Your bathroom is
one of the most important rooms in your home that the whole family
use on a daily basis. Spend a day without one and you will see why!
Any householder who has had a replacement bathroom fitted in their
home will know where we are coming from here.
As electricians
we see many dangerous risks being taken in bathrooms and particularly
where new bathrooms have been installed, the electrics in the
bathroom are often overlooked either through oversight or lack of
knowledge.
Don't forget your electrics in
your new bathroom
When you plan a
new bathroom, do consider the electrical aspect. Particular
attention needs to be given to the light fittings especially if they
are located above a shower or bath. Also remember that sockets are
not allowed around baths, basins, and showers. Switches need to be
located outside of the bathroom or alternatively a pull cord switch
within the bathroom.
The rules
surrounding electrical fittings within bathrooms are quite complex
and we always strongly recommend calling registered London electrical contractors to come and take a look and to advise what your options
are, or indeed whether you need to upgrade your current electrical
fittings to comply with the latest electrical regulations.
If you are in
the process of designing your new bathroom, we have put together a
handy electrical check list which you may find useful. It will
ensure you and your family’s safety when using what could be the
most dangerous room in your home.
Remember water
and electricity do not mix and electrical accidents can take you
unawares in the bathroom if you are not aware of some essential dos
and don’t s.
What you should know about your
bathrooms electrics
- Sockets
Sockets
are not allowed at all in bathrooms (with the exception of shaver
supply sockets) unless they can be fitted more than 3 metres away
from the bath or shower.
- Shaver supply sockets
Your
domestic electrician in London will take care to ensure your shaver
supply socket is installed in a safe location in your bathroom away
from splashes.
- Lighting
An
enclosed light fitting is a much better option than a normal pendant
fitting in a bathroom. If you do opt for a pendant fitting it must
be well away from water sources and out of the reach of anyone using
the bath or shower. Remember water and electricity are a lethal
combination.
- Switches
A
ceiling mounted pull cord made of insulating material is the safest
option for your bathroom. Switches are not advised due to the danger
of touching them with wet hands. Do remember to dry your hands first
before using any switches.
- Heating
Central
heating is the best method of heating your bathroom. If you use an
electric heater it must be plugged in at least 3 metres away from
your bath and shower.
Gas and electric heaters must otherwise be fixed and permanently wired and
preferably operated with a pull cord or switch located outside the
bathroom.
- Electric Showers
These
must be supplied on their own circuit direct from the consumer unit.
Do
not
Bring
portable electrical appliances into your bathroom under any
circumstances. Such appliances include hair dryers, heaters and
radios. Electricians can install a fixed hair dryer with hot hair
delivered through a flexible pipe if you like to dry your hair in the
bathroom. You can also use a shower radio too which ensures you stay
safe.
It
pays to use an electrician
For
your own safety we recommend calling on an electrician to carry out electrical work in London. You will have peace of mind that your
bathroom electrics are installed safely. It is very easy to splash a
pendant accidentally with water from a shower.
It
makes sense to finish off your bathroom nicely too. It is costly
installing a new bathroom and dangerous electrics can really take the
shine off what is a major home improvement. The cost of using an
NICEIC electrician in London will be far cheaper than trying to do it
yourself and then have to call an electrician to put the job right.
No comments:
Post a Comment