Mains Electric Shower Query

coL

I was of the understanding that as per the building regulations all cold water supplies besides the kitchen sink had to be from a cold water storage cistern. Based on this I thought that all electric showers would have to be supplied from a cistern.

I am thinking about replacing my electric shower and see that there are 'mains fed' electric showers. I was just wondering how these comply with the building regulations?

I'm assuming that the electric shower we currently have is fed from the cistern but is there any way to tell at a glance if its a mains fed shower besides looking at the make and model. Its a Mira Jump which from the look of it can be either mains or gravity fed!!

The only thing I can think of is to turn off the mains and see if that stops the flow to the shower but that seems extreme (would I damage the motor doing that?), is there an easier way?

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058211231/mains-electric-shower-query

They don't comply with building regs. The only way we would install a mains fed shower from scratch would be to take the water from the cold water tank & have a pump between the tank & the shower. This would be mostly in apartments.

The Mira Jump is a mains fed shower. They have never had a gravity?tank fed version of this shower. The only tank fed electric shower Mira have ever done is the Mira Elite Range. Triton's mains fed range are the Triton T900/T90 showers. No one else makes tank fed electric showers

coL

Thanks for the prompt response.

Don’t know why I thought it could be fed by both!! Can see now that it’s a mains fed shower 🙈

During my searches on here I thought I saw posts referring to mains fed showers being installed by people. Will all of those have required pumps to be fitted as well to be compliant (I’m assuming from your post that a pump installed in combination with a mains fed unit is compliant with the regs)

It looks like I have a mains fed shower installed. I need to check now if it’s fed from the mains or the cistern.

Sleeper12

Not meeting the regs wouldn't bother me as such. If I installed a mains fed shower to the mains it would work perfectly on installation. The problem is that Irish water may reduce the pressure in six months or 5 years. The shower will no longer function correctly and it would be my fault. I just wouldn't put myself in that position. My reputation is more important to me and I wouldn't want to let the client down even in 5 years time.

Mains fed Electric showers can function perfectly for years or even decades connected to the mains. They can also go hot and cold or only put out warm water when demand for mains water drops off at night. I've seen some people only being able to get warm water from midnight to 6am. The regs are there to prevent clients from having difficulty with their showers further down the road. No one will go to jail and it won't prevent you selling your home. It's just not good practice.

coL

I suppose I’m just curious how something that doesn’t comply with the regs can be such a popular option??

We are supplied by a well, would that make any difference?

I’m still trying to get my head around how this shower can be mains fed as it’s one of two downstairs electric showers at one end of the house and I’m pretty certain that the other one is fed from the cistern!!

John.G

How many washing machines & dish washers are NOT mains fed.

cnocbui

If you are after a decent showering experience, such as can be had in more advanced countries, ditch the whole electric shower thing and install a pump between the tank and the cold distribution manifold and between the hot water tank outlet and the HW dist. manifold, then all showers, baths and taps in the house will have advanced country like water pressure.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966266#Comment_117966266

My dishwasher and washing machine are from the mains. The regs themselves don't bother me. I just couldn't sleep at night installing a shower on mains not knowing if it will function properly over the coming weeks or years.

dathi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117966266#Comment_117966266

building reg only came into force in1992 so any house built before this date could have its showers or washing machines plumbed to mains

and then there is the get out of jail clause

Existing Buildings In the case of material alterations or changes of use of existing buildings, the adoption without modification of the guidance in this document may not, in all circumstances, be appropriate. In particular, the adherence to guidance, including codes, standards or technical specifications, intended for application to new work may be unduly restrictive or impracticable.