Are you looking to get lights installed in your bathroom? Or perhaps you’re interested in having an extractor fan or shaver socket wired in? Maybe you’re even considering getting a fancy smart shower which remembers each user’s ideal temperature.
If any of the above applies to you, you’re in the right place.
In this handy guide to bathroom electrics, the NICEIC experts take you through some of the major factors you’ll need to consider when having electrics installed in your bathroom.
Bathroom zones – what are they and why are they important?
Water and electricity famously don’t mix – which is why BS 7671, the British Standard for electrical installations, designates bathrooms as a ‘special location’ – i.e., an area of your property where extra care needs to be taken when it comes to wiring, equipment and electrics.
To keep you and your home safe, these regulations divide bathrooms up into several ‘zones’, depending on how near an installation is to a water source like a shower or bath.
So, what are these zones?
Zone 0: anywhere inside a bathtub or shower tray that can hold water.
Zone 1: the area outside zone 0 to the highest fixed shower head, or 2.25 m from floor level (whichever is higher). For wet rooms or showers that don’t have a basin or shower tray, there is no zone 2 – zone 1 simply extends to 1.2 m around the fixed shower head.
Zone 2: an area stretching to 600 mm outside the boundary of zone 1 to the highest fixed shower head, or 2.25 m from floor level (whichever is higher).
Outside zones – outside zones refers to any area of the bathroom that is outside of zones 0, 1 and 2.
Each zone has its own specific requirements for installation, such as how waterproof the equipment/appliance should be, and the maximum voltage permitted.
Registered electricians with a recognised certification body like NICEIC are regularly assessed against the requirements of BS 7671 and will be able to tell you more about the bathroom zone your particular installation falls into.
Bathroom zone requirements
The closer an installation is to zone 0 in your bathroom, the more safety measures need to be taken to keep everyone safe.
BS 7671 lists the installation requirements for each zone as follows:
Zone 0 - any appliances must be designed for safe operation when fully immersed in water. They must also be protected by a separated extra-low voltage (SELV) supply – an electrical system that’s designed to minimise the risk of electric shock – not exceeding 12 V AC for this zone.
Zone 1 - the installation must at least be splash-proof, but a higher water resistance level may be required if it’s likely to be exposed to water jets (for example, during cleaning).
BS 7671 contains a list of equipment which can be installed within zone 1, provided the equipment manufacturer confirms it’s designed for this location. Alternatively, equipment must be protected by a SELV supply – not exceeding 25 V AC or 60 V DC for this zone.
Zone 2 - any equipment must at least be splash-proof, but a higher water resistance level may be required if it’s likely to be exposed to water jets (for example, during cleaning). Only SELV supplied switches and sockets, as well as shaver sockets complying with the relevant British Standard, can be installed in zone 2.
The SELV power source, such as a transformer, for any bathroom installation must be located outside of zones 0, 1 and 2.
Your electrician will be able to recommend suitable equipment and carry out a safe, compliant installation that meets all current standards and guidelines.
Outside zones - there are no specific water resistance requirements for equipment in areas outside zones 0, 1 and 2 – however, it’s generally recommended that you use splash-proof appliances even in a large bathroom, and that you employ a registered electrician, such as one registered with NICEIC, for any bathroom electrical installations.
Bathroom IP ratings
If you’re looking to get electrics installed in your bathroom, you might have heard the term ‘IP rating’. But what does this actually mean?
The IP rating of an appliance essentially refers to its level of water and dust resistance. For water resistance, the rating ranges from IP X1 – protected from condensation or dripping water – to IP X8 – fully waterproof and able to withstand indefinite submersion underwater.
The IP ratings you’ll need to be aware of are:
IP X4/5 – splash proof, required for bathroom zones 1 and 2.
IP X7 – protected against water immersion at a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes, required for zone 0.
Please note that some manufacturers may list an IP rating for bathroom zones with two numbers, rather than one – these numbers indicate the appliance’s resistance to both solids like dust (first number) and water (second number). A rating of 0 means no protection, while higher numbers indicate a higher level of protection. IP44 is usually the minimum rating required for a bathroom appliance.
A registered electrician will be able to tell you the IP rating required for your particular installation.
Safety considerations for different bathroom installations
With this in mind, you might be wondering what bathroom zones and safety considerations apply to your particular installation. In the section below, we’ve given a few examples of common installations and the zones and safety considerations that might apply.
