Electrical plugs in bathroom right beside sink

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timmmay

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#211625 4-Apr-2017 19:21

An electrician has install plugs 30 from the tap sink in my Mums new bathroom. It looks like it will inevitably get wet. It apparently has two RCDs, but I don't know exactly where.

Does this meet regulations? I know when we had our bathroom redone there's no way a plumber would do that, would only put in a cupboard below the sink. In the UK you're not even allowed plugs like that in a bathroom.

If this isn't allowed a precise regulation ID would be useful so she can tell her electrician. All I can find is this, which doesn't seem to quite apply

NZECP 03:200

2.7 SWITCHES
No pendant switch or other switch connected to a flexible cord shall be used in any damp situation

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#1756546 4-Apr-2017 19:31

1) if a plumber done it, it's illegal only and electrician can do this.

2) give some measurements along the horizontal and vertical from the edge of the bowl

3) volume of bowl in Litres

4) no longer NZECP 03:1993, it's AS/NZS3000:2007

timmmay

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#1756550 4-Apr-2017 19:34

I'll ask my mum for that info thanks. Electrician did it not plumber, my mistake.

gregmcc

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#1756551 4-Apr-2017 19:37

timmmay: I'll ask my mum for that info thanks. Electrician did it not plumber, my mistake.

Ask for the certificate of compliance and electrical safety certificate as well

DonGould

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#1756553 4-Apr-2017 19:42

At a glance I'd say that's ok. It won't have 2 RCD's covering it. Only one would make sense. I have no idea how you would wire two in to that configuration.

iirc it's about zones in the bathroom about what you're allowed to do.

https://www.energysafety.govt.nz/documents/legislation-policy/electricity-act-regulations-codes/standards-and-codes-of-practice/nz-electrical-codes-of-practise/NZECP%202%201993%20New%20Zealand%20Electrical%20Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Electrical%20Installations%20in%20Damp%20Situations.pdf

Page 17 if I read it correctly.

Zone information is on page 24, but I don't understand it properly, though I didn't read it that closely either, I can't figure where zone 3 is for a sink.

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DonGould

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#1756554 4-Apr-2017 19:43

gregmcc: 4) no longer NZECP 03:1993, it's AS/NZS3000:2007

crap... did I just find and link the wrong document? Should they take those doc's down or at least make sure a google search finds the right info?

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timmmay

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#1756558 4-Apr-2017 19:47

6L sink, 35cm from where water can reach to the plug.

gregmcc

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#1756563 4-Apr-2017 19:55

DonGould:

gregmcc: 4) no longer NZECP 03:1993, it's AS/NZS3000:2007

crap... did I just find and link the wrong document? Should they take those doc's down or at least make sure a google search finds the right info?

Easy mistake, can't remember the exact section for damp area's but will look it up in the morning.

There are zones for around basins, it's is also dependant on the volume of the basin, zone 0 is in the basin, zone 1 is ??mm horizontal and ??mm vertical, no switches or sockets allowed, zone 2 is allowed switches IP rated, sockets protected by an RCD, from memory there is no zone 3 for basins, but will have to check the exact measurements from the standards when at work tomorrow.

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gregmcc

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#1756566 4-Apr-2017 19:59

timmmay: 6L sink, 35cm from where water can reach to the plug.

I need the measurement from the edge of the bowl not from the plug hole and from the bench top to the bottom of the power point.

6L seems too small from that picture, that the size of 3 x 2L milk jugs, maybe 16L?

pipe60

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#1756572 4-Apr-2017 20:06

Zone 2 extends 150mm from edge of sink for containers not exceeding 45L.

Needs to be outside Zone 2 or RCD protected and in a cupboard if in zone 2.

timmmay

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#1756576 4-Apr-2017 20:12

It's 35cm from the edge of the sink, and it's RCD protected. So I think it meets standards. Thanks all.

My wife tells me that in the UK you're not even allowed sockets like that in a bathroom. When my wife and I put in a new bathroom a few years back there's no way he'd do that, he'd only put them in the cupboard, whole room RCD protected.

Those new standards appear to be private - you can't even know what they are unless you pay for them. That's odd.

DonGould

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#1756592 4-Apr-2017 20:29

iirc you're now required to RCD protect the whole house.... but given the cost of RCDs now, you'd be very stupid not to do it even if it wasn't required.

You should always as for a cert any time you get any electrical work done.

You can also do all your own work now too, as long as it's to code, other than on the board.... though don't get me started about code, board work and sparkies... other than to say that there's nothing I don't do on my own sites now because I no longer trust anyone else!

I'll get a sparkie to do stuff, but I'll check it too, and fix it if it's wrong!

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Jase2985

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#1756597 4-Apr-2017 20:36

Zone 2 for an individual water container with a capacity not exceeding 45 L, and having fixed water outlets, shall be the area limited by —

(i) the vertical plane 0.15 m from the internal rim of the water container; and

(ii) the floor and the horizontal plane 0.4 m above the water container

solutionz

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#1756608 4-Apr-2017 20:46

timmmay:

Those new standards appear to be private - you can't even know what they are unless you pay for them. That's odd.

Ignorance of the law is no defence however access to those laws is unreasonably restricted..

gregmcc

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#1756610 4-Apr-2017 20:48

found it, outside zone 2, >150mm horizontal >400mm vertical. Looking at the picture it looks 150mm Horz, but doesn't look 400mm vert. and that is if it's on a RCD

gregmcc

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#1756611 4-Apr-2017 20:51

solutionz:

timmmay:

Those new standards appear to be private - you can't even know what they are unless you pay for them. That's odd.

Ignorance of the law is no defence however access to those laws is unreasonably restricted..

The law in this case is the Electricity act and the electrical safety regulations, the standards are a recognised way to achieve compliance with the law, the act and regulations are freely available for anyone to download.

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