Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Socket in bathroom

  1. #1
    Gold Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Fourways
    Posts
    759
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 35 Times in 34 Posts

    Socket in bathroom

    Hello

    Quick one, what are your thoughts of a socket on ELU, inside a cupboard in the bathroom in any Zone?

    I have a Chao saying it's ok as it's enclosed and no longer part of zone ?
    How ever to use the socket for the hairdryer the cupboard door must be open, also their are 2 sinks above it on the table top.

    Is this socket excluded from zones as in a cupboard or still part of zones as the door needs to be opened to operate the appliance ?

    Sent from my CPH2197 using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Port Elizabeth
    Posts
    1,236
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked 304 Times in 258 Posts
    A socket outlet is allowed in Zone 3 on ELU
    It is not allowed in Zone 1 or 2

    A socket outlet can be next to a Tap as long as it is on ELU - 6.15.3 - Zoning in a bathroom does not take a basin into account in any of the clauses - As long as you more than 0.6m away from a shower door (7.1.4.3.4 ) or outside the zone as defined by 7.1.2.1 and 7.1.2.3

    If there is a partition as shown in the Fig 7.1.2 it also changes the zone

    Best is to look at the zoning of bath and shower and see where the basin fits in with regards to distance from bath and shower

    Extracts from SANS 10142-1 pasted below

    6.15.6.3 A socket-outlet shall not be installed within a radius of 2 m of a water
    tap (in the same room) unless the socket-outlet
    a) has earth leakage protection, or
    b) is connected to a safety supply.

    7.1.2.1 Zone 0
    Zone 0 is the interior of the bathtub or shower basin (the container).

    7.1.2.2 Zone 1
    Zone 1 is limited by
    a) the vertical plane circumscribing the outer edge or 0,20 m from the inner
    edge (where the ledge is too wide) of the bathtub, shower basin, or for a
    shower without a basin, by the vertical plane 0,60 m from the shower rose,
    and
    b) the horizontal plane 2,5 m above the bathtub or shower floor.

    7.1.2.3 Zone 2
    Zone 2 is limited by
    a) the volume external to zone 1 and the parallel vertical plane 0,60 m
    external to zone 1, and
    b) the floor and the horizontal plane 2,25 m above the floor.

    7.1.4.3.4 Any switches and socket-outlets shall be at a distance of at least
    0,60 m from the door opening of the prefabricated shower cabinet
    (see figures 7.1.4 and 7.1.5).

  3. #3
    Silver Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Orania
    Posts
    224
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts
    Grey area at best! I personally would play devils advocate and ask "What is the risk when using the plug. Not the risk associated with the purpose?" Let me explain. If you plug in a heater while you bath or a washing machine or hairdryer would the risk be the same? You can't assume the door would always be open or partially open so let us assume the door is open, what is the splash and touch risk involved with the plug when the plug is in use? I would say if the plug is in a PSO1 or PSO2 box and the outlet is made of plastic and there is no splash risk, I would deem it reasonable safe and COC it until proven otherwise

    Greetings

  4. #4
    Platinum Member Derlyn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East london
    Posts
    1,484
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked 142 Times in 135 Posts
    Why would one want a plug closer than 60cm from the edge of a bath or shower anyway ?

    If it's further than 60 cm from the edge of the bath and 60cm from the edge of the shower in a bathroom and it's protected by earth leakage, then it's legal.

    A bathroom according to the definition is a room that has a bath, shower or spa or any combination of the aforementioned. The washbasin, if it has one, can therefore be treated the same as the kitchen sink where there are no limitations as far as socket outlets are concerned as long as they are on earth leakage.

    My golden rule is .... if in doubt, rather err on the safe side.

  5. #5
    Gold Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Fourways
    Posts
    759
    Thanks
    119
    Thanked 35 Times in 34 Posts
    Perfect, thanks all, I had same idea as GCE.

    The whole enclosure thing if a cupbaord was something to see opinions of.

    Also there are some small bathrooms hahaha where basically everything is Zone 2 hahaha.

