Socket in bathroom

[Dylboy]

Hello

Quick one, what are your thoughts of a socket on ELU, inside a cupboard in the bathroom in any Zone?

I have a Chao saying it's ok as it's enclosed and no longer part of zone ?
How ever to use the socket for the hairdryer the cupboard door must be open, also their are 2 sinks above it on the table top.

Is this socket excluded from zones as in a cupboard or still part of zones as the door needs to be opened to operate the appliance ?

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[GCE]

A socket outlet is allowed in Zone 3 on ELU
It is not allowed in Zone 1 or 2

A socket outlet can be next to a Tap as long as it is on ELU - 6.15.3 - Zoning in a bathroom does not take a basin into account in any of the clauses - As long as you more than 0.6m away from a shower door (7.1.4.3.4 ) or outside the zone as defined by 7.1.2.1 and 7.1.2.3

If there is a partition as shown in the Fig 7.1.2 it also changes the zone

Best is to look at the zoning of bath and shower and see where the basin fits in with regards to distance from bath and shower

Extracts from SANS 10142-1 pasted below

6.15.6.3 A socket-outlet shall not be installed within a radius of 2 m of a water
tap (in the same room) unless the socket-outlet
a) has earth leakage protection, or
b) is connected to a safety supply.

7.1.2.1 Zone 0
Zone 0 is the interior of the bathtub or shower basin (the container).

7.1.2.2 Zone 1
Zone 1 is limited by
a) the vertical plane circumscribing the outer edge or 0,20 m from the inner
edge (where the ledge is too wide) of the bathtub, shower basin, or for a
shower without a basin, by the vertical plane 0,60 m from the shower rose,
and
b) the horizontal plane 2,5 m above the bathtub or shower floor.

7.1.2.3 Zone 2
Zone 2 is limited by
a) the volume external to zone 1 and the parallel vertical plane 0,60 m
external to zone 1, and
b) the floor and the horizontal plane 2,25 m above the floor.

7.1.4.3.4 Any switches and socket-outlets shall be at a distance of at least
0,60 m from the door opening of the prefabricated shower cabinet
(see figures 7.1.4 and 7.1.5).

[Thys LOW Elektries]

Grey area at best! I personally would play devils advocate and ask "What is the risk when using the plug. Not the risk associated with the purpose?" Let me explain. If you plug in a heater while you bath or a washing machine or hairdryer would the risk be the same? You can't assume the door would always be open or partially open so let us assume the door is open, what is the splash and touch risk involved with the plug when the plug is in use? I would say if the plug is in a PSO1 or PSO2 box and the outlet is made of plastic and there is no splash risk, I would deem it reasonable safe and COC it until proven otherwise

Greetings

[Derlyn]

Why would one want a plug closer than 60cm from the edge of a bath or shower anyway ?

If it's further than 60 cm from the edge of the bath and 60cm from the edge of the shower in a bathroom and it's protected by earth leakage, then it's legal.

A bathroom according to the definition is a room that has a bath, shower or spa or any combination of the aforementioned. The washbasin, if it has one, can therefore be treated the same as the kitchen sink where there are no limitations as far as socket outlets are concerned as long as they are on earth leakage.

My golden rule is .... if in doubt, rather err on the safe side.

[Dylboy]

Perfect, thanks all, I had same idea as GCE.

The whole enclosure thing if a cupbaord was something to see opinions of.

Also there are some small bathrooms hahaha where basically everything is Zone 2 hahaha.

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[Isetech]

I have a socket outlet, 2.6 m above my bath. It was installed before I purchased the house and used to power the washing machine in the bathroom.

Our house were I grew up had a geyser literally in the bath, I remember sitting in the bath and wondering what the all the wires were for and the funny red looking thingy mabob (thermostat). My curiosity almost got the better of me. I have been electrocuted in a shower, thank goodness the handle wasnt secured to the tap. I found the fault on the overhead line outside the property.

I am led to believe that an ELU wouldn't protect you if a hair drier was dropped in the bath.

[Isetech]

What do you think of installing an inverter and all the switch gear within 0.5 of a tap in a laundry. I have seem a few pics on social media were guys are bragging about their neat install.

[GCE]

What do you think of installing an inverter and all the switch gear within 0.5 of a tap in a laundry. I have seem a few pics on social media were guys are bragging about their neat install.

If there is a sub DB then definite No based on 6.6.1.7 c - If not then Fundamentals ( 5.3.8) point us in the direction that it should not be installed close to water especially since it will not be on Earth leakage and also based on 6.15.6.3 not allowing point close to water .
Makes no sense why a dedicated plug would need to be 2m from water point and a DB 1m -



6.6.1.7 A distribution board shall not be mounted
a) in a bathroom, except outside zone 3 and unless the enclosure provides
an IP rating of IPX5 (see 7.1.4.3.6),
b) above a fixed cooking appliance or in a position where a cooking appliance
could be put below it, unless the enclosure provides a degree of protection
of at least IP44, or
c) within a radius of 1 m from a water tap (in the same room), unless the
enclosure provides a degree of protection of at least IP44.

6.15.6.3 A socket-outlet shall not be installed within a radius of 2 m of a water
tap (in the same room) unless the socket-outlet
a) has earth leakage protection, or
b) is connected to a safety supply.



5.3.4 Type of wiring and methods of installation
The type of wiring and methods of installation shall be determined after
consideration of the following:
a) the location (also consider intentional or inadvertent damage);
b) the nature of the building elements for supporting the wiring;
c) the accessibility of the wiring to persons and livestock;
d) the voltage;
e) the electromechanical stresses and thermal effects likely to occur as a
result of short-circuits; and
f) stresses imposed on the wiring during installation and in service.

5.3.8 Positioning and accessibility of electrical equipment
Electrical equipment shall be so positioned that
a) it does not impair the functioning or safety of other equipment,
b) it is readily accessible for installation, replacement, operation, testing,
inspection, maintenance, and repair (see 6.6.1.9 and 6.9.4 for the main
switch). All parts of the installation shall be accessible without the need to
enter any adjoining premises (for example, in an apartment building),
NOTE Common areas (such as passages and entrance halls) are not regarded as
adjoining areas.
c) there is easy access to its location,
d) it is not likely to be physically damaged,
e) dust or moisture is not likely to accumulate on live or other parts and cause
flashover, and
f) where the distribution board is concealed by a cupboard or other covering,
the notice for live electrical apparatus referred to in annex N shall be in a
conspicuous place indicating the position of the distribution board.
Amdt