light switches in bathrooms

[the doctor]

hi all,

when i was a lad wall mounted light switches were banned in bathrooms. now, as long it is outside the zones it is ok....

so, for the historians with old regs....

1 was it a reg that you could not do it?

2 when did the "special locations" arrive?

3 was bathrooms in the first installment?

4 when did the switch become ok in the bathroom?

thanking you in anticipation

alan

 

[a1]

Good Questions Doc.

 

[Evans Electric]

1. Pretty sure it was in the 13th , pull switch only and no sockets.

2. Perhaps we should ask Special Location !! The 16th methinks.

3. Don't know.

4. Last edition when they altered the zones.

 

[the doctor]

hi

i know a switch can be outside the zones now.....outside 2

in the last regs it was outside zone 3

before then, a bit misty..

 

[green-hornet]

I did my apprentice with the 14th edition, which quickly turned to the 15th about 1980 or 81, I know we could not put them in the bathrooms on the last 14th edition ammendment which was 1976,only pull switches.

I have a book around somewhere but I am pretty sure the first case of the bathroom being a special location was prior to the 16th edition so I would guess it came about the end of the 15th, again I am not sure and will dig out some of my old books later to have a check.

I do not think bathrooms where given any special notice until the later editions of the 15th.

Switches could be placed inside the bathroom providing certain conditions where met ie zoning however now with the additional protection of rcd's and the change of zones, it can now be fitted under the current rehulations outside zone 2.

If this was a test I think I would have failed, I am just running from memory so may be 100% wrong.

 

[a1spark]

I know this is not a direct reply to your original question Doc {Dont really know the exact answers to that list...I would only be guessing !], but how many of us would in reality put a wall switch ..lets say 610mm from the edge of a bath or shower...wet fingers could reach this far ! ... cant say i agree with this Reg....it needs ammending in my opinion.

a1spark

 

[Andy™]

I know this is not a direct reply to your original question Doc {Dont really know the exact answers to that list...I would only be guessing !], but how many of us would in reality put a wall switch ..lets say 610mm from the edge of a bath or shower...wet fingers could reach this far ! ... cant say i agree with this Reg....it needs ammending in my opinion.a1spark

i would only put a pull switch in unless requested for a wall switch

but, dont really see how much more dangerous it could be - ban all wall switches in bathroom incase of wet hands... walk out of bathroom, turn on a light switch on stairs or bedroom etc

 

[paul b b]

i would only put a pull switch in unless requested for a wall switchbut, dont really see how much more dangerous it could be - ban all wall switches in bathroom incase of wet hands... walk out of bathroom, turn on a light switch on stairs or bedroom etc

same as the plug socket that is 300mm from the sink

 

[a1spark]

i would only put a pull switch in unless requested for a wall switchbut, dont really see how much more dangerous it could be - ban all wall switches in bathroom incase of wet hands... walk out of bathroom, turn on a light switch on stairs or bedroom etc

I can see what your saying ,but on the stairs or in the bedroom we are not standing in water are we ?......reduced body resistance and contact with extraneous conductive parts etc whilst in the bathroom.

...I think the regs changed to bring us in line with our European friends......Harmonization and all that stuff !

a1spark

 

[the doctor]

yep, same as a 230V fan in zone1 it is all nonsense....

dont believe me? go check it out...

or how about the zones topping out at 2.25m

sooooo if i am 1.75m and stand in a bath 150mm off the floor i am now 1.9 m

that means i can stand in the bath, reach 1 foot above my head and change a lightbulb directly above with the full blessing of the IETPray

 

[Andy™]

I can see what your saying ,but on the stairs or in the bedroom we are not standing in water are we ?......reduced body resistance and contact with extraneous conductive parts etc whilst in the bathroom....I think the regs changed to bring us in line with our European friends......Harmonization and all that stuff !

a1spark

you could still be just as wet, although floor would be dryer

 

[a1spark]

you could still be just as wet, although floor would be dryer