Bathrooms require careful coordination between electrical positions, wet areas, product suitability, ventilation, joinery, tiling and access for maintenance. Provide the proposed layout and exact equipment details so the electrical work can be reviewed as part of the complete bathroom plan.
When to enquire
Define the scope
Special location rules
A bathroom is a special location under BS 7671, and what may be installed is determined by proximity to water. Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower basin; Zone 1 is above it to 2.25m; Zone 2 extends 0.6m beyond Zone 1 and around a washbasin. Each zone sets a minimum IP rating and restricts the equipment permitted.
Standard 13A sockets are not permitted within 3m of the boundary of Zone 1, which rules them out of most domestic bathrooms entirely — a shaver supply unit to the relevant standard is the normal solution. All circuits serving the room require RCD protection, and in England work in a bathroom is notifiable under Part P.
Zone 0 permits only low-voltage SELV fittings rated IPX7. Zones 1 and 2 need at least IPX4. Check the manufacturer stated zone suitability before buying — many attractive mirrors and fittings are only rated for positions further from the bath than people expect.
It may be omitted only where all three conditions are met: every circuit serving the room has 30mA RCD protection, all circuits satisfy the disconnection times, and effective main protective bonding is in place. In older installations one is usually missing.
Mechanical extraction is required where there is no adequate alternative. Timer overrun and humidity-sensing units are both common; a timer model needs a permanent live as well as a switched one, plus an isolator for maintenance.
A dedicated circuit sized for the rating, with a means of isolation, usually a ceiling pull-cord. Fitting a more powerful shower onto the circuit of a weaker one is a frequent and serious mistake.
Include the postcode, preferred timing and any useful existing information.