Shower unit wiring legal?

[PeteresC]

Can across this wiring to the electric shower unit during a house viewing. The wires are not behind the wall nor in trunking. Is this even legal or safe as water will trickle down the outside of the wires

Thank you.

 

[Madrab]

Probably one for the electrical forum as that would probably fall under the 18th edition regs. That being said If I was into to sort out the shower I wouldn't work on that until it was at least in a proper conduit and sealed. Shouldn't be touching the copper either IMO.

 

[blup]

I wouldn't be overly concerned if its point of entry was properly glanded, and there was RCD protection. My electric shower was installed like that under the 15th Edition and was over the bath. But as said not difficult to run it in trunking.

 

[PeteresC]

Yes it has RCD protection.

 

[Madrab]

Don't believe an exposed cable like that would ever be allowed in a bathroom these days - @EFLImpudence

 

[stem]

....water will trickle down the outside of the wires

There is usually an almost trunking like section moulded in as part of the shower casing to prevent any drips entering the electrical part of the shower.

This is the section with the rectangular hole and cable grip shown on the right in the example below. Then an upward bend to the terminals prevents any water that might run down the cable reaching them

 

[EFLImpudence]

Don't believe an exposed cable like that would ever be allowed in a bathroom these days - @EFLImpudence

I didn't say anything.

 

[Murdochcat]

Not sure that there is any immediate danger - that said it wouldn't harm to conceal the in some trunking - for aesthetics if nothing else

 

[Madrab]

I didn't say anything.

Apols @EFLImpudence, that was more just to get your opinion and for me looking to confirm as to whether an exposed cable like that would be allowed above a bath/shower under the regs?

To me, common sense would suggest that If I came across that in someone's property I would be telling them that it's potentially dangerous and they need to get it fixed. Surely a high capacity cable like that shouldn't just be just loose like that? At the very least it should be in a sealed conduit and the entry point to the shower case sealed or @ best entry from the rear, otherwise it will also compromise the showers IP rating??

 

[Deleted member 142255]

Apols @EFLImpudence, that was more just to get your opinion and for me looking to confirm as to whether an exposed cable like that would be allowed above a bath/shower under the regs?

To me, common sense would suggest that If I came across that in someone's property I would be telling them that it's potentially dangerous and they need to get it fixed. Surely a high capacity cable like that shouldn't just be just loose like that? At the very least it should be in a sealed conduit and the entry point to the shower case sealed or @ best entry from the rear, otherwise it will also compromise the showers IP rating??

It is poor workmanship but not really prohibited.

We can't see the bottom of the shower or the cable entry, but as long as the entry into the shower unit is sealed there isn't a problem, but a few minutes work and a little trunking would tidy it up.

 

[endecotp]

Surely a high capacity cable like that shouldn't just be just loose like that? At the very least it should be in a sealed conduit and the entry point to the shower case sealed or @ best entry from the rear, otherwise it will also compromise the showers IP rating??

The cable is waterproof, and is less likely to overheat while exposed. As the photo above shows, the waterproofness of the shower doesn’t depend on no drips entering via the cable entry.

On the other hand, an exposed cable is more subject to mechanical damage than it would be in trunking. But generally we don’t require that cables that are visible are protected from e.g. being stabbed with a sharp object.

 

[trojanhawrs]

It should definitely be clipped.

 

[jj4091]

I'm puzzled why it has 2 cables appearing to go to it, unless it was originally done for a lower rated shower and then another cable added when the original was replaced with a higher rated one that the original cable was too small for.

 

[pcaouolte]

I'm puzzled why it has 2 cables appearing to go to it, unless it was originally done for a lower rated shower and then another cable added when the original was replaced with a higher rated one that the original cable was too small for.

I'm seeing one cable and a water pipe?

 

[PeteresC]

Thanks all. Yes there is just one cable the other being the water feed. So sealed trunking and clipping is OK as a DIY job? I bought the property so will likely tackle this myself.