Bathroom Fan

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MR. S

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Talking with other electricians, they are telling me they have to have the fan come on with the light in a residential bathroom with no windows, per order the local inspector. I'm thinking this is a building code, looked in the International Residential Code coulden't find anything. Did anybody ever here of this, or know where to find it?
 
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I think that every municipality that I have been in requires the fan to come on with the lights when there is no operable window.
You will probably find that it is a state building code issue.
 
LawnGuyLandSparky said:
Am I the only one who thinks these basic, builder-grade fart fans are totally useless anyway?
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Not really, they are only rated for about 65 sq. ft. anyway. If you invest a few dollars you can get one that's quiet and will move some air.

As far as having the fan come on with the light I would think that is a local code. We are required to have a fan but it can be switched seperate. Some bathrooms have a half dozen different light switches and some of the lights may be on dimmers. I guess it would make sense if the fan came on with the shower light. I like to switch seperately because some people don't want the fan on all the time and there is no reason for it. The exhaust fan is to remove moisture from the shower to prevent mold and the paint peeling (it's not a fart fan for unwanted odors ).
 
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MR. S said:
Talking with other electricians, they are telling me they have to have the fan come on with the light in a residential bathroom with no windows, per order the local inspector. I'm thinking this is a building code, looked in the International Residential Code coulden't find anything. Did anybody ever here of this, or know where to find it?
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Unless it is a local code as the others stated, I doubt that you will find a code that requires the bathroom fan to come on with the light. This would be a design issue that the building codes should not address.

I personally hate putting the bath fan on with the lights. I would rather have an separate switch that allows me to choose when to use the fan.

Chris
 
What we have done in two of our baths that already had fans, as well as the other two in which we added fans, is to replace/install spring-wound-type timer switches in place of switches, so the fan can be left on without being left on indefinitely.

We have also done this for many customers, and they invariably are overjoyed with the convenience and the knowledge that the fans will be used, for both odors and humidity, and function as intended past the time the light is on.

You can also get a single switch which energizes both the light and fan instantly, but when turned off, the light extinguishes immediatley, but the fan stays on for an adjustable delay time.

This is the type we use, an Intermatic 60-minute:

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rcarroll said:
Neither the building code nor mechanical code require that the fan be switched with the light. If it is a local gig, I say ask for it in writing.
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I agree. Sounds like a like a local thing or a mistake by the inspector.
 
iwire said:
My thought exactly :grin: and they meet minimum requirements.

They sound really good mounted to a steel stud framed ceiling.:rolleyes:
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They make enough noise to mask the sounds from the bathroom occupants. Ihave had customers want the noiser fans when the bathrooms were located to close to the common areas.
 
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