Shower very near fuse board!

[SSE]

Ok here's the scenario. Woman I know has a garage joined on to her house, she's went & put up a partition so that the garage is split in two as one room is now going to be a room used for a dog grooming business. In the room for the dog grooming she has a shower installed on one wall........the same wall as the garage fuse board about 1.5m away! I've tried explaining to her that the mains board will need repositioned into the garage room adjacent to the room where the shower is, she's having none of it though! The fuse board was fitted to the bare block wall but has now been strapped out & sheeted, so it's basically flush with the plasterboard. I've tried explaining to her why it can't stay there. The shower is just on the wall, no shower screen etc & how dangerous it could be washing struggling dogs with the shower head & fuse board basically right beside the shower!! Her latest idea is that she will sheet over the fuse board with ply wood, I've explained how this won't be adequately protected from splashes etc... Can someone please point me in the right direction for where I can show her in the regs book that it can't stay there.

 

[Plonker 3]

Read the regs yourself to find it.


Not that you will.

 

[Octopus]

You can't legislate for the stupid.

 

[uksparks]

Yeah and this is an energy supplier asking for help 'SSE', lol ha ha, I wonder what name British gas go under for their electrical problems.

ill give you a hint, there's s nice diagram in the on site guide.

 

[sparksburnout]

Jesus. I have got 2 questions
1. Who installed the shower?
2. How do you become an electricians forum senior??

 

[SSE]

Read the regs yourself to find it.


Not that you will.

Great advice. I'm actually quite capable of reading the regs myself although I hate browsing it but there's no point in me doing it as you seem to be making up my mind for me! Was just wanting pointed in right direction as I thought someone a bit more familiar with them would save me a bit of time, this person obviously is not you.

Yeah and this is an energy supplier asking for help 'SSE', lol ha ha, I wonder what name British gas go under for their electrical problems.

ill give you a hint, there's s nice diagram in the on site guide.

Yes I'm sure energy suppliers come on here looking for advice ...you mean I'm actually going to have to buy an on-site guide in the morning (damn it!)......in all seriousness thanks I'll buy one in the morning & show her.

Jesus. I have got 2 questions
1. Who installed the shower?
2. How do you become an electricians forum senior??

1. The shower is not installed as such yet, the cable has been run in to position in the garage on the agreement that the fuse board would be moved. She's now saying she wants to save money & not move it, I've told her I won't be connecting the shower at all unless she does..
2. God knows, must depends on number of posts.

 

[Plonker 3]

Great advice. I'm actually quite capable of reading the regs myself although I hate browsing it but there's no point in me doing it as you seem to be making up my mind for me! Was just wanting pointed in right direction as I thought someone a bit more familiar with them would save me a bit of time, this person obviously is not you.



Yes I'm sure energy suppliers come on here looking for advice ...you mean I'm actually going to have to buy an on-site guide in the morning (damn it!)......in all seriousness thanks I'll buy one in the morning & show her.



1. The shower is not installed as such yet, the cable has been run in to position in the garage on the agreement that the fuse board would be moved. She's now saying she wants to save money & not move it, I've told her I won't be connecting the shower at all unless she does..
2. God knows, must depends on number of posts.

Well you are in the wrong job then if you dont like referencing to things

How can you do your job properly without even basic reference material

 

[sparksburnout]

If there is enough slack form it into a noose and give her a bucket to stand on. I'm worried about the poor old pooches myself...

 

[uksparks]

Seriously though, sorry for the short answer, but unless you are a diyer, you really should know this, it's very basic.

 

[Guest55]

if its flush within the garage studded wall then just hang a piece of perspex over it to prevent splashes rather than move the whole CU ??

simple really

 

[Guest55]

oh and explain why the customers suggestion of using plywood wont work ?

 

[Richard Burns]

You have said that the consumer unit is 1.5m away from the shower head, so even if you assumed this was actually classed as a room containing a shower or bath then this location would be outside of the zones as the maximum distance from even a shower head in a wet room is 1.2m for zoning purposes.

This then leaves the situation: is the accessory suitable for the environment? this would depend on the height of the shower head and the likely height of use, the height of the consumer unit and the likelihood of splashes and the danger that may occur in this case.

Try reading section 701 of BS7671.

 

[SSE]

Well you are in the wrong job then if you dont like referencing to things

How can you do your job properly without even basic reference material

I've not had a new on site guide in about 4 years, I'm sure it's been updated by then, never got round to getting one as I normally find all information I need from various books I have in the house. To be honest referencing the on site guide (even if it's old) doesn't bother me, just the regs that does my head in!

If there is enough slack form it into a noose and give her a bucket to stand on. I'm worried about the poor old pooches myself...

I couldn't care about the pooches, I sure ain't a lover of pooches!

Seriously though, sorry for the short answer, but unless you are a diyer, you really should know this, it's very basic.

I know it's not allowed, I know about the different zones & what's permitted in them. What I'm trying to say but which maybe was not worded great was that I need to be able to show her the regulation saying that even with the fuse board covered by wood as she puts it, just ain't allowed. I get the feeling she thinks I'm trying to create more work for myself but I'm not. The worst thing is she tried telling me that her friend u the road who has a shed for dog grooming has a shower beside a consumer unit etc etc, I didn't believe her so she took me up a walk & she was telling me the truth, to make matters worse I know the guy who did it & he has over 30 years of experience & is SELECT registered, madness why he thinks it's ok to do this.

 

[SSE]

if its flush within the garage studded wall then just hang a piece of perspex over it to prevent splashes rather than move the whole CU ??

simple really

It's not flush once the cover is on the board.

oh and explain why the customers suggestion of using plywood wont work ?

It won't keep water & steam out. If the woman has the head of the shower off cleaning a dog, just say dog starts jumping about & struggling, good chance water will get into the board.

You have said that the consumer unit is 1.5m away from the shower head, so even if you assumed this was actually classed as a room containing a shower or bath then this location would be outside of the zones as the maximum distance from even a shower head in a wet room is 1.2m for zoning purposes.

This then leaves the situation: is the accessory suitable for the environment? this would depend on the height of the shower head and the likely height of use, the height of the consumer unit and the likelihood of splashes and the danger that may occur in this case.

Try reading section 701 of BS7671.

Thanks for your reply. I'll have a good read of that section.

 

[Guest55]

are you seriously telling me that a splash proof cover cant be made in a hour with some timber frame and basic diy skills ?

and that moving the whole thing is a more feasible course of action ?

sorry but you havent got a scooby doo pal.