Domestic Bathroom Wiring

[petevonmikedaz]

Hi, I am seasoned sparky working mainly on industrial and commercial installations and am a bit rusty on domestics.
Could someone clarify exactly what the requirements are for wiring in a bathroom, does everything including the light need to be on an RCD, if so how is this achieved.
Also what supplementary bonding is needed these days.

 

[Steve]

Nothing needs to be on an RCD unless it is in certain zones.

4mm bonding between all circuits and ECPs present in a bathroom.

 

[Chri5]

Consult doc 17th ed will require all service in bathroom to be via RCD.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to build this in to the work along with the required bonding.

Bonding will not be req when 17th ed is active

 

[sm1thson]

does everything including the light need to be on an RCD, if so how is this achieved.

RCBO's!!! (did i beat johnD)

 

[petevonmikedaz]

It seems a bit of a grey area at the moment, some people put the light on an RCD or RCBO but do I gather it isn't a requirement at the moment.

 

[davy_owen_88]

Why can't you delete your own posts? When you have a stupid moment it would be useful if you could hide it...

 

[Spark123]

It depends where the light is as to wether or not it needs to be RCD protected. If it lands in zone 1 it needs to be on RCD unless it is SELV.

 

[JohnD]

RCBOs are great but:

The RCD or RCBO should not be used to give protection to an unsafe installation.

Keep the accessories in the correct zones (hint: It is an advantage not to have an extractor or lamp above the bath, saves you having to use IP-rated accessories. Also, take the shaver socket and the fan off the lighting circuit to save you having to bond the socket circuit) and do Supplementary bonding to current regs; if and when bathrooms need RCD protection (which will probably not be retrospective), you can add it later if you want.

If you can put the bathroom lighting supply on a leg with an isolator above the (outside) of the bathroom door, it is out of the way, but accessible, and makes it really easy to isolate for maintenance, and gives you the opportunity to install an RCD FCU which is an easy way to add an RCD later if it becomes necessary.

Have you seen the Bathroom Zones PDF?

http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/NL139supp.pdf