Hairdryer in Bathroom

[Electron]

A client has asked me to install a socket just outside the bathroom door so she can use her hairdryer in the bathroom. Bathroom is only about 2 x 2 meters. Does this breach the Regulations? There is no bath, just a shower, so likely to be steamy. What course of action do members advise?

 

[SparkyChick]

I'll flip it on it's head... what options do you believe you have?

 

[Spoon]

The socket is not in the bathroom, so I cant see a problem with regs.
Also I presume the socket will have RCD protection.
Customers are strange people... Why not just go into the bedroom and sort their hair out there....

 

[Spoon]

I'll flip it on it's head... what options do you believe you have?

clap the customer and shout "don't be a lazy fart and walk into your bedroom".....

Do I win????

 

[telectrix]

Fit it. it complies. if the customer is stupid enough to use appliances in the bathroom, it's their funeral.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Bathroom Safety - https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/around-the-home/bathroom-safety/

 

[Spoon]

Bathroom Safety - https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/around-the-home/bathroom-safety/

As the socket is not in the bathroom does this apply mate?
I may have missed the bit that does. Reading it on my phone as my work comp doesnt like this site

 

[telectrix]

show the silly moo this. ref. the last bit " portable electrical appliances".

 

[Shoei]

You guys are the experts but I'd have thought that technically it's ok, outside the door is outside the zones. Ethically, what would you do if it was a family member asking?

There's no obligation to go beyond the regs but I'd be tempted at least to suggest a socket with an RCD for a bit more protection.

Or maybe she wants one of these

 

[Silly Sausage]

show the silly moo this. ref. the last bit " portable electrical appliances".

I must be one huge silly moo because I cut my hair leaning over the bath with my hair clippers on an extension lead

 

[telectrix]

I must be one huge silly moo because I cut my hair leaning over the bath with my hair clippers on an extension lead

hair clippers??? you posh sod. I use hedge trimmer or garden shears.

 

[Spoon]

I use hedge trimmer or garden shears.

Heavy duty ones of course....

 

[telectrix]

Heavy duty ones of course....

2 stroke petrol. sod cutting through a flex. makes extra work fitting choc block and tape.

 

[Squid]

Fit it. it complies. if the customer is stupid enough to use appliances in the bathroom, it's their funeral.

It Europe most people have a washing machine in their bathrooms as well as a socket for other stuff and no one dies, I'd kill my girlfriend if she used a hair dryer in the bedroom and wakes me up.........

There is no issue with having a socket in a safe place in a bathroom.

The regs lie.

 

[Squid]

You guys are the experts

Thats debatable.......

 

[MDJ]

What course of action do members advise?

Get on with it

 

[Squid]

I must be one huge silly moo because I cut my hair leaning over the bath with my hair clippers on an extension lead

Nut, sack and crack I just stand in the bath and use a WAHL rechargeable........

 

[Silly Sausage]

Nut, sack and crack I just stand in the bath and use a WAHL rechargeable........

With extreme care I hope?

 

[Squid]

With extreme care I hope?

Replies in a high pitched voice..............

 

[DPG]

I personally do not like 13A sockets in rooms with showers. See how damp and steamy the room gets after a long hot shower (steady on there SWD).

Happy to have whatever judgements slapped on me now

 

[ipf]

hair clippers??? you posh sod. I use hedge trimmer or garden shears.

Bathroom fuss....I don't know! Why not throw an extension lead through the window and use the blower sat in the garden?

 

[Squid]

I personally do not like 13A sockets in rooms with showers. See how damp and steamy the room gets after a long hot shower (steady on there SWD).

Happy to have whatever judgements slapped on me now

You are in Yorkshire so the loo is in a shed in the garden and the tin bath is in your living room in front of the gas fire, I bet there are a few sockets in close proximity.........

 

[MDJ]

What course of action do members advise?

Get on with it

You are in Yorkshire so the loo is in a shed in the garden and the tin bath is in your living room in front of the gas fire, I bet there are a few sockets in close proximity.........

Or against the fence, and the women use the sink lol

 

[ackbarthestar]

Portable hedge trimmers aside. I once changed a BS1363 13A single socket outlet for a SFCU and hardwired a hairdrier 2 meters from the bath tub. I first shortened the lead to make sure that the hairdrier could not be droped in the bath.

The socket outside the bathroom door is technically outside the bathroom zones so not really a regs problem, the problem starts when the clients suffer from a level of derangement which might be beyond the scope of this forum but not in a court of law where you might be expected to take a view on the pschological state of the client...
ie...sleep with their pet angle grinder or hold arc welder parties in their birthday suits

 

[Squid]

What do you mean by technically as its physically outside the zone?

Sorry sir he hasn't breathed for the last two hours, oh so technically he's dead?!!

 

[Squid]

If you have a large well designed insulated bathroom with a decent extraction system, heated floor and mirror then there is no issue.

Don't all faint at once or call the Police but I have a double socket in the bathroom I may even post a photo up to whet your appetites for something similar..........

 

[Wilko]

Hi - if Customer wants a socket outside beyond the bathroom door I'm sure that's fine and would be handy for hoovering the hall .

