Light above basin in bathroom - regs
- Thread starter STEVEROG
- Start date
for electrical regs it comes under the 17th edition of the wiring regs the most relevant parts include:
-the light needs to be suitable for the 'bathroom zone' (there should be info in the wiki).
-there is also safe zones (again in the wiki) for the cable
-circuits in the bathroom should be RCD protected (or bonded?)
[edit]-most cables below 50mm depth need RCD protection regardless of location (i forgot about that) [/edit]
then it also comes under part P of the building regs (again see the wiki)
-the light needs to be suitable for the 'bathroom zone' (there should be info in the wiki).
-there is also safe zones (again in the wiki) for the cable
-circuits in the bathroom should be RCD protected (or bonded?)
[edit]-most cables below 50mm depth need RCD protection regardless of location (i forgot about that) [/edit]
then it also comes under part P of the building regs (again see the wiki)
Thanks for your comments.
When I get around to doing this work (after the wife's subtle hints start to become rather less subtle - you know the score!) I had intended to take the power feed for the light above the basin from either (a) The bathroom main lighting ciruit in the cieling above the bathroom or (b) Spur off of the nearest socket ring circuit under the floor. I quite like the idea of option (a) as this would allow me to switch the light above the basin AND the main bathroom light from the same PULL-CORD switch. Does this sound sensible (and meets regs). If I had to go for option (b) I assume I would need a fused spur outside the zones?
I would be looking at at least an IP X4 light above the sink and probably a higher rating than this (IP X4 is really limp!). I would be chasing the wall above the sink from ceiling down to fitting and running in the 1.5mm with at least capping over the cable.
What do building control actually require from me before I proceed? Is it a statement of my intended work? sketches. Is there a simple guide for how you deal with this?
When I get around to doing this work (after the wife's subtle hints start to become rather less subtle - you know the score!) I had intended to take the power feed for the light above the basin from either (a) The bathroom main lighting ciruit in the cieling above the bathroom or (b) Spur off of the nearest socket ring circuit under the floor. I quite like the idea of option (a) as this would allow me to switch the light above the basin AND the main bathroom light from the same PULL-CORD switch. Does this sound sensible (and meets regs). If I had to go for option (b) I assume I would need a fused spur outside the zones?
I would be looking at at least an IP X4 light above the sink and probably a higher rating than this (IP X4 is really limp!). I would be chasing the wall above the sink from ceiling down to fitting and running in the 1.5mm with at least capping over the cable.
What do building control actually require from me before I proceed? Is it a statement of my intended work? sketches. Is there a simple guide for how you deal with this?
Oh forget about the RCD issue. This might make things a bit more painful as all of the current lighting is on the non-RCCB side of my consumer unit. I assume one option would be to add a new separate lighting circuit for the bathroom only from one of the RCCB protected spare ways on my consumer unit and then do as I said for option (a). Maybe another approach would be to shift the existing lighting circuit that I was going to tap into from non-RCCB to an RCCB protected circuit (thats probably less work).
Nice !!!!!!
Nice !!!!!!
Err - we don't know what zone it's going to be in, so you can't say that for certain.
Only for any new concealed cables.
The advantage of (b) is that you could use an RCD spur which would mean your new concealed cable would comply with the regulations.
Capping is for protection against plasterers' trowels only.
You need to show them how you will comply with P1. It would be a good idea for you to first read Approved Document P for details of the path of least resistance, and the On-Site Guide and the Electrician's Guide To The Building Regulations.
And find out from your LABC if they will even allow you to DIY - some do all they can to prevent it, to the extent of acting unlawfully...
30mA RCD protection is now required for ALL circuits in a bathroom, regardless of depth and/or bonding, see regulation 701.411.3.
So if you extend a circuit, the bit the you have added/modified will need a 30mA RCD.
So if you extend a circuit, the bit the you have added/modified will need a 30mA RCD.
But if you are not creating a new circuit in the bathroom it doesn't have to comply with 701.411.3 - the regulations are not retroactive.
The concealed cable will, which is why I said that making it a spur would be handy.
In the context, that's gratuitously pedantic.
Which bit?
Agreed, regs are not retrospective, however the point I was making was that all circuits in a bathroom do require a 30mA RCD, which is why I went on to say the "bit the you have added/modified" will need a RCD. The depth and bonding issues still apply.
Even if it's located outside of Zones 1 or 2, accessories should still be fit for location. If there's even a remote chance the fitting would be splashed with water then its IP rating should be considered.
New concealed cables will need RCD protection because they are concealed, not because of the location.
Sorry - it was the ceiling switch I was commenting on, not the IP rating....
701.411.3.3 is un-ambiguous, 30mA RCD protection is required for circuits in a bathroom.
Even if the cable was on the surface and all bonding was in place you will still need a 30mA RCD for the modified part of the circuit in the special location of a bathroom!
The regulations are not retroactive.
If the circuit is not newly created or extended so that it now serves the bathroom when before it did not then it does not need to be made to comply with the new regulations.
If it was a non-bathroom lighting circuit to which you were adding a new switch drop would you still argue that the modified part of the circuit needed RCD protection if it was <50mm and without mechanical protection?
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