220V power outlet in the heads

Maybe not quite right (if that's the new saying?)

BS 7671, Regulation 701.512.3 permits 230v socket outlets to be installed in a room containing a bath or shower, providing they are installed 3m horizontally from the boundary of zone 1.

*Zone 1 is limited by the vertical surface circumscribing the bath tub or shower basin and is extended for showers without a basin for a fixed water outlet to a distance of 1.20 m from the centre point of the water outlet.

Not quite sure how I could have said it differently but do correct me :)

Ref Zone 2.... it's 2.25m above finished floor level.

VicS said:
Not quite right. You are getting confused with "zone 2" which extends to 3m above a bath or shower but only 0.6 m horizontally either side

More detail on many websites eg https://tp24.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Bathroom-IP-Zones.pdf

PVB's socket above the washbasin should be fine provided it is 0.6m above the basin
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I reckon we're all vaguely sensible people, and know better than to drop the hair dryer into the basin, or lick our fingers and stick them in the socket. Regulations are for the less fortunate, who might want to use a fan heater to warm the bath water.
 
Latest domestic regs say 3 metres horizontally from bath/shower: just spent substantial money getting sockets moved in a property rented out.
 
While I agree that you guys are pretty sensible and can use common sense, my understanding is the regs for domestic installations are to avoid two situations:

(1) You have wet hands from the tap. And you suddenly decide you should have put the light on so while still holding the tap you flick the light switch and create a circuit to earth from the faulty light switch through your wet hands to the earthed tap.

(2) You are in the bath and decide you want to use an electrical appliance and then drop it in the water. In the old days I thought this was bonkers, but there has been a recent series of deaths when people have wanted to use their phone in the bath and needed to charge it at the same time. Extension lead to bring the charger close enough to the bath...

So scenario 1 sort of exists on a boat, but probably all over it as others have said... but possibly no earthed tap ? So no perfect route to earth.

Scenario 2, clearly not going to happen in a bath, but is there any risk that a "high up" socket ends up with a live appliance hanging from it having fallen, and if so what does it fall into? A sink etc?
 
lpdsn said:
The German's don't seem to have worried about it. I've one in each heads fitted as built. Both are pretty high up and have covers over them and are away from where any direct exposure to water would be likely..
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They may have isolating transformers behind them.
 
jwilson said:
Latest domestic regs say 3 metres horizontally from bath/shower: just spent substantial money getting sockets moved in a property rented out.
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Good job we don't go sailing in rented houses then. My boat is 35ft and i cannot find much of a spot inside that isn't withing 3m from a sink.

Domestic regs, commercial regs, US regs are all irrelevant to UK boats. If we had to comply with all of those we wouldn't have electrickery onboard.
 
jwilson said:
Latest domestic regs say 3 metres horizontally from bath/shower: just spent substantial money getting sockets moved in a property rented out.
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A good many bathrooms are not large enough to allow that horizontal distance. Neither of mine are!
 
GrahamM376 said:
What about coded boats, any regs. apply to those?
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They use phrases like "The electrical installation is to be such as to minimise the risk of fire and electric shock."

There are probably more requirements for the inland waterway BSS, but they are pretty much common sense.
 
Many regs apply, one of which off the top of my head is ISO 13297 along with all manner of others. Commercial boat work is a minefield as are the surveyors! Although actually a lot easier to work on than private boats. We tend to amalgamate BS7671 with various ISO dippings to "boatify"it.

Sidetracked really from the subject.... I wouldn't be leaving a customer with an accessible socket in the bog. I know of a few boats that I have worked on where sockets have been fitted behind a washer or dryer in the room but they've had separate shower rooms so design standard would qualify it to be ok in my eyes on that occasion as the installer.

Every situation is different, take care.

GrahamM376 said:
What about coded boats, any regs. apply to those?
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matthewriches said:
Many regs apply, one of which off the top of my head is ISO 13297 along with all manner of others. Commercial boat work is a minefield as are the surveyors! Although actually a lot easier to work on than private boats. We tend to amalgamate BS7671 with various ISO dippings to "boatify"it.

Sidetracked really from the subject.... I wouldn't be leaving a customer with an accessible socket in the bog. I know of a few boats that I have worked on where sockets have been fitted behind a washer or dryer in the room but they've had separate shower rooms so design standard would qualify it to be ok in my eyes on that occasion as the installer.

Every situation is different, take care.
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ISO 13297 has nothing to do with coded or commercial boats, per se. it relates to AC installation on small craft (up to 24m). When it comes to the location of outlets there is no mention whatsoever of not installing them in the heads, or otherwise. There is a mention of galley installations, but that has nothing to do with the sink.

IMO if it is acceptable to install outlets adjacent to the galley sink then it is equally acceptable to install one in the heads, providing there is not a shower or bath in there.
 
When you delve into it you'll see most of their insurers will quote that as being a standard to work to among others. A lot will also specifically dictate types of cable that must be used. But that's commercial. By that I mean workboats, tug boats, etc. When you start looking at "big ships" then that's out of my realm.

PaulRainbow said:
ISO 13297 has nothing to do with coded or commercial boats, per se. it relates to AC installation on small craft (up to 24m). When it comes to the location of outlets there is no mention whatsoever of not installing them in the heads, or otherwise. There is a mention of galley installations, but that has nothing to do with the sink.

IMO if it is acceptable to install outlets adjacent to the galley sink then it is equally acceptable to install one in the heads, providing there is not a shower or bath in there.
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matthewriches said:
When you delve into it you'll see most of their insurers will quote that as being a standard to work to among others. A lot will also specifically dictate types of cable that must be used. But that's commercial. By that I mean workboats, tug boats, etc. When you start looking at "big ships" then that's out of my realm.
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ISO 13297 would apply to a new boat, less than 24m, whatever it's intended use. If someone then wanted to code it for charter use there are obviously some additional things to abide by (as i know you know). I'm not aware of anything specific applying to outlets in the heads, but i stand to be corrected. No doubt the workboats you mention have another layer of "standards" and a thick coating of H&S.
 
And high viz :)

PaulRainbow said:
ISO 13297 would apply to a new boat, less than 24m, whatever it's intended use. If someone then wanted to code it for charter use there are obviously some additional things to abide by (as i know you know). I'm not aware of anything specific applying to outlets in the heads, but i stand to be corrected. No doubt the workboats you mention have another layer of "standards" and a thick coating of H&S.
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it doesn't make any sense to put a dehumidifier in the heads it should be in the main cabin so it covers there and the cabins fore and aft. That's what we had and it was sometimes by the kitchen sink so a pipe could feed water to the sink when we weren't there.
 
KellysEye said:
it doesn't make any sense to put a dehumidifier in the heads it should be in the main cabin so it covers there and the cabins fore and aft. That's what we had and it was sometimes by the kitchen sink so a pipe could feed water to the sink when we weren't there.
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The OPs boat is a sub 30ft sports cruiser !
 
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