lightswitch in toilet

[Dean Williams]

Hi folks

whilst carrying out periodics i'm finding lots of instances where normal light switches are installed in toilets (no bath or shower within just a toilet and a sink).
What is the requlation for this please. Is there a minimum distance a normal light switch can be from a handwash basin, toilet etc or are pull cord switches only allowed.

thanks for any help with this

 

[telectrix]

IMO, if the switch is not within reach of the sink, ii.e. the switch and taps cannot be simultaneously touched, then it's OK. i do stand to be corrected , though, if i'm wrong.

 

[Dean Williams]

personally i agree with you. but i need a definitive answer for my report. thanks though

 

[Adam W]

Section 7 of the regs gives requirements for 'locations containing a bath or shower' with no mention of a sink or bog.
The building regs state 300mm min from the edge of a sink or draining board for a kitchen, so I'd go for that.

 

[Dean Williams]

thanks

 

[morph]

you should not be doing a pir , you obviously dont know the regs well enough

Hi folks

whilst carrying out periodics i'm finding lots of instances where normal light switches are installed in toilets (no bath or shower within just a toilet and a sink).
What is the requlation for this please. Is there a minimum distance a normal light switch can be from a handwash basin, toilet etc or are pull cord switches only allowed.

thanks for any help with this

 

[Dean Williams]

erm...ive been doing PIRs for years. nobody knows everything which is why forums like this exist. im employed solely to do PIRs. ive just finished a theatre and a large factory

 

[telectrix]

none of us know all the regs. , morph, we still have to look things up, otherwise the IET wouldn't be selling 7671 at £80 a pop.

 

[i=p/u]

arms reach you mean tell, 2.5m or sitting on toilet 1.25m, can you tell i red this part recently

 

[morph]

beggars belief then
so you have done pir for years yet you dont know this !

 

[morph]

none of us know all the regs. , morph, we still have to look things up, otherwise the IET wouldn't be selling 7671 at £80 a pop.

fair doos
but a bit of a regular basic one really , especially for someone who does PIRs all the time and for years !

 

[Dean Williams]

so you've never asked a question on here?

 

[morph]

so you've never asked a question on here?

not a question so basic and after i have done the job NO

 

[telectrix]

so, dean, have you passed these switches so far, or given them a code or a comment on your pir's?

 

[Dean Williams]

ive only come across this today, i havent finished the report yet. its for a primary school. i know where the regs stand on bathrooms and showers but am unsure about rooms containing a toilet and a handwash basin

 

[Dean Williams]

personally i would put a code 2 on it because the switch is likely to be operated by damp hands, but thats just an opinion.

 

[telectrix]

i would not code it. just make a note in the comments box if it's close to the basin.

 

[Dean Williams]

good idea. i'll do that. thanks

 

[mogga]

no comment no code Its a nothing Washhand basins arent BATHS nor are they SHOWERS and its NOT a kitchen No Special location applicable
IMO its incorrect BUT then again there are a lot of regs I disagree with and a lot of stuff I think would be more applicable to regs but arent in there

 

[Des 56]

Its the bare feet on a wet floor that can send the tingles down the torso,especially if they are resting on a piece of copper tube
The wet hands folks are still switching toilet lights on

Toilet light switches are ok.Its the fans we need to worry about

I have sat there before now and thanked the gods the fan pull cord was within reach from the sitting position
Now that situation could have killed me if the cord was out of reach

 

[Deleted member 26818]

There is no Regulation prohibiting the use of wall mounted light switches in a location that doesn't contain a bath or shower.
A toilet with a sink would be considered no differently to a kitchen,or any other room that contained a sink.
Bath and shower rooms are considered special locations, because often the people using them are naked and wet.
Of course, it is always up to the inspector to determine what he or she considers safe, so if you consider this situation to be unsafe, then you should apply the appropriate code.
The most appropriate Regulation to my mind would be 512.2.1.

 

[BillyTheSparks]

So this is a no no then??


This was taken at a new build which I was helping another sparks second fix. They are a switch and a fan isolator switch.

I didn't really like it my self.

 

[morph]

View attachment 8128
So this is a no no then??


This was taken at a new build which I was helping another sparks second fix. They are a switch and a fan isolator switch.

I didn't really like it my self.

looks like its over 1200 mm

 

[telectrix]

first sink i've seen mounted horizontally. bet the customer won't take this lying down.

 

[Des 56]

first sink i've seen mounted horizontally. bet the customer won't take this lying down.

Well at least they have provided a mop bucket

 

[tigerpaul]

As one of the other fellas said, this is not a special location. So there is nothing wrong with the positioning of the switch.

 

[Adam W]

personally i would put a code 2 on it because the switch is likely to be operated by damp hands, but thats just an opinion.

Given the circumstances (primary school) I would have thought the lights would be switched on in the morning and off in the afternoon by the caretaker, with the people using the handwash basins (children) being prohibited from going anywhere near the light switches.

 

[telectrix]

i would have though taht a school would install occupancy sensors to save money on the bill.

 

[ipf]

first sink i've seen mounted horizontally. bet the customer won't take this lying down.

Nearly as good as the Aussie who mounted a bidet on the wall thinking it was some sort of special p***stone

 

[Dunc]

No code or note required in my opinion. Like some have already said a cloak room is not a room containing a bath or shower so there is no mention in the regulations about not being allowed standard light switches. I would still stick to the 300mm recommendation that is referenced in the building regs guide but that is it. I can honestly say that i've never had a tingle off a light switch when operating them with damp/wet hands and i would say that i've been using light switches like this at least 5 times a day for months now.

 

[ian.settle1]

View attachment 8128
So this is a no no then??


This was taken at a new build which I was helping another sparks second fix. They are a switch and a fan isolator switch.

I didn't really like it my self.

What idiot put a sink on the ceiling?

 

[Richard Burns]

In accordance with BS7671 there are no requirements not to have a standard face plate in a room containing a sink or toilet. In relation to a periodic inspection, compliance with BS7671 is assured. However if you feel that the location of the flat plate is dangerous then you could code it but it is not a breach of BS7671. It may breach the recommendations of the building regulations but even they do not indicate any problems with toilet sinks.

 

[Guitarist]

If it's a primary school then there is no risk of the kids washing their hands anyway...

 

[telectrix]

even less chance if it's further education ( students)

 

[Geordie Spark]

you should not be doing a pir , you obviously dont know the regs well enough

Maybe he doesn't know the regs as well as you, and he won't be the only one, but at least he realises this and has the good sense to ASK when in doubt !!!

 

[Silly Sausage]

If it's a primary school then there is no risk of the kids washing their hands anyway...

They don't know what light switches for as well. Come home sometimes and the house is lit up more than Blackpool Illuminations.

 

[needasparks]

Hope no one has wet hands in a kitchen then or we are all doomed letting them cheeky switches get passed us on PIR's

 

[Silly Sausage]

Hope no one has wet hands in a kitchen then or we are all doomed letting them cheeky switches get passed us on PIR's

Haha!

The regulation writers are just waiting for the day when they can say you're only allowed in your own house only if you got degrees in Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry......etc.

Invest in tents now.

 

[jase]

pir's everywhere, dont sit/stand still for too long!

 

[Knobhead]

No mater what the regs say I’m not ripping this out!

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