Interesting point. Pre-17th everfything in a bathroom, for instance, was in a zone;
No it wasn't.
since 17th Zone 3 has been removed so what used to be Zone 3 but within the walled space of the bathroom is now outside zones.
Zone 3 was finite - it was quite possible pre-17th for there to be space within the bathroom walls that was not in any Zone.
A strict reading as BAS has presented it is that a bathroom is NOT a special location, only those bits of the bathroom that fall within the zones.
You say "strict reading" as if it's possible that there might be a flaw in it.
Just RTFBR!
Before the latest change, the Building Regulations contained this definition:
“special location” means a location within the limits of the relevant zones specified for a bath, a shower, a swimming or paddling pool or a hot air sauna in the Wiring Regulations, sixteenth edition, published by the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671: 2001 and incorporating amendments 1 and 2.
Now it contains this one:
“special location” means a location within the limits of the relevant zones specified for a bath, a shower, a swimming or paddling pool or a hot air sauna in the Wiring Regulations, seventeenth edition, published by the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the British Standards Institution as BS 7671: 2008(2).
The reference in the list of exempt work to "special location" has always,
always,
always meant within Zones 0, 1, 2 and when it existed, 3.
It has never,
never,
never meant "anywhere within the walls of the bathroom".
You'd have to have seriously deficient reading and comprehension skills to think otherwise.
Would a larger font size help?
“special location” means a location
within the limits of the relevant zones specified for a bath, a shower, a swimming or paddling pool or a hot air sauna in the Wiring Regulations, ....
Sheesh.
Hmmmm. Anyone wanna argue the point with the building inspector?
Are you suggesting that BCOs have seriously deficient reading and comprehension skills?