Minimum height for a power socket near a washing machine

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semigeek

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#205019 26-Oct-2016 19:08

Can anyone tell me what the minimum height is for a power socket above or to the side of a washing machine? Going to be doing a new laundry soon and want to know what height to cut the hole in the aqualine so a sparky can install a socket.

richms

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#1658478 26-Oct-2016 19:10

Ultimatly it is up to them if they will do the cert on the work so you should consult with them before starting things like chopping up your linings and stuff. There are plenty of things which are ok by the regs but are just crap workmanship which a decent sparky will not put their name to.

Richard rich.ms

Fred99

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#1658733 27-Oct-2016 09:01

Proximity to the laundry tub with taps - rather than the washing machine - will probably be the limiting factor on placement. Too low, and you'll be having to move the machine to get to the wall socket, or won't be able to position the machine where you want it - which is rather inconvenient. Too high up the wall, and you'll have cables dangling down - which might look a bit odd. In ours, the wall sockets are just above the top of the machines - there was nowhere else for it to go really. That looks okay, but there's a potential nuisance as if you drop a cord, it disappears behind the washer or dryer and can be a PITA to retrieve. That's a double socket with washing machine and drier plugged in to it, but there's no spare socket - I should have put in a 4-way socket, which would have avoided having to unplug the washer or dryer.

Disrespective

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#1658740 27-Oct-2016 09:14

Yeah, the restriction is not the washing machine itself, but the water source (taps and tub). You can even have the power for the washing machine below the height of the machine so long as it's a certain distance from the side of the tub. I can't recall exact dimensions off the top of my head but have the document somewhere on file. If you need I can dig it out.

elpenguino

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#1658797 27-Oct-2016 10:54

i think what you need to find is the information referring to 'wet zones'. They are defined by water holding capacity, so there's a section for baths/pools and basins or tubs.

Your socket will need to be a certain distance away horizontally as well as vertically if you want to use standard (PDL500/600 for example) equipment and not some kind of waterproof fitting.

As usual there's the danger of not knowing if the information you find is the latest or most relevant so check with an expert before doing something that you cant patch up

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

blackjack17

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#1658816 27-Oct-2016 11:13

pdf

have a look at page 38

Zone 0 The area of the interior of the water container.

Zone 2 For an individual water container with a capacity exceeding 45 litres, the area limited by the:

(a) Vertical plane 0.5 m from the internal rim of the water container; and

(b) Floor and the horizontal plane 1.0 m above the water container.

NOTE: The zones do not extend beyond the boundaries of the room.

SOCKET-OUTLETS

6.4.1 Do not install socket-outlets within 0.3 m of a floor of a bathroom, laundry or other similar location where the floor might get wet.

In addition, remember the degree of protection required; the following must apply to the installation of socket outlets in the classified Zones.

6.4.2 Do not install socket-outlets in Zones 0 or 1.

38 6.4.3 In Zone 2, socket-outlets must: (a) Have automatic switching and be incorporated in a shaver supply unit; or (b) Be enclosed in a cupboard provided that the enclosure is maintained during the normal operation of the connected appliance AND the socket-outlet is protected by an RCD having a residual operating current not greater than 30 milli-amperes.

6.4.4 In Zone 3, socket-outlets must: (a) Be protected by an RCD, having a residual operating current not greater than 30 milli-amperes; or (b) Be supplied by an individual isolating transformer; or (c) Be supplied at safety extra-low voltage.

disclaimer not an electrician

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1eStar

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#1659378 27-Oct-2016 23:06

I was just talking to a sparky today about this, he said 150mm away from the "container" if protected by RCD.

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neb

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#1659812 28-Oct-2016 14:05

Fred99:
Proximity to the laundry tub with taps - rather than the washing machine - will probably be the limiting factor on placement.

Another thing with proximity is the chance of the socket getting splashed with water from the tub. If there's a chance of splashing you'll need to get a different socket and/or relocate it. Mitigating factors are distance from the water source and anything that blocks direct water access. For example I've got a socket fairly close to a sink, but there's a utility cabinet in front of it, so the chance of accidental splashing is nil.

semigeek

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#1659868 28-Oct-2016 15:07

Thanks all for the info. Reading the code of practice now.

MikeB4

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#1659870 28-Oct-2016 15:10

my wife's answer to this question would be .... "so I can beep beep beep reach it"

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

webwat

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#1664036 4-Nov-2016 22:00

Disrespective:

Yeah, the restriction is not the washing machine itself, but the water source (taps and tub). You can even have the power for the washing machine below the height of the machine so long as it's a certain distance from the side of the tub. I can't recall exact dimensions off the top of my head but have the document somewhere on file. If you need I can dig it out.

Yes the power socket cannot be in a wet zone, cant remember exactly but it might be something like 1m above and to sides from position of the taps. Ask sparkies whether they need to put in an RCD.

Time to find a new industry!

gregmcc

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#1664037 4-Nov-2016 22:02

the answer if it needs to be an RCD socket then the answer is yes, all sockets in a domestic installation must be on an RCD