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I would say that is incorrect. BS7671:2008 is not law although in can be used in a court of law. The problem arises where the retailer has charged for fitting before the event very hard to back out after money has changed hands.(They would not even put them in the same room, still in the packaging, as its illegal!)
So to nitty gritty (Safety) Regulations 1994 if designed to be supplied with a plug and socket arrangement then a plug to BS1363 must be fitted. For the supplier to cut off the plug could be seen as breaking the law. But likely that is the only way it could be considered as illegal.
But for an electrician to install then we look as warranty of skill. Once we leave the protection of BS7671:2008 then we need to look at method statements and risk assessments. We move from public liability to professional indemnity were we are using our skills as an electrical engineer to assess the risks. As said before all academic unless something goes wrong.
The other point is of course any contracts entered into by the electrician when becoming a member of a professional body. If an electrician in order to self certify becomes a member of a scheme then he is bound by the agreement signed when he enters the scheme.
So what is required is that risk assessment. What are the risks of installing an appliance in a damp situation?
So first splashing water. It states you can hook discharge hose over the edge of a sink and warns that water may over flow if sink can't empty quick enough. So it should be resistant to water splashes in case this event should happen so no real problem with splashing water.
Humidity again one would expect any laundry room to have high humidity and I can find nothing in technical data to limit the humidity it can work in. Although one would question ability to dry cloths in high humidity.
Temperature other than protect against freezing nothing about working temperature.
It states not suitable for use in a non-stationary location (e.g. on a ship) and protect from damage by cockroaches or other vermin. It states the electrical socket must be easily accessible after installation so that the machine can be disconnected from the electricity supply is necessary. Not to use an extension lead or multi-scoket adapter. And it must be correctly earthed. And it should use a mains electrical supply I assume no portable generators should be used?
So it would seem nothing to stop you using it in a bathroom outside the zones, other than need to cut off the plug. As I said I would not code one if I found it installed.
It is of course a fixed appliance weight is over the limit to be classed as portable so one would need to ensure the load would not cause an overload to the supply circuit. If need centre of a ring final this is not a problem. However near the consumer unit again down to risk assessment or follow the suggestion of using a dedicated supply when over 2kW.
What one has to remember should anything go wrong you will need to show you considered the risks, personally I would be considering a second earth and not rely on the flex alone. Of course RCD protection and a record of trip current and times to show you were sure it was working.
Personally I don't think it's worth the risk. But can't find anything to say you should not do it.