Washing Machine In Bathroom Issues

[davie spark]

If you can touch the washing machine and touch the taps (bath/basin) or touch the washing machine while in the bath, I doubt if it should be passed at all, even as a '4'. Check the zones in the new green book for compliance. (I am not beside a green book just now or I would check for you).

 

[flyingsparc]

Hello Davie,

Thanks for your reply, I haven’t got the new green book yet, although I doubt it has changed at all, Or maybe it has with if you have a chance to check it could you let me know?

Spoken to the customer again today, and we have come up with a plan, which I feel is ok, but still keen to see what others think with the following additional info.

Customer has checked the washing machine again and confirmed it is IPX4.

I am going to change the socket outlet for an IP66 SFCU.

Customer is going to make/fit a door with lock to the alcove, hinged on the bath side.

The door will incorporate a small louvered type vent at near the bottom to aid air flow, but maintain a reasonable barrier, and theoretically the former alcove (soon to be cupboard) can be considered as outside zone 2.

The bathroom is forced ventilated, so should deal with the condensation.

It is only a washing machine and not a tumble dryer also, so heat build up should not be a problem, after all it will occupy a space which provides much more space around the appliance than most built-in or free standing under cabinet units.

Any more views before I go with this.......or not!?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

If you place a door on the cupboard, it will be outside of the location.
As such the requirements for special locations will not apply.
If there is no door on the cupboard, then it is zone 2, and all that is required is the use of an IPX4 FCU.
An IP66 SFCU would not be acceptable in zone 2, as only SELV switches are allowed.

 

[dingledong]

but whereis the socket if its behind the washing machine its not accesable to any one so its not in zone 2 as the machine is in the way

 

[dingledong]

sorry also i can put a towel rail into zone 2 easily

 

[Deleted member 26818]

To start with, BS7671 requires the socket-otlet to be accesible, unless it's some kind of WAGO socket marked with MF.
The fact that at present there is a washing machine restricting access does not obviate the requirements of BS7671 that socket-outlets be further than 3m from the boundary of zone 1.
Yes you can put a towel rail in zone 2 easily. You could even put it in zone 1 or zone 0 if you so desire.
However if you wished to fix a low voltage electric towel rail in zone 2, the rail would have to have a minimum IP rating of IPX4 and you would also have to use an IPX4 FCU if the FCU were also to be within zone 2. Outside of the zones, an SFCU can be used.