Bathroom electrics
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There are extra considerations for electrical wiring in a bathroom.
Article currently incomplete.
Zones
Bathrooms are divided into zones for electrical purposes.
Zone 0
- The interior of the bath or shower
- Electrical appliances here must be IPX7
- Electrical appliances here must run on 12v maximum SELV
Zone 1
- area directly above zone 0, upto a height of 2.25m above the bath or shower
- Electrical appliances must be SELV with the transformer in zone 3 or beyond
- Electrical appliances must be IPX4 or better
Zone 2
- area beyond zones 1&2, extends 60cm horizontally and upto 2.25m vertically beyond zones 0&1.
- Also area within 60cm of sinks, plus area directly below this
- Electrical appliances must be IPX4 or better
- Electrical appliances here must run on SELV wth transformer in zone 3 or beyond
Zone 3
- zone 3 ceased to exist in 2008 with the 17th edition of the wiring regs.
- area beyond zone 2, extending to 2.4m horizontally and 2.25m vertically.
- No appliance IP requirement
- Some appliances are marked unsuitable for bathrooms
- Some appliances are not thus marked, but are still unsuitable. CRT TVs are one example.
- Shaver units permitted
- SELV appliances permitted
Unzoned
- Outside zone 3
- Under the bath if a tool is required to gain access
- Non-selv portable appliances must be physically prevented from entering zone 3
Supplementary bonding
Showers
Section to be written.
Installing mains electrics in showers is definitely frowned upon. But remarkably, it has been done!