UK Do Regs allow power socket in an enclosed bathroom vanity unit?

[rocksolid]

Somewhere towards the beginning of the regulations are the requirements to use good workmanship, proper materials, good engineering judgement etc etc.

Basically it boils down to common sense, electricity is dangerous, electricity mixed with water is very dangerous, don't create a situation where they could end up mixed.

Thanks, I think you've helped me solve one mystery. The regs seem to be there, but there is a lot that is open to interpretation, such that one person might find an action to be acceptable, whereas another would find in unacceptable. That would explain why the original socket installer decided a socket in the vanity was ok, while the second electrician did not.

 

[loz2754]

There is some variation in interpretation to be sure. But this where it is vital to try to determine and follow the intent of the regulation(s) in any given situation.
The intent behind not allowing a socket outlet to be closer to the edge of the zone than 2.5m is so that a person who is unclothed and possibly wet cannot plug in an appliance and hold it and use it in the zone, taking into account the length of the appliance cord, due to the greatly increased risk of a fatal shock.
Having a socket in a vanity unit which is less than the required 2.5m from the zone would not follow that intent, as a person could plug in a hand held appliance and use it in the zone. Whereas the use of a connection unit instead of a socket would only allow the one specific item of fixed (not hand held) equipment to be powered.

 

[davesparks]

hired an electrician to do some work and once he saw the plug in the bathroom, he informed me that he would blank it off, because it is "against the regs." I told him that it's not, because it's in a cabinet. He said, that doesn't matter, it's within 3m of the bath and isn't allowed.

The electrician sent me an "unsatisfactory" EICR due to the socket remaining in the bathroom.

What work did you hire the electrician to do?

 

[baldelectrician]

Change the socket to a IP rated switched fused connection unit, job done


You could also padlock it closed as there is a padlock hole in the front

 

[rocksolid]

There is some variation in interpretation to be sure. But this where it is vital to try to determine and follow the intent of the regulation(s) in any given situation.
The intent behind not allowing a socket outlet to be closer to the edge of the zone than 2.5m is so that a person who is unclothed and possibly wet cannot plug in an appliance and hold it and use it in the zone, taking into account the length of the appliance cord, due to the greatly increased risk of a fatal shock.
Having a socket in a vanity unit which is less than the required 2.5m from the zone would not follow that intent, as a person could plug in a hand held appliance and use it in the zone. Whereas the use of a connection unit instead of a socket would only allow the one specific item of fixed (not hand held) equipment to be powered.

Thank you, that's very helpful. I was only looking at the wording of regulations, which, along with what Electrician #1 told me, led me to believe that the socket was ok in the vanity. If the intent is as you say, then I understand how one would conclude that it is not.

 

[rocksolid]

What work did you hire the electrician to do?

On day one, the electricians tested the house wiring and brought new wiring into the kitchen. On day two, they changed the old fusebox for a new RCD protected consumer unit.

 

[rocksolid]

Change the socket to a IP rated switched fused connection unit, job done


You could also padlock it closed as there is a padlock hole in the front

That's an option, thanks.

 

[davesparks]

On day one, the electricians tested the house wiring and brought new wiring into the kitchen. On day two, they changed the old fusebox for a new RCD protected consumer unit.

I was asking what you hired them to do, not what they actually did.

Your post read as thought they were working in your house, saw this socket and then issued an EICR without you having asked for an EICR.

Did you actually hire them to carry out an EICR?

 

[rocksolid]

I was asking what you hired them to do, not what they actually did.

Your post read as thought they were working in your house, saw this socket and then issued an EICR without you having asked for an EICR.

Did you actually hire them to carry out an EICR?

Thanks for the clarification, and what I stated they did, is what we hired them to do. We did not ask them to carry out an EICR. But we did hire them to test the wiring in the house for any issues, as it is an old Victorian house and the wiring was put in long ago. I was not happy that they went through my bathroom cabinets without asking, because I have personal items in there and would have, at the very least, removed them if they needed to check inside.

I'll need to check if it is on the quote he gave us, because we really don't need an EICR anyway.

 

[James]

Thanks for the clarification, and what I stated they did, is what we hired them to do. We did not ask them to carry out an EICR. But we did hire them to test the wiring in the house for any issues, as it is an old Victorian house and the wiring was put in long ago. I was not happy that they went through my bathroom cabinets without asking, because I have personal items in there and would have, at the very least, removed them if they needed to check inside.

I'll need to check if it is on the quote he gave us, because we really don't need an EICR anyway.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
they have provided what you asked for.