I did try and look into this in the early 2000s, when I wired a bathroom here to the VDE standards of the day so we could have  a full power schucko socket near the sink in our own home.  

At the time the little data available suggested that in the UK we have a similar number of  fatal exploding hairdryer accidents, but like a game of cluedo, these are in the bedroom rather than the bathroom, and in all cases it is mostly mangled cords. Bathtub electrocution  is very rare, so rare as to be a non-issue in countries that do permit sockets in the bathroom, which is most of 230V land.

I note that the most recent  BS7671 DPC was looking to reduce the 3m to 2.5m.  I did comment actually that it may be clearer not to faff with the numerical value, but to remove the number  altogether and to replace it with something indicating intent, such as ‘out of reach’ or ‘where splashing is unlikely’. 

“ In zone 2: switchgear, accessories incorporating switches or socket-outlets shall not be installed with the exception of:

(i)switches and socket-outlets of SELV circuits, the safety source being installed outside zones 0, 1 and 2, and

(ii)shaver supply units complying with BS EN 6 1 558-2-5. Except for SELV socket-outlets complying with Section 414 and shaver supply units complying with BS EN61558-2-5, socket-outlets are prohibited within a distance of 2.5 m horizontally from the boundary of zone 1.”

Used to be 3m, clearly post brexit arms are shorter. ;-) 

The key thing to not get lost is not the compliance or not with the letter of the regs,  but is to be quite sure the installation safe for the way it will be used .. 

Mike.

I did try and look into this in the early 2000s, when I wired a bathroom here to the VDE standards of the day so we could have  a full power schucko socket near the sink in our own home.  

At the time the little data available suggested that in the UK we have a similar number of  fatal exploding hairdryer accidents, but like a game of cluedo, these are in the bedroom rather than the bathroom, and in all cases it is mostly mangled cords. Bathtub electrocution  is very rare, so rare as to be a non-issue in countries that do permit sockets in the bathroom, which is most of 230V land.

I note that the most recent  BS7671 DPC was looking to reduce the 3m to 2.5m.  I did comment actually that it may be clearer not to faff with the numerical value, but to remove the number  altogether and to replace it with something indicating intent, such as ‘out of reach’ or ‘where splashing is unlikely’. 

“ In zone 2: switchgear, accessories incorporating switches or socket-outlets shall not be installed with the exception of:

(i)switches and socket-outlets of SELV circuits, the safety source being installed outside zones 0, 1 and 2, and

(ii)shaver supply units complying with BS EN 6 1 558-2-5. Except for SELV socket-outlets complying with Section 414 and shaver supply units complying with BS EN61558-2-5, socket-outlets are prohibited within a distance of 2.5 m horizontally from the boundary of zone 1.”

Used to be 3m, clearly post brexit arms are shorter. ;-) 

The key thing to not get lost is not the compliance or not with the letter of the regs,  but is to be quite sure the installation safe for the way it will be used .. 

Mike.