Bathroom light switch

[Crisp]

Hi,

I'm just moving into a new house and the bathroom (just been re-fitted in the last month) has what appears to be a standard chrome light switch on the wall in the bathroom. It's on the wall opposite the bath about 80cm away so I assume in Zone 3.
Is a standard light switch safe there? if not are there any options that don't involve pulling the tiles off the wall to re-wire to get a standard pull cord on the ceiling??

Thanks..
Chris.

 

[kevnurse]

I have a similar situation in my old house where a bedroom was transformed into a bathroom. I have done nothing about it because there is no way that anyone can be in contact with the plumbing system while operating the light switch. I believe this is the principle behind the reason for pull cord switches.

 

[Crisp]

Is the general damp / steam environment in the bathroom a potential issue though rather than actually being attached to both plumbing and switch at the same time?
Afraid I know nothing much about electrics, but there does seem to be general suggestion that either a switch should be fitted outside the bathroom or a cord..

 

[Steve]

As theres a 99% chance the cable for your lightswitch goes UP into the roofspace, its pretty easy to rewire for a pullswitch. Cut the wire in the ceiling, and fit a pullswitch. Fit a blank on the wall to indicate the presence of a cable (and if you have no spare tiles!). If you can, pull the wire up into the loft - it may be in trunking or conduit.