13A socket in bathroom?

[clockworks]

I live in a 4 bed dormer bungalow. I use the upstairs 2 bedrooms as a workshop and a storeroom for my small business, and the shower room for cleaning parts. I have an ultrasonic cleaning tank set up on a trolley next to the basin, and I plug it in using an extension lead that runs off to one of the bedrooms.

The extension lead is a bit of a trip hazard, and I can't shut the doors while it is plugged in.
Can I legally fit a 13A socket in the shower room?

[C0ffin D0dger]

Nope, only a shaver socket with an isolating transformer in it.

If whatever you are plugging into it is very low current then you could probably use that. Can't remember what shaver sockets are rated at but around 0.1 - 0.2 A springs to mind.

[marshalla]

clockworks said:

Can I legally fit a 13A socket in the shower room?

AFAIK you can - as long it's at least 3 metres from the shower.

http://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/53/sec...

Edited by marshalla on Tuesday 17th March 09:16

[SickAsAParrot]

Fit an outdoor socket? At least it will be safe from splashing.

[JimbobVFR]

Yes you can but it would need to be a big bathroom to get one 3m away from the bath and/or shower. The regs also specify all circuits in a bathroom must be RCD protected, including lighting.

[Pixelpeep7r]

it all depends on what spec your consumer unit is for the property.

if you have a bang up to date 17th Edition split load board then sockets in the bathroom (following the link previously posted) would be permitted.

If you still have cartridge fuse type board then no, not anywhere in the bathroom!

[stuart313]

If the bathroom is supplementary bonded the no need for an RCD on everything, however all socket outlets need to be RCD'd whether in a bathroom or not, unless under skilled supervision-this has even been changed to some other bks under amendment 3 that I can't quite remember ATM.

If you are not using it as a shower, why not just do it and remove it if you ever use it as a shower room again, you're hardly likely to have the electric police kicking the door down. Don't think you would get a spark to fit it though.

[Ganglandboss]

All are correct, except the first response. You can fit a normal 13A socket outlet provided it is RCD protected, more than 3m from zone 1 (zone 1 is the area you are actauly bathing in, i.e. the shower tray or bath).

Note that while something my comply with the strict letter of BS 7671, it may not be within the spirit of the regs; there is still a requirement for the designer to select equipment that is suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered.

The previous (16th Edition) regulations did not allow a normal socket outlet in a bathroom at all, so they have been relaxed.There are a few possible reasons; the requirements for RCD protection have been made stricter, and also they have been brought more into line with CENELEC (European committee for standardisation). Another possible reason is it is becoming more common to find baths and showers in other types of room.

The old regs were as follows:

16th Edition said:

601-10-02 Except where permitted by Regulations 601-09-01 (shaver sockets) and 601-10-01 (Separated Extra Low Voltage not exceeding 12v and with no exposed metallic parts), in a room containing a fixed bath and in a shower room there shall be no socket outlet and no provision for connecting portable equipment.

So something like this would not be possible if you wanted sockets in the bedroom part:



My mate, on the other hand, has a large bathroom. It would be possible to install a socket that is more than 3m from zone one, however, this would not (IMO) comply with the new regs.

17th Edition][i said:

512.2.1 Equipment shall be of a design appropriate to the situation in which it is to be used or its mode of installation shall take account of the conditions likely to be encountered.

While the regs say you can fit a socket in a bathroom if certain requirements are met, you'd have to be pretty dense to think a standard 13A socket meets the requirement of regulation 512.2.1, and that it was safe to do so in a normal bathroom.

In your situation, I would first consider the hazard the regs are trying to protect against. A risk would arise if somebody handled an appliance with wet hands. This is most likely to happen in a bathroom, hence the regulations imposing specific requirements. Assuming you do not use the bathroom for it's intended purpose, these risks are very low.

Assuming all circuits in the bathroom are RCD protected, I do not see a reason why you shouldn't install a socket however, I would second SickAsAParrot's suggestion and go with a water resistant socket to IP X4 standard.

I'd also advise you to consider the future use of the bathroom; If you ever decided to change it back to its intended original use, I would recommend you take the socket out. You may wish to therefore consider installing it in a maner that is easily reversible.

[mildmannered]

If it's something you are planning on doing yourself, why are you worried about the specific regulations about socket locations?

[mk1fan]

You could fit an IP65 socket running off an RCD spur if you have a fuse box or non-RCD consumer unit.

[clockworks]

Thanks for the replies.
I have a modern board. The previous owner had it replaced, so less than 8 years ago.
Socket would be 2m from the edge of the shower tray.
Power consumption of the ultrasonic tank is 540W.
I would be fitting the socket myself, onto it's own breaker in the CU.
If I sold the house, or started using the shower room for it's intended purpose, I would remove the socket and fit a blanking plate.