project feasability

[remustered]

Hi guys bit of your expertise please.

Situation,

OAP widow 75yrs, semi disabled/mobile, recent leg injury further impairing mobility.

Lives in std 3bed semi, upstairs bathroom.

Idea: to ease her life and future proof house by fitting downstairs toilet, so that if need be she could eventually live on ground floor (front room convert to bedroom).

stairlift ruled out by occupant.

Ideal room under stairs, currently walk in pantry

Problem is main electric feed into house and DNO fuse CU in room at ground level on inside of outer wall. usable area of room approx 5ft x 5ft (electrics inside this space)

Have not seen WC mentioned in special locations but am assuming it should be treated same as wash basin.

Question: relocate electrics (via DNO to outside room and/or house or Suitably rated IP enclosure or......

thank you

 

[Evans Electric]

Just build a proper cupboard round the electrics . Seen it done a million times , in fact its happening on the job I,m doing ATM. Toilets are not Special Locations.

Obviously don't fit the sink above the elects.

 

[Andy™]

Have not seen WC mentioned in special locations but am assuming it should be treated same as wash basin.

you wont find anything in special locations about wash basins either. only applies to a room containing a shower or a bath

providing the electrics are adequately out the way (i.e boxed in), then cant see any problem with it. as Deke says, there are thousands of houses the same all over the country

 

[Doc Hudson]

Your main consideration would be, first as Andy said, BS7671 special locations are rooms containing a bath or shower. Building regulations calls a kitchen a special location, but this is not a BS7671 definition. The average wc pan is ceramic, non conductive. The water in it is only held within the pan u-bend or the cistern, generally its not conductive to pipes entering the ground. Toilets are not extraneous parts nor are they exposed conductive parts. As such they do not pose any significant risk or hazard to any person using them in proximity to electrical services. Hand basins can be fitted in a bedroom with no specific electrical requirements. You will just need your own common sense risk assessment on your actual installation. But I would think a suitable cupboard as Evans Electric says should be adequate and much of that would be primarily for appearance.

Doc H.

 

[remustered]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Understand your points, although some what surprised ref the washbasin /wc freedom.

Probably just my instinctive aversion to the thought of electricity and water in close proximity.

I can now set the local plumber onto the job and fit a cabinet while waiting for him to appear.

big relief...this is going to be a lot easy than I feared.

 

[NozSpark]

B&Q are one of the worst for getting the zones wrong on their packaging,

they nearly always put zone 1 and 2 around a sink:|

 

[Andy™]

Understand your points, although some what surprised ref the washbasin /wc freedom.

maybe you need to learn the regs a bit more then before doing electrical work... what else do you knot know?

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Thanks for the responses guys.Understand your points, although some what surprised ref the washbasin /wc freedom.

Probably just my instinctive aversion to the thought of electricity and water in close proximity.

I can now set the local plumber onto the job and fit a cabinet while waiting for him to appear.

big relief...this is going to be a lot easy than I feared.

The reason that bathrooms are "Special Locations" (ah theres a good name )..

Is not Water persay..

But the greater probability of large portions of bare flesh..

Naked wet bodies....

in close proximity to BOTH earthy bits and potentially live bits...

Toilets as a rule..

do not require naked wet bodies...

(unless you are into some kinds of fetish activities...) :Blushing ]

Water and sinks themselves are NOT a significant danger..

Remember..

THERE IS NO BS7671 REGULATION about how close a socket can be to a kitchen sink....

{though building regs recommend 300mm min distance}

I know of kitchens with fuse boxes in them

Yet this is probably more hazardous than a toilet!

So a downstairs loo without a bath or shower is just another room that you use common sense.

opcorn

 

[remustered]

As a totally unqualified trainee (leccy wise) I am not nor would consider doing electrical work at this stage.

the OAP mention above is the mother-in-law, the post was for advice prior to getting tradesmen to do the job for her.

just checking the best way to look after her interest/purse.

think I'm just about competent enough to assemble an IKEA cabinet.....maybe... :Blushing

 

[Andy™]

As a totally unqualified trainee (leccy wise) I am not nor would consider doing electrical work at this stage.the OAP mention above is the mother-in-law, the post was for advice prior to getting tradesmen to do the job for her.

just checking the best way to look after her interest/purse.

your OP reads completely different, as though your doing the work, but no idea how to do it, which is why you got some of the negative responses

 

[remustered]

Thanks for the feedback Andy.

sorry if I mislead, was just trying to be concise. thought putting "relocation of electrics via DNO" was clear intent of my not doing electrics..

will be more careful in future...Still very happy with all the replies though...Ta