Is a socket in a cabinet outside the zones in a bathroom?

[South Spark]

Got a customer who's wanting a washing machine and tumble dryer in the bathroom.

Normally the solution is to hard wire into FSUs but he's come up with the solution of kitchen units and a work top with the sockets in the void between the wall and the back of the units.

Could this be argued to be outside the zones?

 

[davesparks]

however, just to counter the argument, what stops someone hosing down the contents of there kitchen with the garden hose that is just outside the kitchen door?

Nothing stops them from doing that, but accidentally dropping the shower head or the shower head falling out of its holder and spraying the room is a more likely accident.

I know I've accidentally sprayed most of the bathroom when washing the dog, and when washing dye out of my hair.

 

[Zerax]

...and when washing dye out of my hair.

What colour do you dye it ??

 

[littlespark]

The regs are very black and white when it comes to bathrooms... or "rooms containing a bath or shower" so if there was an incident after you had fitted a socket in a bathroom even behind an appliance.... your insurance co, or your scheme will not back you up.

Grey area would be a WC. Where ive seen new builds with the consumer unit above the basin. Still loads of water to splash about.

In my own house, I can stand in the shower cubicle, with the shower screen open and the door open, I can touch the lightswitch. Perfectly acceptable regs wise, as its outside the room... but unlikely to happen. not impossible.

 

[pirate]

Yeah, what colour?
and do you diet?
Sorry , it's a bit late, so no offence meant!

On the topic, I think its not compliant, but in Spain it is very common to find a washing machine in the bathroom, pluffeg in to a socket in an area we would define as not allowed...they don't drop dead...
However, the regs there are tightening up, so if you have an electrician in to do work, they will remove the sockets which are beside the whb, fit a blanking plate, and leave the innards for you to refit later.
[automerge]1583446266[/automerge]
With you on that littlespark...new-builds with CU in downstairs WC...I just don't like it, especially where you have to stand on the loo to inspect the CU. Just daft, frankly...but then you all know my views on new builds...

 

[davesparks]

What colour do you dye it ??

Various colours, usually blues and purples but occasionally reds.

 

[Moley]

Various colours, usually blues and purples but occasionally reds.

View attachment 56186

View attachment 56185

What are you doing with your tongue??

 

[davesparks]

What are you doing with your tongue??

Sticking it out, same as I do in most pictures taken of me

 

[westward10]

They say people are like their dogs, what you got a blue and mauve Afghan.

 

[pirate]

That is cool...
just saying!
You'd fit right in on me pirate ship!

 

[Baddegg]

So if he hard wired the appliances in are they any different to a boiler in a bathroom?.....

 

[littlespark]

So if he hard wired the appliances in are they any different to a boiler in a bathroom?.....

Never seen one, @Baddegg , except the picture on this forum somewhere when the boiler was mounted to the wall directly above the bath!
Possibly in the section titled “WTF!”

 

[Baddegg]

Never seen one, @Baddegg , except the picture on this forum somewhere when the boiler was mounted to the wall directly above the bath!
Possibly in the section titled “WTF!”

See em all the time down here @littlespark, the houses are mostly old Victorian and weren’t built with indoor bathrooms so are small additions, quite common to have the boiler in the bathrooms albeit in a cupboard with a door on and fed through a fused spur....

 

[littlespark]

I tell a lie. Seen them in some static caravans, behind a cabinet door, other side of the room to the shower. But still got to clamber over a toilet pan to reach it

 

[Mike Johnson]

I don't know the current (pun alert) zone restrictions in the UK, but in France they are zone 1 immediately above the bath/shower and 2.25m above the bottom of either, zone 2 is 600mm beyond the edge of those anything beyond that is not classed as a zone, sockets, switches and appliances can be in that area, there are some other extensions to the zones for projecting shower heads where the volumes of both zones are extended, but then all circuits in France are protected by RCD's in my own place the bathroom/shower rooms are all protected by individual RCBO's to each appliance, radial and lighting, thought it may be of interest and promote some discussion on the safety of RCD/RCBO's within a potentially wet area.