 

[Rpa07]

I managed to talk a customer out of having me install a shaver socket just for the toothbrush charger!
I used the polite quips from the recent thread and told them to charge the units in the bedroom and bring them to the bathroom to use and to store!
I got away with it, would have been a minger of a job and through new tiles too!
Thanks forum members, just for being so grumpy AND having common sense!

 

[Flanders]

This is what I like about the regs , A socket has to be 3 meter away from the bath if its in the same room , but just because there is a door between the socket and the bath its ok ?. The reg would of been much better if it stated that all sockets must be fitted to prevent an hand held appliance with a 3 meter cord reaching the bath . Just checked mine the socket in my hall is 1 and 1/2 meters from the bath.
Edit
Mrs Flander's hair dryer cord is just over 1 and 1/2 meters

 

[DPG]

I just don't like switches in bathrooms at all. Either normal light switches or switched sockets. Call me old fashioned but somebody dripping wet operating a switch in a steamy bathroom doesn't sit well to me.

 

[Rpa07]

Calm down @DPG, you’re not writing a mills and boon novel!

I just don't like switches in bathrooms at all. Either normal light switches or switched sockets. Call me old fashioned but somebody dripping wet operating a switch in a steamy bathroom doesn't sit well to me.

 

[ackbarthestar]

What do you mean by technically as its physically outside the zone?

Sorry sir he hasn't breathed for the last two hours, oh so technically he's dead?!!

Well, technically you're right ...that's why I shortened the appliance lead from discouraging the misses from ----ing hairdrier into the bath while a played with my angle grinder.......

 

[telectrix]

i have a hair dryer in the bathroom. 1m away from the bath. it's called a towel.

 

[Squid]

i have a hair dryer in the bathroom. 1m away from the bath. it's called a lightbulb. For my chrome dome.

;o))))

 

[Squid]

Well, technically you're right ...that's why I shortened the appliance lead from discouraging the misses from ****ing hairdrier into the bath while a played with my angle grinder.......

Give a few more years and you'll be extending the lead......... ;o))))

 

[telectrix]

;o))))

ha bloody ha. chrome dome my arse. have you know, i got a fullhead of hair ( small bald spot allowing) and missus wants me to have it cut before it's fit for a pony tail, topknot, or dreadlocks. so ner ner. ( goes to bathroom to refix the band on the pony tail).

 

[Squid]

ha bloody ha. chrome dome my arse. have you know, i got a fullhead of hair ( small bald spot allowing) and missus wants me to have it cut before it's fit for a pony tail, topknot, or dreadlocks. so ner ner. ( goes to bathroom to refix the band on the pony tail).

Bet you have an earring as well.........

 

[telectrix]

Bet you have an earring as well.........

View attachment 45780

Pillock. my hair is the envy of several local women. i have more hair on my head than they have under their armpits.

 

[Squid]

Pillock. my hair is the envy of several local women. i have more hair on my head than they have under their armpits.

*cough...........

 

[Electron]

Bathroom Safety - https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/around-the-home/bathroom-safety/

Thanks for this link. The last paragraph says: "Never bring mains-powered portable appliances such as hairdryers, heaters or radios into a bathroom. You could be severely injured or killed." I'll fit the socket and pass the link onto the customer, so she knows there is a risk. The rewire includes an RCD protected consumer unit. So, even if she ignores the advice, she won't kill herself, my conscience will be clear and most importantly I'll be complying with the regulations!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Simon the regs are their has a guidance. So you have told them so .
If they do not take heed then it is up to them.

 

[littlespark]

Does the customers hair dryer lead actually reach the mirror? I bet there’s a 4m extension lead in the equation here somewhere.

If she had asked you for a socket for her hoover, and you didn’t know the door was to the bathroom, you wouldn’t be asking the question.

All aside, it’s within regs, whatever she wants to do with it.

 

[Squid]

I just don't like switches in bathrooms at all. Either normal light switches or switched sockets. Call me old fashioned but somebody dripping wet operating a switch in a steamy bathroom doesn't sit well to me.

Are you one of these people that go around the house and flick the socket switch to off as you don't want dust collecting on the red bit?

 

[DPG]

Might be.

 

[Squid]

Too damn true.

I knew it..........

 

[buzzlightyear]

my hair is the envy of several local women

yes I can see .

 

[telectrix]

seems like we have a new member, supposedly nvq3 qualified, but disagrees with a few sensible posts. come on, norah., please explain.

 

[freddo]

Wire a single socket via a 13A isolation transformer.

 

[telectrix]

Wire a single socket via a 13A isolation transformer.

too sensible. go stand in the naughty corner,..

 

[Deuce]

I disagree with quite a few of the 'sensible' posts on this thread, as the fact of the matter is that across Europe and USA there are far more bathrooms with switches/sockets IN the bathroom than total number of all bathrooms in the UK. And it's not causing an issue.

So the moral argument for refusing to do the work despite it being technically allowable kinda falls down.

I don't understand why we're so uptight about the issue in this country. The overwhelming weight of evidence shows there is not a real life safety issue.

Also, how many people have a light switch just inside their front door that gets flipped with wet fingers if it's raining? Or for that matter the switch outside the bathroom as people leave!?