Dog shower too close to light switch

[Donetello1561]

Thoughts on dog shower being close to the metal light switch?.
It’s just over 300mm away from it,I was just thinking if any of the hoses leak potential issue,although it would only be connected while cleaning the dogs off.
Thinking of replacing light switch with a weather proof one,is it necessary?.
Thanks

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well - it would not be allowed for a human shower.

It's not a question of whether it leaks or not; that's not important.

It is whether there is an electrical fault while you are standing in water.

 

[JohnW2]

Well - it would not be allowed for a human shower.

Indeed - but that raises an interesting question which the authors of the regs probably didn't consider

 

[Murdochcat]

Swap it for an IP rated switch if it worries you

 

[Murdochcat]

Indeed - but that raises an interesting question which the authors of the regs probably didn't consider

Let’s not open up that discussion

 

[JohnW2]

Let’s not open up that discussion

The problem is that if one takes BS7671 to literally mean what it says, then your suggestion of an "IP-rated switch" would be non-compliant.

You are choosing to assume that the regs are intended to mean something other than what they actually say (i.e. are apply ing common sense). Whilst I personally have no problem with that, I think anyone taking advice such as you have given should be made aware that some might regard it as non-compliant with regs.

In terms of the issue in general, I suppose one concern would be that some of the more sophisticated "dog showers" I've seen (in fact, my neighbour has one for his very large doberman!), might well be considered by parents to be suitable for a small child.

Finally (and I'm not getting at you, since I say it to most people I see writing/saying such things), when advising an OP I think one should be clearer about what one means by "IP rated". We all tend to use the phrase, but it's 'sloppy', since items with an IP rating of, say, IP00 or IP11 are, actually, "IP rated", but not with a rating anything high enough to be acceptable for the sort of situations one would usually be talking about.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I presume that the dogs using the shower are not alone.

 

[Murdochcat]

The problem is that if one takes BS7671 to literally mean what it says, then your suggestion of an "IP-rated switch" would be non-compliant.

You are choosing to assume that the regs are intended to mean something other than what they actually say (i.e. are apply ing common sense). Whilst I personally have no problem with that, I think anyone taking advice such as you have given should be made aware that some might regard it as non-compliant with regs.

In terms of the issue in general, I suppose one concern would be that some of the more sophisticated "dog showers" I've seen (in fact, my neighbour has one for his very large doberman!), might well be considered by parents to be suitable for a small child.

Finally (and I'm not getting at you, since I say it to most people I see writing/saying such things), when advising an OP I think one should be clearer about what one means by "IP rated". We all tend to use the phrase, but it's 'sloppy', since items with an IP rating of, say, IP00 or IP11 are, actually, "IP rated", but not with a rating anything high enough to be acceptable for the sort of situations one would usually be talking about.

Hook, line and sinker

 

[JohnW2]

I presume that the dogs using the shower are not alone.

That's also true, but I suppose that the human's involved would probably not (usually!) be 'in the shower' !

So, do you think Murdo's advice was unwise?

 

[EFLImpudence]

That's also true, but I suppose that the human's involved would probably not (usually!) be 'in the shower' !

True.

So, do you think Murdo's advice was unwise?

Not really.

Perhaps because of what you have said this so-called shower is no more than a hose pipe and could be treated as such and nothing need be done - or the external switch could be fitted.

 

[EFLImpudence]

The supply cable could do with some improvement.

 

[mattylad]

I wish my dogs would shower, they stink!

 

[EFLImpudence]

They all do.

 

[JohnW2]

Perhaps because of what you have said this so-called shower is no more than a hose pipe and could be treated as such and nothing need be done - or the external switch could be fitted.

Yes, that may well be true of this particular example. However, more generally, some of these dog showers are anything but "so-called" - my neighbour's one is just a 'not-so-tall' version of a regular human shower (and, to be honest, could have been designed and sold 'for small children) and I really don't think it would be easy to argue that the room containing it is not a "location containing a bath or shower"

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

They all do.

worse, when wet!