Building Regs: (3 Pin) sockets in Bathrooms?

QTPie

Hi

Wonder if someone can help (and preferably post a link to the current regulations)?

We went to view a couple of new build houses yesterday. I was very shocked to see a 3 pinned (standard) sockets (for hairdryer etc) slap bang in the middle of the wall just above the sinks in all the bathrooms (there were mirrors above the sockets - so we are not talking high up - the sockets were maybe 30mm above the top of the basin).

I haven't looked at building regs for a LONG time (did a degree in Architecture, but never went on to qualify/practice), but this feels very wrong to me. It seems incredibly dangerous, but I am just surprised it is legal (or allowed by building regs).

QT

Gloomendoom

Apparently, yes, as long as they meet certain conditions.

From Wikipedia..

Bathrooms
The installation of electrical devices in bathrooms and shower rooms is regulated in Section 701 of BS 7671:2008, and Part P of the Building Regulations. For such rooms, four special zones are defined,[4] in which additional protection is required for electrical facilities:

Zone 0 is the smallest cuboid volume that contains the bath, shower, basin etc..

Zone 1 is the area above Zone 0, up to a height of 2.25 m above the floor.

Zone 2 is the area above Zone 1 up to a height of 3 m, as well as the area that is horizontally within 0.6 m from Zone 1.

Older regulations defined Zone 3 as the area above Zone 2 up to a height of 3 m, as well as the area that is horizontally within 2.4 m from Zone 2; from BS7671:2008, this is replaced by the term 'outside the zones'. This includes any space under the bath or shower that can only be accessed with a tool.{ref bs7671:2008}

Within Zone 0, no devices are allowed apart from suitable equipment and or insulated pull cords. In Zone 1, only separated extra low voltage (SELV) devices are permitted. Any AC transformer supplying such a device must be located outside Zones 0–2. The minimum required ingress protection rating in Zone 0 is IPX7 and IPX4 in Zone 1 and 2. If water jets are likely to occur, at least IPX5 is required in Zone 1–3. Otherwise, in Zone 3 and beyond, an ingress protection rating of IP20 is the minimum required. Equipment in Zones 1 and 2 must be protected by a 30 mA residual current device (RCD).

Shaving sockets (with isolating transformer) are permitted in Zone 2 if direct spray from a shower is unlikely, even if they are only IP20. Before the 2008 regulations, such shaving sockets were the only sockets permitted in a bathroom or shower room. Since BS7671:2008 normal domestic sockets are permitted, at distances greater than 3m from the edge of the zones, providing the circuit is RCD protected. As the new regulations also require all general purpose sockets not for use by skilled or instructed persons to be RCD protected, this effectively permits normal wiring in the larger bathroom. (Earlier British wiring rules in bathrooms used to be far more restrictive, leading to British peculiarities in bathrooms such as the use of cord switches. The 2001 edition of the Wiring Regulations is more flexible now, placing restrictions on bathroom installations that are now more similar to those in other European countries. )

QTPie

Thank you very much Gloomendoom - very helpful

The regulation looks like it was written in Greek, but it is helpful. Don't like sockets in the bathroom (especially over the middle of a sink), but doesn't look like we will be offering on the houses anyway.

QT

Biggles

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Apparently, yes, as long as they meet certain conditions.

But a mains voltage socket immediately above a washbasin wouldn't meet those conditions, would it?

Justicia

Yes, as far as the literal content of BS 7671:2008 (inc Amendment 1:2011) is concerned, although the quote from Wiki appears to have an error - it's to be at least 3 m horizontally from the boundary of zone 1 (area immediately surrounding bathtub or shower basin), not "the zones."

The designer/installer may decide to specify that they deem it a risk so close to an alternative water outlet, of course, and refuse to personally install.