Bathroom electrics can be extremely dangerous if you do not know what you are doing and as a result you could get a severe electric shock which could result in death.

That’s why under Part P of the Building Regulations any electrical work completed where a bath or shower is involved is treated as a ‘special location’ and specific rules apply to electrical work there.

All bathroom electrics such as showers, extractor fans, lighting or heaters require RCD protection to be complaint with regulations. This is not a problem for modern homes as they have been fitted with the RCD’s, however older homes are very unlikely to have them fitted.

There are many other regulations that have to be complied with while working with bathroom electrics as follows:

-          Sockets are not allowed within 3 metres of the edge of the bath/shower, which for most houses means no sockets in the bathroom! The only exception is shaver sockets.

-          Only fixed permanently connected equipment such as electrical showers and towel heater rails are allowed.

-          No switches are allowed in the bath or shower area but cord operated switches are allowed elsewhere

-          Lights can be fitted above the bath and shower but these must be specific waterproof ones not your standard bedroom fitting!

All bathroom electrics are reportable depending on the quality of work and the work has to be carried out by a certified electrician.