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Socket 1.5m from bath but outside bathroom

Hi

On a periodic inspection I have given a code 2 to a socket that is in a hallway opposite a bathroom door with the edge of the bath 300mm from the door. In fact you can even touch both at the same time.

My supervisor has said that it is not in the location so it's not required to be at least 3m away.

I disagree with this for two reasons.

1) The principle of the 3m distance is to reduce the chance of someone plugging in something that can be used while in the bath or shower, e.g. a TV balanced on the edge of a bath. Therefore, it does not make a difference if the socket was in a bathroom less than 3m away from the bath or outside the bathroom less than 3m away.

2) The definition of "location" in section 701. This can mean different things depending on context. E.g. Shot on location in Egypt can mean the whole of Egypt. Insert pin in correct location means a specific point. I have read a discussion on this forum where the definition was described as only being within the zones but this was disputed.

I always took it to mean "room" but then why does is not say room. Because of this issue with the 3m I then decided that "location" must be more general and include the areas outside the "room" that are effected by this reg.

However, looking at reg 701,1 it seems to be more specific. To quote "...locations containing a bath... AND to the surrounding zones".

According to that statement the "zones" are surrounding the "location". Therefore the location must be the actual position of the bath or shower. Not the room it's in. Not the area around the zones. Not the area up to what is effected by the 3m reg.

Therefore, the 3m to sockets reg should still count as being "anywhere" irrespective or the definition of "location".

What are your views?

Parents

0 mapj1 over 5 years ago

The 3m limit is indeed based on cable lengths plus a bit for some arms, and is a relaxation to a UK only reg that came in between the 12th edition which like the 10th and 11th before it only required all wiring in bathrooms to be rubber insulated (as opposed presumably to cotton..) reg 614b, but had no prohibition on sockets, and the (new for 1955 ) 13th edition rule 405 ' no provision shall be made for portable appliances in a room containing a bath'. Of course to put that in context this was back in an era when RCDs did not figure in domestic installations, and most plugs were unfused round pin types with un-shrouded pins small children could touch if they curled their fingers under between plug and socket while plugging in - they usually only did it once, if at all.

The total ban on sockets in bathrooms persisted with variations on the wording until the 16th edition conceded that in a room with a shower cubicle that is not a bathroom (presumably an en-suite) sockets were to be permitted outside Zone 3. (i.e 3m away)

Then in the 17th edition this was rationalised to 3m in all rooms with a bath or shower (and zone 3 was deleted).

Now, since the introduction of 'zones' the rules have been very clear that the zones stop at walls and doors, and immovable screens.

The fact that in principle someone could leave the door open and run a lead in, is therefore out of scope. After all they could (and people do) run a much longer extension lead in from another room anyway - but that is un-policeable, and more dangerous than a socket in the bathroom, as now you add a trip hazard.

Unless the socket is in a location where it will get wet from splashing, or is actually in the bathroom, and within 3m of the edge of Zone 1 it is not an issue.

And perhaps it reassures you to hear that for most of the countries of 230V world, and all of the 110V world, sockets are permitted to within 60cm of zone 1 or something similar, so long as the socket is RCD protected - and the good news is that their fatality figures are no higher than here - in the UK hair dryers catch fire in bedrooms it seems.
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0 mapj1 over 5 years ago

The 3m limit is indeed based on cable lengths plus a bit for some arms, and is a relaxation to a UK only reg that came in between the 12th edition which like the 10th and 11th before it only required all wiring in bathrooms to be rubber insulated (as opposed presumably to cotton..) reg 614b, but had no prohibition on sockets, and the (new for 1955 ) 13th edition rule 405 ' no provision shall be made for portable appliances in a room containing a bath'. Of course to put that in context this was back in an era when RCDs did not figure in domestic installations, and most plugs were unfused round pin types with un-shrouded pins small children could touch if they curled their fingers under between plug and socket while plugging in - they usually only did it once, if at all.

The total ban on sockets in bathrooms persisted with variations on the wording until the 16th edition conceded that in a room with a shower cubicle that is not a bathroom (presumably an en-suite) sockets were to be permitted outside Zone 3. (i.e 3m away)

Then in the 17th edition this was rationalised to 3m in all rooms with a bath or shower (and zone 3 was deleted).

Now, since the introduction of 'zones' the rules have been very clear that the zones stop at walls and doors, and immovable screens.

The fact that in principle someone could leave the door open and run a lead in, is therefore out of scope. After all they could (and people do) run a much longer extension lead in from another room anyway - but that is un-policeable, and more dangerous than a socket in the bathroom, as now you add a trip hazard.

Unless the socket is in a location where it will get wet from splashing, or is actually in the bathroom, and within 3m of the edge of Zone 1 it is not an issue.

And perhaps it reassures you to hear that for most of the countries of 230V world, and all of the 110V world, sockets are permitted to within 60cm of zone 1 or something similar, so long as the socket is RCD protected - and the good news is that their fatality figures are no higher than here - in the UK hair dryers catch fire in bedrooms it seems.
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Socket 1.5m from bath but outside bathroom

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