Washing Machine in downstairs WC - not possible?

novicerenovator

Hi folks,

We are doing some internal renovations which include building a small downstairs WC.

We were hoping to include a washing machine in the space but the builder has just said:

"I have just spoken to the electrician concerning the washing machine as the regs are always being updated. I don’t think we can accommodate it in the cloakroom as appliances now have to be at least 3m away from a sink or shower."

In that case, would washing machines not have to be 3m away from kitchen sinks? It doesn't seem to make sense but I wondered if anyone here had some tips or guidance for us.

Thanks in advance :beer:

neilmcl

novicerenovator wrote: »

Hi folks,

We are doing some internal renovations which include building a small downstairs WC.

We were hoping to include a washing machine in the space but the builder has just said:

"I have just spoken to the electrician concerning the washing machine as the regs are always being updated. I don’t think we can accommodate it in the cloakroom as appliances now have to be at least 3m away from a sink or shower."

In that case, would washing machines not have to be 3m away from kitchen sinks? It doesn't seem to make sense but I wondered if anyone here had some tips or guidance for us.

Thanks in advance :beer:

That's because the regulations apply to bathrooms not kitchens. A socket in a bathroom must be at least 3 mtrs away from the edge of the bath/sink/shower tray.

novicerenovator

Thanks Neil.

So in that case, it would be ok in a downstairs toilet?

Many thanks,

[Deleted User]

As neilmcl says, the regs are for bathrooms, or more precisely:

Section 701: Locations containing a bath or shower.

Although I thought that it was less than 3m? Zone one is 1.2m, zone two is 0.6m after that? Outside zone two, no special requirements apply?

neilmcl

Deleted_User wrote: »

As neilmcl says, the regs are for bathrooms, or more precisely:

Section 701: Locations containing a bath or shower.

Although I thought that it was less than 3m? Zone one is 1.2m, zone two is 0.6m after that? Outside zone two, no special requirements apply?

I think it's 3m from the boundary of zone 1, ie, the edge of the bath/shower tray.

neilmcl

novicerenovator wrote: »

Thanks Neil.

So in that case, it would be ok in a downstairs toilet?

Many thanks,

Possibly, not sure.

EssexExile

Don't regulations allow it as long as it's hard wired & the switch is outside?

novicerenovator

That would seem sensible! I've asked to speak to someone in our local building regs department to try and find out.

aliby21

I did something like this by getting the builder to make a cupboard in the bathroom to put the washing machine in, so in effect it was in a separate (washing machine sized) room. This was so I could have a shower though, I thought when I was only going to have loo and basin I could have got away with hard wiring the washing machine in with a switch outside the room.

Ectophile

If it was 3m from any sink, then my kitchen would have no sockets in it at all!


The rule applies to baths, showers, hot tubs, swimming pools and the like, where people are soaking in water.


There is no hard rule for sinks, but a minimum of 30cm is considered good practice.