Discuss Consumer unit in bathroom in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net
You're making some really good points.An outlet socket on a landing directly outside a bathroom door less than an MTR away would be compliant as it's behind a door.
An airing cupboard with electrical heating etc in a bathroom behind a door is compliant.
Electrical equipment under a bath is also compliant.
An electric shower which has just a plastic cover and also has uninsulated connections inside is also compliant.
Because is behind a barrier, it's technically not in a zone.
If not in a zone, then IP rating etc shouldn't be an issue. ?
It is without doubt wuckfittery of the highest order and Its not as rare as it should be.Very interesting thread and many of the comments are extremely pertinent, however I am just astonished that anyone would install that CU in that location. No matter what technical justification might be relevant, it's just a bad installation idea.
A few years ago I was doing some work on a new-build housing estate where all the houses had the CU installed at high level in the downstairs cloakroom. This was a mainstream builder and I am aware the same installation was carried out on other estates. Now, I accept the cloakroom had no bath or shower, but the only way to gain access to the CUs in these houses was by standing on the WC...there's no room to place a ladder or hop-up. I accept these houses passed BC regulations, but in my opinion the CU should not be mounted high up above a WC. A less-able person would find access extremely tricky and indeed hazardous, and for that reason alone it shouldn't be allowed.
Good point .Safe direct access should be important . Looked at job yesterday .New luxury conversion .CB is about 8 foot high and super close to the top of the stairs . Its just daftBesides all else, I would definitely call it dangerous.... having to work on a consumer unit, balancing with one foot on each edge of that bath.
Sadly in this case the probably spent £10k on conversions and decorations to make the bathroom and nobody thought (or cared) about the electrics in terms of general safety and reasonable access for future work.I can see why domestic solutions have to be a little more creative, the customer may not have the money to fully correct and a significant safety improvement will be better than no action. Just make sure you offer the full correction in writing.
Yes, ALWAYS get it in writing, even email (but make sure you save a copy just in case).In this case I'd quote for the CU to be moved to a compliant location. Get their refual in writing, email is a powerful tool, before suggesting the socket is removed and the door to the cupboard should be screwed shut, a lock will just be removed and left off, but then the CU is not easily accessible I the event of a trip.
Again, restrained by currently travelling and not having the book to hand, but I thought 701 excludes those protective measures??The cheapest solution is to box it in the cupboard, it's then out of zones and out of reach. It would just be a C3 for access but a bit of a bodge. The ideal and recommended solution is to relocate it.
I was referring to being able to touch the enclosure from a risk assessment perspective not as in high level busbars..Again, restrained by currently travelling and not having the book to hand, but I thought 701 excludes those protective measures??
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