Light Switch in Wet Room

[daver]

Completed a job about a month ago on a small extension. They created a downstairs toilet and shower which is L shaped. On the architects plans it showed a 700sq shower tray and enclosure.

So to describe it, you open the door and I have put light switch just inside. 3M and it turns and 3m further is the shower cubicle. So we are well out of the zones. No problem as I thought

What happened after I completed, was they changed the shower tray and decided to tile the floor and make it a wet room.

Its on its own RCD protected circuit and the switch, although within the room is some 6m from the shower.

Do I need to change this switch as this room has now changed to a wet room or are the zones still applicable. Just with the last line of reg below about conditions likely to be encountered.

Your help would be appreciated.

Regards


Dave

The general requirements in Parts 1 to 6 of the Regulations are applicable
outside of the zones including Regulation 512.2.1, which requires equipment to
be of a design appropriate to the situation in which it is to be used or its mode
of installation must take account of the conditions likely to be encountered.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I would replace it with a suitably IP rated switch irrespective of the zones. A standard switch is highly likely to suffer corrosion if it is used in a wet room. Better still can you do away with the switch altogether and fit an occupancy detector on the ceiling. I used to do this in shower and bathrooms in HMO's.

Cheers............Howard

 

[DNS1]

Personally I'd always go with a pull cord or IP rated switch in a bath/shower/wet room...

Always been confused by the 3 metre rule in these rooms.

If a person gets out of the shower and goes to leave the room, they're probably still going to have wet hands whether they have to walk 1, 2, 3 or umpteen metres before they get to the switch!

 

[AndyL]

with no shower tray zone 1 is measured from the water outlet, 1.2m I believe without looking.
The 3m measurement is for socket outlets in a room containing bath/shower, measured from the boundary of zone 1. As for the switch think I agree with DNS1 pull cord or IP rated

 

[topquark]

It's now a WET room, you should treat the whole floor area as a "shower tray" for zone purposes; anyone in the room could be stood in water now. I'd vote for Howards' occupancy switch (with an isolator outside the room), or you could replace the switch with a pull cord.

 

[AndyL]

Reg 701.32.3 Describes zone 1 as 1.2m from water outlet if shower does not include a basin, this would include a wet room I believe

There is no zone 2 in this case

 

[DB9]

I'd check out the shower tray - is it really a truely defined "wet room" or a bathroom with tiled floor ?

To be a "wet room " i think the shower tray has to be totally sunk a lot are referred to as "Wet Rooms" but aren't really - either way in an area like this i'd fit a ceiling switch ....... initially less chasing out, making good ,cable etc and of course safer !

If you've fed down and got acess above easy to change but not your fault and a chargeable job

 

[daver]

Thanks everyone. I would tend to agree with everyones points. Just to clarify, its actually 6m from shower, as the room is L shaped.

Problem being now, Its all tiled. Pig of a job as the doorway is under stairs and runs under theses into shower area which takes up a chunk of the garage. sloped ceiling so no space for pull cord.

Think my only option is light switch occupancy sensor and set it to a suitable time for showering, unless someone can point me in the direction of an ip rated switch that will look nice in there modern toilet.

Thanks Everyone. Appreciated.

Dave

 

[AndyL]

It does not matter what floor you have, 6m away is well out of the zone, you could have a socket outlet there if wanted

 

[JUD]

It may be out of the zones but it still needs to be suitable for its environment.

From the External Influences tables it would come under AD2 - Location in which water vapour occasionally condenses as drops or where steam may occasionally be present.

This states that accessories and equipment should be IPX1 or IPX2

 

[AndyL]

It may be out of the zones but it still needs to be suitable for its environment.

From the External Influences tables it would come under AD2 - Location in which water vapour occasionally condenses as drops or where steam may occasionally be present.

This states that accessories and equipment should be IPX1 or IPX2

Agreed

 

[shocking_eg]

you can get detectors that fit onto a normal 1g light switch - just replace the switch for one of these, i think MK even do an IP rated version

 

[Guitarist]

It may be out of the zones but it still needs to be suitable for its environment.

From the External Influences tables it would come under AD2 - Location in which water vapour occasionally condenses as drops or where steam may occasionally be present.

This states that accessories and equipment should be IPX1 or IPX2

If there is extraction in the room and it is 6M around the corner then the area around the switch may be totally dry all the time.
Your options are-
1) Run the shower for several minutes and see how far the steam spreads. If it's ok then leave alone.
2) Fit a surface mounted IP switch over the existing backbox for peace of mind. Charge them as the original spec has changed.

 

[topquark]

If it's a true "wet room" and the room drain becomes blocked, the floor could be covered with water, with the inherent hazard that may create. Wet rooms won't normally have a separate shower tray as such, but beyond the regs, please consider why the regs for shower trays (and baths) exist.

 

[Guitarist]

If it's a true "wet room" and the room drain becomes blocked, the floor could be covered with water, with the inherent hazard that may create. Wet rooms won't normally have a separate shower tray as such, but beyond the regs, please consider why the regs for shower trays (and baths) exist.

Assuming that the room is fully RCD protected, then you will be safe.
Taking your example further, the drain becomes blocked, the water leaks under the door and as you walk out of the wet room in bare feet over the wet carpet, you switch on the hall light and....

Follow the regs and employ a little common sense on top. Only the person who sees the situation can really make the decision ultimately. That's why we are qualified professionals