting in place
  • The roof space exit must be protected with a guard rail
  • Gas, water, and electrical isolation points should be provided outside of the roof space so the boiler
    can be isolated without gaining access to roof space.
 
According to BS 6798:2014
Guard rail is essentially a reccomendation in commentary under reg 7.3.8.1c
I don't read it as a requirement!
Isolation points has been grabbed from somewhere else (or made up by author) and as far as I can tell is not in the regs altho you would have ECV, stoptap and consumer unit outside the loft by default?
 
IIRC in the electrical regs you just need double pole isolation, so a plug or DP fused spur will suffice

as for being able to isolate the boiler without going in the loft is a new one on me.
 

Regulations​

BPEC CEN1 Guidance regarding roof installation of a gas boiler is:

  • Flooring provided to the boiler for service access
  • The boiler has to be mounted on a wall capable of withstanding weight.
  • Loft to be accessible with retractable ladder
  • Must have fixed lighting in place
  • The roof space exit must be protected with a guard rail
  • Gas, water, and electrical isolation points should be provided outside of the roof space so the boiler
    can be isolated without gaining

Regulations​

BPEC CEN1 Guidance regarding roof installation of a gas boiler is:

  • Flooring provided to the boiler for service access
  • The boiler has to be mounted on a wall capable of withstanding weight.
  • Loft to be accessible with retractable ladder
  • Must have fixed lighting in place
  • The roof space exit must be protected with a guard rail
  • Gas, water, and electrical isolation points should be provided outside of the roof space so the boiler
    can be isolated without gaining access to roof space.
Thanks for posting that, I wasn't aware of the requirement for additional isolation, but the rest I guess is common sense. I have also seen drain points added into the condensate pipework which is a nice touch if you have to drain the boiler.
 

Regulations​

BPEC CEN1 Guidance regarding roof installation of a gas boiler is:

  • Flooring provided to the boiler for service access
  • The boiler has to be mounted on a wall capable of withstanding weight.
  • Loft to be accessible with retractable ladder
  • Must have fixed lighting in place
  • The roof space exit must be protected with a guard rail
  • Gas, water, and electrical isolation points should be provided outside of the roof space so the boiler
    can be isolated without gaining access to roof space.

when they say “guidance” is this a must have and if so who’s responsibility is it to check this is in place?

as a spark I’ve not come across this requirement before but will now bear it in mind as I don’t think it’s mentioned in our regs

that said the muppets are creating a web of cross references which makes this stuff quite difficult to keep up with
 
It’s one of this practical things fused spur next to the boiler is more than good enough

guess you could class the mcb/rcbo as an isolation point if there fussy

as for a socket it’s a handy thing to have and if designing a new install would recommend one there as it wouldn’t cost much to do it at the time or have the boiler on it’s own circuit rated for a socket then spur off the socket wtc
 

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