Bathroom zoning question

[Pauldicker]

Guys
Quick question regarding moving my bathroom pull cord to a switch.
I was measuring my bathroom zones as per 7671, and I would like to put a light switch 0.73m outside of zone 2, the problem is I could not see anything relating to a light switch in particular only a socket, And pull cord switches.
All the circuits are RCD protected.

 

[Dave OCD]

The regulations stipulate a minimum standard for safety and you can measure and quote zones all day but I will never fit a normal wall switch in a bathroom or shower room, it's just not right!

 

[NDG Elecs]

Get it fitted man! I don't think there is an ongoing plethora of deaths across Europe from bathroom switches in bathrooms. Use a wide rocker switch if you feel the need.

I do have a personal aspect to this in that a fellow spark disconnected a plate switch I installed in a bathroom and fitted a pull, whilst telling the owner it was not allowed. The switch I installed was a good distance away from the bath and in my opinion perfectly safe.

 

[David M]

The regulations stipulate a minimum standard for safety and you can measure and quote zones all day but I will never fit a normal wall switch in a bathroom or shower room, it's just not right!

To be fair, for me it depends on the situation. I have fitted bathrooms where the rooms are as big if not bigger than most folks living rooms. By time they got to the switch they'd be drip dry
Personally I would take the regs as a worst case guide, in that if I felt that a switch could possibly lead to a potential dangerous situation, even though it met with the regs I would still not install it. As an example I was asked to install one which was within the regs requirements, but in my eyes it was just too close to call so I refused to do it. Outside is (in my view) always the preferred option, but not always necessary or practical.

 

[NDG Elecs]

it's just not right!

Yes is it Dave!

 

[Pauldicker]

I

To be fair, for me it depends on the situation. I have fitted bathrooms where the rooms are as big if not bigger than most folks living rooms. By time they got to the switch they'd be drip dry
Personally I would take the regs as a worst case guide, in that if I felt that a switch could possibly lead to a potential dangerous situation, even though it met with the regs I would still not install it. As an example I was asked to install one which was within the regs requirements, but in my eyes it was just too close to call so I refused to do it. Outside is (in my view) always the preferred option, but not always necessary or practical.

Think the difference between inside an outside is not really an argument as if your dripping wet inside you wont suddenly dry when you cross the door frame into the otherside which i might add is probably 3 inches. (No jokes) my thing is i hate the pull cord and was just querying the specifics of the regs in relation to the switch and suitable distance.

 

[Pauldicker]

To be fair, for me it depends on the situation. I have fitted bathrooms where the rooms are as big if not bigger than most folks living rooms. By time they got to the switch they'd be drip dry
Personally I would take the regs as a worst case guide, in that if I felt that a switch could possibly lead to a potential dangerous situation, even though it met with the regs I would still not install it. As an example I was asked to install one which was within the regs requirements, but in my eyes it was just too close to call so I refused to do it. Outside is (in my view) always the preferred option, but not always necessary or practical.

I did consider an occupancy sensor. But the amount of time im up in the night it would be annoying

 

[westward10]

So the reason for a plate switch is because you hate pull switches.

 

[Midwest]

You could say exactly the same about any accessory above counter in a kitchen or in a downstairs WC with a basin.

I have this horrible image, of a bloke at the kitchen sink, completely starker's stood in a pool of water, doing the washing up

 

[Midwest]

I've seen hundreds of bathrooms & ensuites with a wall plate switch. They've all been placed outside the room, I wonder why? Unless you have a bathroom the size of Donald Trump's, I'd follow tradition and make those 'cheeky girls' behave themselves.

 

[Pat H]

You could say exactly the same about any accessory above counter in a kitchen or in a downstairs WC with a basin.

But isn't the point that its only a bathroom you are likely to be wet from head to foot with bare feet greatly increasing your conductivity. WCs and kitchens you may have wet hands but likely to have footware on.

 

[Andy78]

But isn't the point that its only a bathroom you are likely to be wet from head to foot with bare feet greatly increasing your conductivity. WCs and kitchens you may have wet hands but likely to have footware on.

I was addressing the question of the likely external influence, not the likely dress state of the user.

 

[Andy78]

I've seen hundreds of bathrooms & ensuites with a wall plate switch. They've all been placed outside the room, I wonder why? Unless you have a bathroom the size of Donald Trump's, I'd follow tradition and make those 'cheeky girls' behave themselves.

Like you say, tradition is mainly why plate switches are avoided. I'm not saying pull cords are not safer, they obviously are, just that plate switches are not necessarily unsafe. Placing a wall switch outside a bathroom is no guarantee that it is not going to be operated by someone wet and naked.

 

[Midwest]

Like you say, tradition is mainly why plate switches are avoided. I'm not saying pull cords are not safer, they obviously are, just that plate switches are not necessarily unsafe. Placing a wall switch outside a bathroom is no guarantee that it is not going to be operated by someone wet and naked.

But they've have to leave that special location to operate that switch. Realistically speaking, with a switch outside, if a person needs a light on when using the bathroom, they will turn it on before entering the bathroom and turn it off when leaving. Invariably on both occasions, bone dry and not stood naked in a pool of water.

 

[Andy78]

But they've have to leave that special location to operate that switch. Realistically speaking, with a switch outside, if a person needs a light on when using the bathroom, they will turn it on before entering the bathroom and turn it off when leaving. Invariably on both occasions, bone dry and not stood naked in a pool of water.

Like I said, you can't say that invariably someone will be dry when operating a wall switch outside a bathroom. There are variables. Like someone leaving the bathroom before drying.
It certainly limits the chances but does not exclude it.

The OP's concerns are about whether a wall switch outside the zones in a bathroom is against the regs and/or unsafe.
The correct answer to that must be that it is allowed and it is not inherently unsafe. It could be safer of course through the use of pull switches or wall switches outside the bathroom, but the choice is down to the installer as to what the likely external influences are and whether the products used are appropriate.

 

[Wilko]

Not only bathrooms ... I have been concerned seeing small W/C with hand wash sink and light switch right beside where folks may be using it repeatedly and the water path through the switch building up. And plenty still without RCD.