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

[rocksolid]

I have a socket in by bathroom vanity unit, .75m away from the edge of the bath. The vanity is completely enclosed with a sink on top and doors that, when open, are parallel to the length of the bath.

I 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.

Is the socket allowed in there? Isn't the interior of the vanity unit a separate "location" according to the regs?

What are my options regarding the unsatisfactory EICR?

 

[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.

 

[nicebutdim]

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

And if the inspection is only for the homeowner's peace of mind, it's entirely up to them what actions they take about recommendations made in the report. I'd expected this to be a prospective rental property.

 

[rocksolid]

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

Yes, I figured the EICR was to document the results of the testing. But it seems that a landlord needs an EICR and a house seller might want one, but neither of those situations apply to us at the moment.

 

[rocksolid]

And if the inspection is only for the homeowner's peace of mind, it's entirely up to them what actions they take about recommendations made in the report. I'd expected this to be a prospective rental property.

Right, which is why I was very surprised about how insistent he was about the socket being blanked off. Each time I told him that he was not to do any work in there, he pushed harder for me to allow him to do it. This has been a learning experience, to say the least.

 

[nicebutdim]

Right, which is why I was very surprised about how insistent he was about the socket being blanked off. Each time I told him that he was not to do any work in there, he pushed harder for me to allow him to do it. This has been a learning experience, to say the least.

While I would recommend replacing it with a fused spur - into which nothing could be plugged - it's your decision as the homeowner. Your electrician can make recommendations, but can not force you to act upon them.

Edit: While I'm surprised that an electrician would think to check for accessories behind a bathroom cabinet, I would guess that they noticed the toilet seat and searched for its point of isolation.