Spur under bath allowed?

[MrLights]

Acceptable but, shouldn't really be done. Common sense innit?

 

[Midwest]

Acceptable but, shouldn't really be done. Common sense innit?

Definition of 'common sense'?

 

[uhoh]

Went to a job today and there was a salamander shower pump plugged into a single socket under the bath,running the bath ,the shower the basin the kitchen sink and comes on even if the bog being flushed ..trouble is it is intermittently not switching itself off when the water is not running .seems to be getting worse (I am surprised it lasted this long)..not an easy job to change the pump but thats another story.I may just run away from this one!
Question is ...is a socket allowed under a bath or not,it is behind a panel held on with silicone ..I read somewhere that if a tool is needed to remove the panel then its outside the zones so allowed but can some kindly soul show me where in the regs book it actually says this as I want to read it with my own eyes.

 

[Des 56]

701.32.3

 

[Richard Burns]

Went to a job today and there was a salamander shower pump plugged into a single socket under the bath,running the bath ,the shower the basin the kitchen sink and comes on even if the bog being flushed ..trouble is it is intermittently not switching itself off when the water is not running .seems to be getting worse (I am surprised it lasted this long)..not an easy job to change the pump but thats another story.I may just run away from this one!
Question is ...is a socket allowed under a bath or not,it is behind a panel held on with silicone ..I read somewhere that if a tool is needed to remove the panel then its outside the zones so allowed but can some kindly soul show me where in the regs book it actually says this as I want to read it with my own eyes.

701.32.3 if accessible only with use of a tool outside of zones.
However 701.512.3 states that 230V socket outlets are only permitted a distance of >=3m horizontally from the boundary of zone 1.
Therefore even if it is outside the zones a socket outlet is probably still not permitted as it is (possibly) within the bathroom and closer than 3m to the edge of zone 1.

 

[uhoh]

Thanks guys , I know that it is not quite right but feel that it is open to interpretation if one reg contradicts another, from a legal standpoint if somebody for whatever reason was to get injured as a result of this socket would the duty holder be able to hold the electrician responsible for the accident and also would the electrician have a defence in quoting the reg 701.32.3
I am still not sure whether it is allowed by the regs or not

 

[Richard Burns]

I would say that a socket under a bath where the area is only accessible by the use of a tool would not be allowed as sockets are not allowed within 3m of zone 1.
If there were a fused spur, switch or such like that is not a socket and the area under the bath is only accessible by the use of a tool then this would be allowed.
If the area under the bath is accessible without tools then the rules for zone 1 apply and only 25Vac or less SELV circuits and the specific items listed in 701.55 are permitted.

 

[Octopus]

I would say that a socket or spur concealed behind a bath panel which is ONLY accessible by use of tools is OK.......

That said such a position shouldn't use a socket or fused spur as its inaccessible... so that is more of an issue.

If you were doing an EICR you wouldn't know it there unless there is a big label to say where it is.

 

[uhoh]

I am just going to stop thinking about it .. thanks guys

 

[Deleted member 26818]

An FCU (switched or unswitchd) is allowed under a bath or shower, if that space is only accessible by use of a tool.
I would agree that a socket would not be allowed, as it is within 3m of the edge of zone 1.
However some at the IET disagree, in particular Richard Townsend who is a senior engineer in the Standards and Compliance department.

 

[Subby]

For the person with the shower pump switching on intermittently, check none of the outlets (taps etc) are dripping. And the shower pump should be sited in the airing cupboard at the Base of the cylinder. Check the pumpwise website if you are unsure on how to CORRECTLY fit a shower pump. 9/10 faulty shower pumps I attend have been fitted incorrectly.

 

[Upton Sparks]

Either way the customer should get themselves an Electrician out to check it over.
well done Plumber!

• 
  Informative x 2
• 
  Like x 1
• 
  Bad Spelling x 1
• List

Upton Sparks, May 15, 2017ReportBookmark
#4− QuoteReplyQuote in Conversatio



Well Thanks You, Billsays from Essex.... it only took you 5 months to notice the spelling. .....A bit slow at reading are we ?