    Sent from my CPH2197 using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,985
    Thanks
    55
    Thanked 93 Times in 89 Posts
    I have a socket outlet, 2.6 m above my bath. It was installed before I purchased the house and used to power the washing machine in the bathroom.

    Our house were I grew up had a geyser literally in the bath, I remember sitting in the bath and wondering what the all the wires were for and the funny red looking thingy mabob (thermostat). My curiosity almost got the better of me. I have been electrocuted in a shower, thank goodness the handle wasnt secured to the tap. I found the fault on the overhead line outside the property.

    I am led to believe that an ELU wouldn't protect you if a hair drier was dropped in the bath.

  7. #7
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,985
    Thanks
    55
    Thanked 93 Times in 89 Posts
    What do you think of installing an inverter and all the switch gear within 0.5 of a tap in a laundry. I have seem a few pics on social media were guys are bragging about their neat install.

  8. #8
    Platinum Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Port Elizabeth
    Posts
    1,236
    Thanks
    34
    Thanked 304 Times in 258 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Isetech View Post
    What do you think of installing an inverter and all the switch gear within 0.5 of a tap in a laundry. I have seem a few pics on social media were guys are bragging about their neat install.
    If there is a sub DB then definite No based on 6.6.1.7 c - If not then Fundamentals ( 5.3.8) point us in the direction that it should not be installed close to water especially since it will not be on Earth leakage and also based on 6.15.6.3 not allowing point close to water .
    Makes no sense why a dedicated plug would need to be 2m from water point and a DB 1m -



    6.6.1.7 A distribution board shall not be mounted
    a) in a bathroom, except outside zone 3 and unless the enclosure provides
    an IP rating of IPX5 (see 7.1.4.3.6),
    b) above a fixed cooking appliance or in a position where a cooking appliance
    could be put below it, unless the enclosure provides a degree of protection
    of at least IP44, or
    c) within a radius of 1 m from a water tap (in the same room), unless the
    enclosure provides a degree of protection of at least IP44.

    6.15.6.3 A socket-outlet shall not be installed within a radius of 2 m of a water
    tap (in the same room) unless the socket-outlet
    a) has earth leakage protection, or
    b) is connected to a safety supply.



    5.3.4 Type of wiring and methods of installation
    The type of wiring and methods of installation shall be determined after
    consideration of the following:
    a) the location (also consider intentional or inadvertent damage);
    b) the nature of the building elements for supporting the wiring;
    c) the accessibility of the wiring to persons and livestock;
    d) the voltage;
    e) the electromechanical stresses and thermal effects likely to occur as a
    result of short-circuits; and
    f) stresses imposed on the wiring during installation and in service.

    5.3.8 Positioning and accessibility of electrical equipment
    Electrical equipment shall be so positioned that
    a) it does not impair the functioning or safety of other equipment,
    b) it is readily accessible for installation, replacement, operation, testing,
    inspection, maintenance, and repair (see 6.6.1.9 and 6.9.4 for the main
    switch). All parts of the installation shall be accessible without the need to
    enter any adjoining premises (for example, in an apartment building),
    NOTE Common areas (such as passages and entrance halls) are not regarded as
    adjoining areas.
    c) there is easy access to its location,
    d) it is not likely to be physically damaged,
    e) dust or moisture is not likely to accumulate on live or other parts and cause
    flashover,
    and
    f) where the distribution board is concealed by a cupboard or other covering,
    the notice for live electrical apparatus referred to in annex N shall be in a
    conspicuous place indicating the position of the distribution board.
    Amdt

  9. Thanks given for this post:

    Isetech (29-Jul-22)

Similar Threads

  1. Bathroom extraction fan.
    By Gtfast in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 11-Nov-22, 05:36 AM
  2. Replacing a metal socket outlet with a plastic socket outlet
    By Isetech in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 18-Jun-22, 04:17 PM
  3. 230VAC socket in bathroom
    By mygoggie in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 14-Jan-22, 12:17 PM
  4. Socket outlet in bathroom
    By mlpotgieter in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 23-Oct-11, 12:10 AM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •