Consumer unit in bathroom

[mainline]

In some older houses you have the airing cupboard in the bathroom with all the immersion switches and pumps and sometimes the heating JBs all slung in there etc

Being in a cupboard arguably takes it out of the zone in the same way a FCU being under a bath does, and in the same way an airing cupboard/partition door does.

 

[Aaron b]

I was asked to fit a socket under the bath for a shower pump last week, I agreed to put a RCD spur in the hall with a flex from it and wiska box under the bath. It would have been unnecessary risk to have it under there.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Being in a cupboard arguably takes it out of the zone in the same way a FCU being under a bath does, and in the same way an airing cupboard/partition door does.

The only problem I see with the cupboard door argument is say the home owner is in the bath/shower the lights trip , they lean over and reach to the consumer unit and get a 240v belt while resetting the breaker Would a the cupboad door argument hold up in court

 

[mainline]

I was asked to fit a socket under the bath for a shower pump last week, I agreed to put a RCD spur in the hall with a flex from it and wiska box under the bath. It would have been unnecessary risk to have it under there.

If it wasn't acceptable, we probably wouldn't have whirlpool baths.

 

[Aaron b]

The without a tool argument is pants too. Who would pop off the bath panel to plug in there hair toaster even if it didn't need a tool. And what if I leave my tools in the bathroom...

 

[mainline]

The only problem I see with the cupboard door argument is say the home owner is in the bath/shower the lights trip , they lean over and reach to the consumer unit and get a 240v belt while resetting the breaker Would a the cupboad door argument hold up in court

Unlikely to happen thought isn't it, probably more chance of slipping in the bath in the dark.

 

[Aaron b]

A lock on the door would solve the accessable without a tool issue and I doubt it is going to get wet. It is poor whatever way you look at it.

It could be relocated to the ceiling .

 

[davesparks]

My thoughts on the matter are that the CU and twin socket (and probably that light fitting) have no business being in a bathroom.

If I was doing the EICR I would find one or more things wrong with that which attract a C2 code.

 

[timhoward]

A lock on the door would solve the accessable without a tool issue

I'm happy to be corrected, but what "accessible without a tool issue"? Completely from memory I thought that pertained to enclosures/junction boxes and I'm not picking up the relevance to this situation.

Regarding relocating it, I'd have thought the first question is whether it's currently on an external wall. If not the room behind the wall is the obvious choice.

 

[Aaron b]

I'm happy to be corrected, but what "accessible without a tool issue"? Completely from memory I thought that pertained to enclosures/junction boxes and I'm not picking up the relevance to this situation.

Regarding relocating it, I'd have thought the first question is whether it's currently on an external wall. If not the room behind the wall is the obvious choice.

Your right the without tool thing was referring to bath panels not cupboards. I still feel limiting access could make this a C3 instead of 2.