Our strata gave us permission to install an exhaust fan with 4x 250W heating bulbs into our bathroom. We are on the top floor and the roof cavity above us is the ceiling for the building. There are no firewalls in the ceiling.
I've been told by a friend who's a licensed electrician that these items can be a big fire hazard, as if something catches fire in the bathroom and the fan is on, the fire will be sucked straight into the roof cavity.
What are the chances of this happening? I can't imagine there's much in the bathroom that could catch fire.
Best Answer
I would worry more about the heating bulbs starting a fire themselves.
Secondly I would worry about mold, if your not exhausting your warm moist bathroom air properly.
I'm not sure about an exhaust fan sucking fire into the roof cavity, I guess it could happen. I would think the fire would have to be fairly large for this to happen, in which case the fan is probably the least of your concerns.