Company Head and CU in a wetroom

scribblesvurt · Mar 19, 2012

Hello,

We are buying a house and there has been a WC and shower wetroom created under the stairs, We found that the Consumer unit and main board are in a small floor level wooden cabinet in the same wetroom?!? This has to be against regs? What would be best? Have the whole feed and CU moved or would it be possible to seal it in a waterproof cabinet?

Any advice?

Thanks.

QSGAZ · Mar 19, 2012

When you say wooden cabinet is it screwed shut and only access is by using some tools or has it got a door on the cabinet?

Paul.M · Mar 19, 2012

It's not against any regs if the c/u is in cupboard although it would be better if it was protected against steam (if its floor level it should be ok).

You could go to the extent of moving it but I would first get a professional opinion of a local registered electrician to look at any potential dangers, or post up a picture on here.

scribblesvurt · Mar 19, 2012

The cabinet has a wooden clip shut door. My concern is steam and also if the room floods it would quickly reach the level of the cabinet and CU.

Paul.M · Mar 19, 2012

Is it possible to post up a picture? Sounds like you need a sparky to look at this.

QSGAZ · Mar 19, 2012

You need to make this cu zone 0 by ceiling up the cabinet properly, change the door for just a plain piece of wood the seal it up with a waterproof sealant no steam or water should get in there then.

scribblesvurt · Mar 19, 2012

But what about access to the Meter and CU? I cant just seal it over. Had a sparky look at it and he said he wouldn't be insured to work on it. Ill try and get a pic.

Silly Sausage · Mar 19, 2012

I would say it would all need enclosing in an IP54 rated...enclosure.

Even then, when accessing the CU etc., you would be doing so in a potentially wet environment.
Also you wouldn't want it locked, eg Firemen would need access in the event of a fire to kill the supply. I can vouch for that one from personal experience!

I'd ask for a significant amount knocking off the house price to have it relocated.

Paul.M · Mar 19, 2012

scribblesvurt said:
My concern is steam and also if the room floods it would quickly reach the level of the cabinet and CU.

That don't sound good. Going by what you've described I would opt for relocating it to a more suitable position.

mogga · Mar 19, 2012

post where in the country you are possibly a someone close could give you a better opinion on this
If you dont get any work done get the motherinlaw to test it out bu telling her to take a shower lol

Engineer54 · Mar 19, 2012

Get an estimate (or 3) for the cost of relocating the DNO supply and CU to a suitable position outside of this wet room and insist on a reduction of the asking price to cover the costs of this work!! I can tell you now it's not going to be a quick or cheap job!!

Makes you wonder at the lack commonsense of the homeowner, even thinking of a wet room in this position with the main electrical supply almost sat on the floor, let alone actually doing it!!!

Mark_Burgess · Mar 19, 2012

Is that the only shower in the house?
Could you change the bathroom to incorporate a shower? That would be cheaper than arranging your supplier to move the Service head and consumer unit!

Paul.M · Mar 19, 2012

Engineer54 said:
Makes you wonder at the lack commonsense of the homeowner, even thinking of a wet room in this position with the main electrical supply almost sat on the floor, let alone actually doing it!!!

Sounds like the incomer was there before the shower room, now let's have a game of occupational cludo.

Erm I think it was the plumber in the bathroom with the monkey rench that killed professor Plum.

I love to see a cert for the new shower and any comments made about the location of the c/u. What do you mean the bathroom fitter didn't give you one?