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Electrical Wiring

Need GFCI protected branch circuit for fan installed above tub?

17 years ago

Yesterday, an electrician finished installing a panasonic exhaust fan FV-08VQ3. He put it above the tub near the shower head. Today, I read the fan installation instruction. In general safety information section, It says that "this unit is approved for use over a bathtub or shower when installed in a GFCI protected branch circuit."

I bought the GFCI outlet on the wall, but the fan is connected to a timer switch and is not GFCI circuit protected. I asked the electrician, he told me it's OK.

So do I need to have the fan installed in a GFCI protected branch circuit? Where will such a circuit be usually placed?

Thank you very much.

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Comments (5)

normel
17 years ago
The instructions should be followed and the unit placed on a GFCI circuit. You could wire the timer from the load side of the GFCI receptacle or if the vent is on a separate circuit, replace the breaker with a GFCI breaker. How you do it depends on your particular setup.
janesylvia
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you very much for your very helpful repsonses. I know nothing about electric wiring. But the electrician I hired did not put the fan on GFCI circuit.

The vent is not on a separate circuit. The circuit on the main panel controls two bedroom's lights, and two bathrooms.

The Leviton 6260M timer switch which controls the fan is 20A. The GFCI outlet is 15A. Can the timer still be wired from the load side of the GFCI receptacle?

What might be the risk if the fan is directly wired and not on a GFCI circuit?
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Thank you very much for your help. Yes, you are right. It does sound like that he wired the fan to the master bedroom circuit and now moved the whole mess to the load side of GFI. I don't think he'll come back and redo the work. I waited him for more than 15 days before he came back and wired the fan switch to the load side of GFI. His expression told me he was very unhappy to come back and do the work. Although I paid him $1000 just for the labor of installing one fan and replacing another fan, material fees are separate. And no drywall repairment at all. I'll spend another $1400 for repairment of the drywall cut by the HVAC contractor for the fan installation and replacement. The circuit on the main panel that controls master bathroom also controls master bedroom, hallway, hallway bathroom, and another bedroom. So I think instead of putting a GFCI breaker on the main panel, it's better to wire the fan switch to the load side of GFI. But I did not expect it also affects the electricity in the master bedroom. I may have another electrician to fix it in the future after the drywall is repaired. Is it a big electric job? Thank you veru much for your recommendation of a good book. I'll buy and read it.
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pjb999
17 years ago
The timer switch is just RATED to 20amps, I doubt very much the fan draws that much, in fact your load always needs to be well below the rating of all the associated items like switches etc - so in essence, it's probably fine to be wired from the GFCI if it's possible.

Most codes require GFCIs on the outlets in bathrooms and I thought some did lights, too.

The risk is the proximity to moisture - say a kid directed water upwards that hit the fan - or if you have a hand held shower head, you accidentally spray it, or the shower head splits, etc.

A GFCI breaker on the switchboard's the easiest way to fix it, and you'll have the benefit of additional safety on the rest of the circuit. Well worth it, I say.

In Australia, all new homes or major electrical work, requires the installation of a whole-house safety switch or GFCI, it's not a breaker as such so it can interrupt the active to any circuit in the house if it detects a leak to earth, ironically, in your case, they don't usually require (and it's not usually done) protection of the lighting circuits.

Put another way, you won't be risking your life or others' lives by putting a switch in, but you might save one, down the line.
petey_racer
17 years ago
I am surprised a real electrician did not know this already.
For years most fan manufacturers have had in their instructions that when installed over a shower or tub they must be GFI protected.

It is NOT an NEC requirement for this GFI protection. It IS however an NEC requirement that we follow manufacturer's instructions.

So, fan over tub? GFI protect it. Period.
janesylvia
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you so much for both responses. Since the circuit that the vent is on controls two bathrooms and two bedrooms and hall way. So it might be better not to put the GFCI breaker on the main circuit panel. Otherwise, in case there is any break, many places would be dark.

I called the electrician again. I requested that he could wire the fan timer switch from the load side of the GFCI outlet. He said he would come and take a look some day after Christmas.

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