Sockets in a room containing a bath

[roukel01]

I came across a rather nice bedrrom the other day which also had a bath in it, it was kind of an extension off the bedroom, but no door or partition. Sockets in the bedroom end were closer than the 3 meter reg.

What would this be coded (if any?) if a PIR was carried out. Wiring was in the new colours, but I'm unsure as to exactly when the wiring was carried out
I've attached a very crude diagram of what I'm trying to explain, nearest sockets were about 2 meters away.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I'd go with a code C2, as it's not immediately dangerous.

 

[roukel01]

anyone else have any thought on this. I'm just looking on the new electrical condition report, and I see one of the tick boxes is "Socket outlet located at least 3m away from Zone 1"

 

[Richard Burns]

Were the sockets protected by an RCD?

If they were this would reduce the risk of electric shock; the location of the sockets means that they would be almost impossible to splash with water, but an appliance plugged into them could be easily splashed.

The ESC recommends a code C2 for such a situation and I think I would tend to agree C2 would be appropriate.

There may be a few cases where I would drop this to a C3, but from the information here I would not be happy doing that.

 

[roukel01]

I agree with the Code C2, my only niggle with giving it a code C2 is the fact that just half a meter further up the wall (which would just about take it out of the 3 Meter zone) there are more sockets, surely there is as much risk in electric shock etc from these sockets as there are with the ones slightly closer. If someone wants to plug a hair dryer in while they are still wet, it doesn't matter if the sockets are a couple of meters away from the bath or 5, they're still going to be wet when they reach they socket! And as mentioned in earlier posts, the position of the sockets make it impossible for them to be splashed while in the bath or indeed when getting out.

I just think in this case it would be pointless blanking the two sockets off which are closest to the bath, when there are plenty more sockets to go at in the bedroom.

 

[Richard Burns]

half a meter further up the wall (which would just about take it out of the 3 Meter zone) there are more sockets

Are these sockets around the corner of the wall? If they are just 500mm higher up then this would not change the distance from the zone they would also be 2m from the edge of zone 1.
The simplest method of resolving this would be to create floor to ceiling partitions say 600mm wide at the wall corners this would have the effect of shifting the sockets 1200mm further from the zone, but could well restrict access to bath / sockets.
Remember though that you are assessing this in relation to the regulations which clearly state that sockets must not be within 3m of the edge of zone 1. One assumes that the regulation is there because there have been problems with sockets so located, which indicates there is a danger here, and not wishing to fail an installation is not a reason for ignoring a danger.
That said at the end of the day it is up to you to decide how to code items and we can only advise how we would do it. If you feel that you are justified in your coding then you are the one signing for it.

 

[roukel01]

Remember though that you are assessing this in relation to the regulations which clearly state that sockets must not be within 3m of the edge of zone 1. One assumes that the regulation is there because there have been problems with sockets so located, which indicates there is a danger here.

the 3 meter reg came in with 17th edition didn't it? 16th edition regs didn't allow any sockets in a room containing a bath or shower (I think) and I'm unsure when this work was carried out.

I'm coding in C2, however I'm still in the mind that its a pointless exersize blanking the sockets off.

ELECSA technical found it a very interesting question, in the end C2 was also there decision.

 

[Engineer54]

I don't know why there is this big kerfuffle about having a socket in a bathroom, i'm used to seeing them everywhere i've ever been?? If they are that worried about it, why not specify a 6 mA RCD like the yanks, or 10mA like the Germans!!

This bathroom rule is now outdated, it's been around far too long now!!!