Washing machine and Tumble dryer in shower room - issue with electrical install

[timhoward]

Am wondering if i can get the council to stick an electrical check onto the final building control sign off

Ultimately the onus is on you to hold an electrical installation certificate. If the PM engaged the electrician then this task would normally be considered delegated (if they are good at their job). If no mention of one has been made so far then I would raise it with either the PM or the electrician very soon.

Until you are sure you are getting one I wouldn't make a rod for your own back by bringing up the electrics with building control. Even though I agree with the sentiment, and in an ideal world it should work that way, the reality is that they won't be doing an electrical check for free, if at all. But they might suddenly want to see an EIC if you suggest it's substandard.

 

[SJD]

Most building control depts don't have much electrical knowledge, and likely would not be in a position to do any inspecting (or testing) of the electrics - other than subcontract it out, and send you the invoice. As above, I'd be wary of making them think they need to.

 

[timhoward]

Here is my rudimentary plan. It's actually 2.6 x 1.4

80x80 shower tucked into corner - corner opening so to allow for proper clearance from toilet. Pocket door entry to save space

Dryer and washing machine in back left corner, existing socket marked by X. The letters looking like Y, N and T are to denote switches on the wall for bathroom lighting, bathroom extractor, and an MK Sentry consumer unit (for the garage circuitry i guess).

Note, the other side of the wall on which the socket is, is earmarked for a wallbed, which will take up 95% of the width of that wall in case that impacts any solutions.

X is outside zone 2 and fine for an FCU. The appliances themselves look to be outside zone 2 as well.

I'm I'm reading it right, the light switch and the fan isolator will be in zone 2, and switchgear is not permitted in zone 2.
A consumer unit in zone 2 is a no-no.

 

[littlespark]

As is the confusion with the regs sometimes, if the shower wasn’t there, there wouldn’t be a problem. Even with the toilet and basin there.

 

[vards9]

Ultimately the onus is on you to hold an electrical installation certificate. If the PM engaged the electrician then this task would normally be considered delegated (if they are good at their job). If no mention of one has been made so far then I would raise it with either the PM or the electrician very soon.

Until you are sure you are getting one I wouldn't make a rod for your own back by bringing up the electrics with building control. Even though I agree with the sentiment, and in an ideal world it should work that way, the reality is that they won't be doing an electrical check for free, if at all. But they might suddenly want to see an EIC if you suggest it's substandard.

Thanks tim.

I'm just wondering what my "outs" are here.

I tell the PM i'd like an EIC certificate once completed. This then presumably a) focuses their mind to get it sorted properly, b) they can't/won't, ergo it becomes apparent the electrician doesn't hold the requisite qualifications to do it? or c) they provide a certificate without the work actually adhering to regs.

I suppose in the case of b) or c) i'm not actually sure where that then leaves me. I'm just at the point where i'm looking for the best way to sort it. As is, i expect them to rectify and swallow the cost for doing it, but i have no issue being in touch with building control, if that gives me some recourse to get them to finish it to adhere to regs.

 

[vards9]

X is outside zone 2 and fine for an FCU. The appliances themselves look to be outside zone 2 as well.

I'm I'm reading it right, the light switch and the fan isolator will be in zone 2, and switchgear is not permitted in zone 2.
A consumer unit in zone 2 is a no-no.

I should have made it clearer in my post, the switches and consumer unit are outside the bathroom, just on the other side of the same stud wall.

 

[vards9]

Worrying that their solution is an RCD protected socket - surely the shower room circuits are already RCD protected?

Yes, there is a separate consumer unit for all electrics in the garage.

I've not seen it said whether their solution, as inelegant as it may be actually falls foul of regs? The way i'm reading it is that any type of wall socket (potential exemption for shaving point) is disqualified that distance from the shower, but of course i'm not an expert.

 

[DPG]

Yes, there is a separate consumer unit for all electrics in the garage.

I've not seen it said whether their solution, as inelegant as it may be actually falls foul of regs? The way i'm reading it is that any type of wall socket (potential exemption for shaving point) is disqualified that distance from the shower, but of course i'm not an expert.

Worth checking that all circuits are RCD protected.

 

[vards9]

So reading this, am i right to assume the following

1) It makes no difference if a socket is an Outdoor RCD protected socket, the fact any socket exists at all <3m from a shower is in contravention of regs?
2) Given the location of my existing socket, to adhere with regs, this could be replaced by an FCU within the bathroom itself or a flex plate installed, and the FCU placed somewhere outside the bathroom.

Again, apologies for my ignorance, my expertise in this area is nil!

 

[brianmoooore]

No socket within 3m of a shower or bath inside the same room, except for a special type intended for a shaver. Note the "in the room bit". I have a socket about 300mm from the edge of my bath, but it's just outside the bathroom door.
If your existing socket is at least 600mm from the outer edge of the shower, it can be replaced by a FCU. This assumes that your shower is reasonably conventional, and not an open wet room type with horizontal jets as well as vertical.
You can Google "bathroom zones", but about 90% of the diagrams you will find are incorrect. There is no zone around a hand basin, and zones 1 and 2 extend to 2.25m from the floor (whatever height the bottom of the shower or bath is), and the area above that is outside the zones. Your FCUs must be outside zones 0,1 and 2.
Edit: Just spotted the diagram. Anywhere the other side of the WC from the shower is OK for the FCUs, which must be 30mA RCD protected.