However, you should always employ a registered electrician to carry out installation work in your bathroom, who will be able to advise you on the specifics of your particular job.
Wiring a bathroom mirror
It’s now quite common to get a backlit or heated mirror installed in your bathroom to give you more light and quickly clear condensation.
Given that most bathroom mirrors are installed above the sink and are therefore often close to the bathtub or shower unit, it’s most likely that your bathroom mirror wiring job will fall under the requirements for zone 2. If you have a bigger bathroom, it might actually fall outside the zones.
Sockets in bathrooms
If you have an electric toothbrush or shaver, you may wish to have a shaver socket installed so you can charge your appliance in the bathroom. According to BS 7671, these types of sockets are allowed to be installed within zone 2 of your bathroom.
There are two types of shaver sockets – those with a transformer, and those without. Your electrician will be able to recommend the right type of shaver socket for your circumstances, but essentially, shaver sockets with a transformer can be installed in zone 2 of your bathroom, while those without can’t be installed within 2.5 metres of the boundary of zone 1.
If you want to install a shaver socket near your sink, this will likely fall into zone 2.
Lighting in bathroom zones
When it comes to installing lighting in your bathroom, you’ll likely be looking at a job that falls into zone 1 (if you’re installing lights directly above your bath or shower) or zone 2. If you have high ceilings, your lighting job might not fall into any of the zones.
Note that traditional light switches are not allowed to be installed in zones 0, 1 or 2 due to the risks of touching electrical equipment with wet hands. Pull cord switches are preferred for installation within bathrooms for this reason. A common solution is to install a standard light switch just outside the bathroom door.
Extractor fan electrical wiring
If you don’t have a window in your bathroom, an extractor fan is essential to remove stale or moist air, prevent condensation and mould, and promote a healthy and comfortable environment in your bathroom.
If your extractor fan is directly above your bath or shower, you’ll likely looking at a zone 1 installation; otherwise it might fall into zone 2 or even outside zones.
Electric shower installation
To be compliant with BS 7671, all electric showers must be installed with a shower isolator switch. This safety device ensures you’re able to disconnect the power supply to the shower during maintenance or in emergencies.
Find a trusted tradesperson
Whatever job you’re having done, NICEIC’s Find a Trusted Tradesperson tool is here to help you find a trusted electrician to carry out a high-quality installation that keeps you and your family safe.
Bathroom installations – dos and don’ts
Do:
Always use a registered electrician, such as those registered with NICEIC.
Purchase all electrical appliances from reputable retailers (preferably from a bathroom specialist).
Ensure all electrical items are designed for use in a bathroom and have the correct IPX or IP ratings – this includes lighting, gadgets, appliances and cables.
Don’t:
Do it yourself! We know it’s tempting, but trying your hand at DIY electrics is not a clever idea – particularly in a bathroom!
Overlook the importance of an extractor fan.
Choose just any electrician! Visit our Find a Trusted Tradesperson tool to find a registered electrician and ensure the work carried out is safe, up to scratch and compliant with all the latest regulations.
In bathroom zones 0, 1 and 2, SELV supplied appliances are specified by BS 7671, with lower voltage requirements the nearer the appliance is to a water source. BS 7671 also specifies which non-SELV supplied equipment can be installed in a bathroom and where it can be installed.
In bathrooms, any installation or alteration within zones 0, 1, or 2 is notifiable.
If you don’t want the stress and hassle of notifying Building Control yourself, make sure you hire an electrical professional who is registered with a competent person scheme like NICEIC’s. They’ll know exactly what works are notifiable and are deemed competent to self-certify that their work complies with Building Regulations, saving you time and money.
The only exception to this rule is shaver sockets, which, subject to certain requirements, can be installed in bathroom zone 2.
All sockets installed in bathrooms should have residual current device (RCD) protection. This enables the power to be quickly cut off in case of a fault.
The best way to understand what your bathroom electrical job is going to cost is to get a quote from several registered electricians. NICEIC’s free Find a Trusted Tradesperson tool allows you to send your electrical request to local businesses in your area for a quote, making it a quick and convenient way to get a concrete price for your particular job.
As you’ve probably guessed from this article, bathroom electrics are particularly heavily regulated – for obvious reasons – and nobody but a registered electrician should be installing any kind of electrical equipment or appliance in your bathroom.
Fortunately, NICEIC makes it easy to find a registered electrician to take care of any bathroom electrical work with our Find a Trusted Tradesperson tool.