Consumer unit in a Bathroom!!

[SpannerSpark]

Got called to a house at the weekend to do a like for like change on an outside light. it always seems like a bit of grey area if a MW is required but as i am only qualified recently i always do a MW for the practice. Anyway went into the property and when i asked to see the CU the lady showed me to the bathroom. the CU was in a wooden cupboard in the bathroom a bit above the sink, surely thats not ok. Even if its just from a no IP rating point of view. Although it was an older split load (RCD one side for skts etc and lights on a non- RCD side), the odd thing was that it was put in pretty well, a converted TT to PME, all bonding done etc. What does everyone think?

 

[telectrix]

i would guess that when it was installed, the bathroom wasn't a bathroom at the time. just wonder whatcode to put on a periodic. At least the shower cable run will be a short one

 

[SpannerSpark]

Indeed, I am going to put in on the MW form as a non-conformance and leave it at that.

 

[telectrix]

at least it's in a cupboard.

 

[Des 56]

If its in a cupboard,allthough not ideal,it need have no additional Ip requirements than normal

 

[martysparky]

The inside of a cupboard is outside the zones

 

[Benny2]

shouldnt the feed to the cu should be protected by a 30mA rcd? as the cu will still be live on the incomer after mcbs's/rcd's have tripped.

 

[mogga]

in cuboard is outside zones ( although not to the letter of the regs it isnt "Good practice" )

 

[Benny2]

I know what you mean about being in a cuboard, i know this sounds extremen but isnt that like saying if the consumer unit is in a box or cuboard you would allow this cuboard to be in any of the zones 0,1 or 2 in a bathroom?

 

[solo2771]

i wanna see a picture of this lol

 

[IQ Electrical]

I know what you mean about being in a cuboard, i know this sounds extremen but isnt that like saying if the consumer unit is in a box or cuboard you would allow this cuboard to be in any of the zones 0,1 or 2 in a bathroom?

You can't legislate for every single eventuality, as the competent person, you have to decide if the position constitutes a particular risk (doubtful).

Equipment must be suitable for the environment it is installed in with regard to external influences, if there was evidence of a build up of condensation then I'd be recording a code 2 on a periodic inspection.

 

[Bury electrics]

Yup unfortunately the cupboard is the saver on this one, i have seen it before and in other odd places, but regardless, as a customer would you really want it to stay in the bathroom???? Very odd.
Manchester builders & plumbers

 

[IQ Electrical]

Yup unfortunately the cupboard is the saver on this one, i have seen it before and in other odd places, but regardless, as a customer would you really want it to stay in the bathroom???? Very odd.
Manchester builders & plumbers

Imagine the costs involved in moving it, if the service head is in there then the DNO cost alone would ensure a lengthy stay in that cupboard!

 

[Bury electrics]

Yeah its not the cheapest of moves thats for sure, cost my cust £950 from NEDL but she was adamant it wasnt to stay where it was, had just bought house, bath had been moved etc and it wasnt pretty!

Manchester builders and electricians

 

[electricAl]

You can't legislate for every single eventuality, as the competent person, you have to decide if the position constitutes a particular risk (doubtful).

Equipment must be suitable for the environment it is installed in with regard to external influences, if there was evidence of a build up of condensation then I'd be recording a code 2 on a periodic inspection.

Agreed.
Have seen such arrangements aplenty. Never ideal, but more often than not, there`s no appreciably hightened risk. Do you tell a customer they must have their CU moved, at considerable cost & inconvenience, when its current location may have given trouble free service for decades?
In these situations a balance of regs to risk must be drawn... is the housing likely to be sprayed by water from showers etc? is it suitably protected against the likely ingress at that position? can the door be secured in a closed position (they`re usually hinged from the top)? would access to the CU pose particular risk if power was lost (particularly lighting)?

 

[millwall ken]

Got called to a house at the weekend to do a like for like change on an outside light. it always seems like a bit of grey area if a MW is required but as i am only qualified recently i always do a MW for the practice. Anyway went into the property and when i asked to see the CU the lady showed me to the bathroom. the CU was in a wooden cupboard in the bathroom a bit above the sink, surely thats not ok. Even if its just from a no IP rating point of view. Although it was an older split load (RCD one side for skts etc and lights on a non- RCD side), the odd thing was that it was put in pretty well, a converted TT to PME, all bonding done etc. What does everyone think?

Mate, I'm pretty sure that a contributor to this site had the same problem a few months ago, and asked the same thing. The general consenus was that it would comply with the regs, as it is out of zone. And also reading your post, if things are RCD protected, then, that should be sweet as, as well.