Outside The Zones

[securespark]

We are having a bit of a disagreement as to what constitutes "outside the zones" in a bathroom, as regards cupboards.

One guy says if you need a key to access the cupboard, it is OK to fit accessories into it. Another guy says that if you cannot touch the bath & the accessories together, then it is OK.

I reckon a cupboard is automatically outside the zones.

Are we all wrong?

PS I've posted this on another forum, for those who are unfaithful.

 

[Spark123]

The way I understand if it is inaccessable without the use of a tool then it is outside the zones.

 

[sparky40]

Hello Secure and 123,
I have worked in many homes where cupboards inside the bathroom are home to the immersion and heating control wiring, many people put towels in them and probrobly grab for them blindly after a bath/shower !

Another grey area ????

 

[Spark123]

We had one poster ask if he could fit a boiler above his bath if he put it in a cupboard

 

[securespark]

One theory is that if the cupboard is Z3 or beyond it is ok.

If Z2, then stuff should be IPX4 rated.

Unless the cupboard is such that the open door(s) prevent access to electrical stuff while in bath, in which case the open doors could be sen as effectively limiting Z2.

I really don't know. Just wondered if there was a clearcut "standard" approach here. Seems not!

Any NIC folk want to comment??

 

[RF Lighting]

Any NIC folk want to comment??

Nope

IIRC the use of a tool related to removal of the bath panel and thus which zone under a bath is.

 

[securespark]

We had one poster ask if he could fit a boiler above his bath if he put it in a cupboard

Joking aside, I think you can now fit in Z1..

Boilers are now IP rated, and if you have rcd protection, I believe you can.

 

[Spark123]

I think that was the general outcome of the thread, providing the manufacturer specified it was acceptable.