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Pedicure station footbaths and close proximity of socket outlets

MS01

In regards to pedicure foot bath stations. We have a where we have twin socket outlets 800mm away from the foot bath itself. Now while the risk of splashes is minimal due to their positions  at the back of the pedicure seat there is the likelihood of people plugging equipment in which could then be accidently dropped in the footbath itself. What are the regulations on this scenario as its very unclear?

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  • 0

    it’s difficult to establish if it's 701 or 702.... grey area. 

    Or neither? As Graham said, it's neither a bath or shower or a pool. More like a handwashing basin or kitchen sink - immersed hands if anything is probably a higher risk than immersed feet - as the arms connect across the chest a shock between hands will route more current through the heart than the same shock between feet. There's no special requirements for handwashing basins outside of bath/shower rooms, nor kitchen sinks. The closest equivalent I can think of are those sinks they have in hairdressers for washing customer's hair - it's quite usual to see sockets (e.g. for hair dryers or clippers) quite close to them. At some point the problem falls to the common sense (or documented work procedures) of the people using it rather than an electrical installation regulation issue.

       - Andy.

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  • 0

    it’s difficult to establish if it's 701 or 702.... grey area. 

    Or neither? As Graham said, it's neither a bath or shower or a pool. More like a handwashing basin or kitchen sink - immersed hands if anything is probably a higher risk than immersed feet - as the arms connect across the chest a shock between hands will route more current through the heart than the same shock between feet. There's no special requirements for handwashing basins outside of bath/shower rooms, nor kitchen sinks. The closest equivalent I can think of are those sinks they have in hairdressers for washing customer's hair - it's quite usual to see sockets (e.g. for hair dryers or clippers) quite close to them. At some point the problem falls to the common sense (or documented work procedures) of the people using it rather than an electrical installation regulation issue.

       - Andy.

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  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    Yes get your point with hairdressers but you never have an instance where peoples body parts are immersed while having equipment on you. You think about it hair dryers, straighteners etc are all after the event, unlike what im talking about here. 

    Unfortunately common sense is not that common any more so as designers we want to minimise the risk as much as possible as in todays blame culture should something happen I’m sure  the design will be brought into question.

  • 0 in reply to MS01
    MS01 said:
    Yes get your point with hairdressers but you never have an instance where peoples body parts are immersed while having equipment on you. You think about it hair dryers, straighteners etc are all after the event, unlike what im talking about here. 

    They remain plugged in, hanging just below (or below and slightly to one side) of the sink whilst hair is being washed with a movable nozzle (I will refrain from using the term "shower head" here to avoid confusion).

    I still think "general rules" is most appropriate here, along with robust risk assessment (that is required under CDM if you are carrying out the installation, or making modifications to existing installation).

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