Advice re downstairs toilet installation

tranmererovers

My mother in law got someone in to fit a downstairs loo unbeknownst to us. She then rang yesterday to ask hubby if he knew anyone who could box in wires.  Hubby went round to see what they had done and if he could do the job for her and he just doesn’t feel it’s safe with the water pipe running alongside the mains electric? I’ll attach a couple of pics so you can see what I mean - He appears to have run a water pipe from the kitchen alongside the electrics (as shown) for a water supply for the toilet

He has fitted a loo (not the one she wanted as that hadn't arrived but he fitted a temp one and is due to come back and fit one with a sink in the cistern) and has apparently connected the loo to the main drain (but she is very nervous now that he has done that properly)

 All the electric boxes and incoming supply are in there (incoming supply in white box at the side of the loo) .  When he left she noticed that there was an electrical cable running behind the loo which then went out into the hall to a socket - she called an electrician and got him to remove that.
Now I have always been brought up that electric and water don't mix.  y

So I have 2 questions please -  is (as this guy has indicated) this a safe installation if we box in the wires / electric boxes 

Secondly, what would you say is a rough price to pay for installation of a downstairs loo in an understairs cupboard
Thanks

Doozergirl

I'm not sure on specific regs as I'm neither electrician nor plumber,  but there are no joins in that pipework near the electric and the electric cables are insulated, so it doesn't look like an immediate risk from an electricity/water perspective -but where was anyone expecting the water pipes to go in that layout?   There's windows, doorways and obstacles everywhere so the route is limited.  

It's certainly ugly, but it's the low position of the consumer unit that bothers me.  

I do know that the consumer unit down by the floor is not in a position that is compliant to current regulations which say switches at a height of 1350-1450mm.  That certainly wasn't always the case, but one that low with exposed wires all over a room just seems more at risk of getting kicked/knocked etc.  

 A WC isn't compliant without a sink AND and and an extractor fan, so an electrician should have been involved from the outset.  

What did the electrician say if she's already had one out? 

TELLIT01

What was plugged in to the socket in the hall.  I'm assuming it's something to do with the new installation, but I would expect any electrical equipment to be terminated in a fused spur in the toil, not to a socket outside the room.

tranmererovers

Thanks for the reply.  She got the electrician out on an emergency call out specifically to remove the wire that went behind the toilet to the socket in the hall. I don't think he looked at the rest in any detail and just said it should be boxed in. He didn't mention the consumer unit!!

tranmererovers

TELLIT01 said:

What was plugged in to the socket in the hall.  I'm assuming it's something to do with the new installation, but I would expect any electrical equipment to be terminated in a fused spur in the toil, not to a socket outside the room.

There was a wire from the fuse box (?) that ran behind the toilet and out into the hall as a 13amp plug socket.  The electrician has removed that plug socket and also the wire that was running behind the toilet powering it

FaceHead

Agree that it doesn't immediately appear unsafe or non-compliant, as there is no bath or shower in the room. Where is the sink going to go? Hopefully not right above the consumer unit! Assuming that windows opens outside, then I don't think an extractor fan is required. 

I'd suggest boxing in the wires/pipes and also putting a panel across the area with the CU/electricity meter in it.  This will make things look a bit more tidy, and help protect the CU from any minor splatter from people washing their hands. 

FreeBear

Doozergirl said: It's certainly ugly, but it's the low position of the consumer unit that bothers me. 

Also not sure that mounting the CU on the backing board that holds the meter is "allowed" either - I had a HETAS plate screwed to my backing board, and got reprimanded when the meter was changed. Apparently, the electricity board (DNO) own the backing board.

tranmererovers

FaceHead said:

Agree that it doesn't immediately appear unsafe or non-compliant, as there is no bath or shower in the room. Where is the sink going to go? Hopefully not right above the consumer unit! Assuming that windows opens outside, then I don't think an extractor fan is required. 

I'd suggest boxing in the wires/pipes and also putting a panel across the area with the CU/electricity meter in it.  This will make things look a bit more tidy, and help protect the CU from any minor splatter from people washing their hands. 

Thanks for your reply.  Much appreciated.  The sink is supposed to be going in as part of the new toilet - it's a toilet with a cistern built in to the sink apparently.

getmore4less

tranmererovers said:
....

He has fitted a loo (not the one she wanted as that hadn't arrived but he fitted a temp one and is due to come back and fit one with a sink in the cistern) and has apparently connected the loo to the main drain (but she is very nervous now that he has done that properly).....

probably something like (but with only one water pipe in the pics is their a hot and cold supply?

tranmererovers

getmore4less said:

tranmererovers said:
....

He has fitted a loo (not the one she wanted as that hadn't arrived but he fitted a temp one and is due to come back and fit one with a sink in the cistern) and has apparently connected the loo to the main drain (but she is very nervous now that he has done that properly).....

probably something like (but with only one water pipe in the pics is their a hot and cold supply?

yes something like this I believe - no idea re hot water pipe though??