Electricial Req

Minimum Requirements for Outdoor

Installation of Spa’s and Hot Tubs

1.      The supply must be protected by a Residual Current Device rated at not more than 30mA (milli amps).

2.      The supply must be protected by circuit breaker to B.S. 60898 type B of 16A, 20A or 32A (depending on the power rating of the spa) or a Circuit Breaker of B.S. 3871 type 1 rated at 16A, 20A or 32A (again depending on the rating of the spa).

3.      If the consumer unit is of the clip-in-breaker type i.e. B.S. 60898 but has a Double pole isolator instead of an R.C.D or only the Isolator side of an split supply unit has a spare way, then protection may be by an R.C.B.O (residual current breaker with overload protection) rated at not more than 30mA. And of the necessary current rating. I.e. 16A, 20A or 32A. If the consumer unit is of the replaceable fuse wire type or cartridge fuse type, then a separate single way R.C.D protected consumer unit with a single circuit breaker must be fitted and the electricity supply company contacted to connect this to the meter.

4.      Unless cables are installed in a buried duct or conduit, which must provide mechanical protection from damage, a buried cable must have an earthed armour or sheath. Buried cables must be identified by cable covers or marking tape. Buried cables or ducts or conduits must be buried at a sufficient depth to avoid future damage or disturbance by any digging. (Buried at a greater depth than the length of the blade on the spade).

5.      Cables that are to be fixed to a wall instead of underground must have the clips at a spacing of 350mm horizontal, and 450mm vertical.

6.      Steel wire armoured cables must have 3 cores (the armour must also be connected to earth but MUST NOT BE USED AS THE SOLE MEANS OF EARTHING.) The conductor size must not be less than 4mm² but ideally 6mm². The conductors must be correctly identified and colour coded and suitable glands and earth tags fitted to both ends.

7.      A double pole isolator may be installed between the consumer unit and the spa but it must be of the correct I.P. rating for the environment in which it is to be installed (a minimum of I.P X5 for use outdoors), and must be capable of switching the full load current.