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Socket 1.5m from bath but outside bathroom

Sparkymania
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?
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  • 0
    sowie1959

    I'm going by the Best Practice Guide 4 (issue 4) BPG4 Condition Reporting under Code 2 items on page 13 second from last item.

    Are we talking through the hallway then into a bedroom? Then no.

    Or in an on-suite, in which case you make a good point and that is a no as well. I do student accommodation (among other things including workshops, labs, etc). I have never given them a code anything and in both cases they have been less than 3m from the bath.

    In my brothers house 3 of the bedrooms have on-suite and have sockets on the wall in the bedroom less that 3m. Never gave it a second thought.

    I had forgotten that. 

    Maybe this particular issue has got me going as the socket is dead opposite the bathroom door. 


    Mapj1.

    Excellent point about car fatalities. If we were to take it that far we would have to ban getting up in the morning in case we trip and hit our head.

    A public information campaign would be a good idea for a lot of things. They used to do that in the 50s and 60s. Would be a good idea for those bloody middle lane hoggers.

    I don't know the statistics for electrocutions in total (strangely, a web search showed no info) but a TV electrical safety campaign would be good.

    Also excellent point about the action to take. If RCD protected no problem. If not it would normally be code 3 but I would class that the same as a socket that is liable to feed equipment outside so code 2. (I class any socket as liable to feed equipment in situations of higher risk the same as feeding outside. I have given code 2 for sockets in plant rooms with concrete floors and plant that is liable to leak water the same and my supervisor and the client have agreed this is appropriate).

    Not too sure about the notes with the advice about not supplying equipment in the bathroom. It would then have to go into detail about not supplying when taking a bath but okay when using a hair dryer or clippers as long as no one else is in the bath. Could be a bit long winded.


    That is what I will do from now on. Base it on whether the socket is RCD protected and treat the same as any other socket feeding areas of higher risk.

    If RCD protected then "no comment". If no RCD then code 2. (Possibly still code 3 if less than 3m but through the hallway first then into the bedroom. Will have to think a bit more on that one).

    That's cleared things up in my mind.

    Thanks everyone for responding

    Very much appreciated.


Reply
  • 0
    sowie1959

    I'm going by the Best Practice Guide 4 (issue 4) BPG4 Condition Reporting under Code 2 items on page 13 second from last item.

    Are we talking through the hallway then into a bedroom? Then no.

    Or in an on-suite, in which case you make a good point and that is a no as well. I do student accommodation (among other things including workshops, labs, etc). I have never given them a code anything and in both cases they have been less than 3m from the bath.

    In my brothers house 3 of the bedrooms have on-suite and have sockets on the wall in the bedroom less that 3m. Never gave it a second thought.

    I had forgotten that. 

    Maybe this particular issue has got me going as the socket is dead opposite the bathroom door. 


    Mapj1.

    Excellent point about car fatalities. If we were to take it that far we would have to ban getting up in the morning in case we trip and hit our head.

    A public information campaign would be a good idea for a lot of things. They used to do that in the 50s and 60s. Would be a good idea for those bloody middle lane hoggers.

    I don't know the statistics for electrocutions in total (strangely, a web search showed no info) but a TV electrical safety campaign would be good.

    Also excellent point about the action to take. If RCD protected no problem. If not it would normally be code 3 but I would class that the same as a socket that is liable to feed equipment outside so code 2. (I class any socket as liable to feed equipment in situations of higher risk the same as feeding outside. I have given code 2 for sockets in plant rooms with concrete floors and plant that is liable to leak water the same and my supervisor and the client have agreed this is appropriate).

    Not too sure about the notes with the advice about not supplying equipment in the bathroom. It would then have to go into detail about not supplying when taking a bath but okay when using a hair dryer or clippers as long as no one else is in the bath. Could be a bit long winded.


    That is what I will do from now on. Base it on whether the socket is RCD protected and treat the same as any other socket feeding areas of higher risk.

    If RCD protected then "no comment". If no RCD then code 2. (Possibly still code 3 if less than 3m but through the hallway first then into the bedroom. Will have to think a bit more on that one).

    That's cleared things up in my mind.

    Thanks everyone for responding

    Very much appreciated.


Children
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