Is this safe?

[chris_uk_83]

I work at a school and there have been some building works going on recently, including the installation of a shower room for the pupils. A light switch has been installed within easy reach of a hand-wash sink, as have 2 power switches for the 2 showers in the next room. Another light switch has been installed in the shower room by a second sink, and an electrical water heater unit has been plumbed into the pipework just below that sink too, and hooked up to the mains (through pipework, not just an open socket).

Having switches so close to running water seems unsafe to me, especially since the spark who rewired my house refused to put light switches near my kitchen sink for that reason.

Are there any regulatory reasons why this commercial (school) build should be different to my house, was my house spark just being paranoid or is the school shower room fitting actually unsafe?

Any views would be much appreciated.

 

[Andy™]

there are no regulations stating min distance from a sink etc, although generally accepted to be 300mm, and/or of a suitable IP rating for its location

 

[Doc Hudson]

I work at a school and there have been some building works going on recently, including the installation of a shower room for the pupils. A light switch has been installed within easy reach of a hand-wash sink, as have 2 power switches for the 2 showers in the next room. Another light switch has been installed in the shower room by a second sink, and an electrical water heater unit has been plumbed into the pipework just below that sink too, and hooked up to the mains (through pipework, not just an open socket).Having switches so close to running water seems unsafe to me, especially since the spark who rewired my house refused to put light switches near my kitchen sink for that reason.

Are there any regulatory reasons why this commercial (school) build should be different to my house, was my house spark just being paranoid or is the school shower room fitting actually unsafe?

Any views would be much appreciated.

Welcome to the forum, as Andy says it is your home electrician who was been paranoid, electricity and water can be in close proximity providing the accessories are designed for that environment. Consider an electric shower, this has a lot of high power electrical components inside an enclosure that can be sprayed whist in use. Central heating components, whirlpool baths, garden pond pumps, decking lights etc can all have a water or rain in close proximity. I am assuming these are standard plastic light switches fitted at school? Which unless immersed in copious amounts of water while someone is also touching an earth potential, the risk of shock is minimal. Additionaly these circuits have probably got inbuilt RCD shock protection as they are in a room containing a shower. Also are the water supply pipes and waste outlets all plastic? as these would also have an insulating effect.

Doc H.