can a socket back on to shower?

[SJRSJR]

Hello

I'd like to have an additional double socket in the bedroom but it'd be in a plasterboarded wall backing on to water pipe into the shower. Is that against regs? (I'm thinking of the risk if there was a water leak and the socket being below it.) Anywhere else and it won't be accessible. Thanks.

 

[flameport]

No regulation, you can put the socket there.

 

[SJRSJR]

Thanks for the quick reply. Am surprised - I'll get it done before they change the rules..

 

[EFLImpudence]

I'll get it done before they change the rules..

But if they do then you will have to move the shower.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Not a problem, assuming the cable isn't routed through the shower room (there are special requirements for that).
Any new circuit must be RCD-protectred. I assume you have that in your consumer unit?
Where will you be taking the power feed from.

PS Dont worry about water pipes near electrics. Pipes dont usually spring a leak, unless you are a rubbish plumber.
Have a look in the average ceiling, there will be lots of pipes and cables up there. In the event that something leaks, the void between the joists will fill up with water, the water will escape, usually via a handy light fitting!
Does this happen, sometimes?
Does it happen a lot? No.
Do anybody worry about it? not unless they are paranoid. (The sky could fall in)
Is it against regs? Nah. But in regs you do a risk assessment before starting work.

 

[Risteard]

Thanks for the quick reply. Am surprised - I'll get it done before they change the rules..

It won't change. It would be completely impracticable to have such a prohibition, and wouldn't achieve any discernable safety benefit either.

 

[SJRSJR]

But if they do then you will have to move the shower.

Yikes

 

[SJRSJR]

Not a problem, assuming the cable isn't routed through the shower room (there are special requirements for that).
Any new circuit must be RCD-protectred. I assume you have that in your consumer unit?
Where will you be taking the power feed from.

There's a socket on the same wall, on a ring, about 3-4 feet away. It's all accessible from the shower room as it's being refurbed, which is why it occurred to me to get it done. And yes, it's a newish CU with RCDs,

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

There's a socket on the same wall, on a ring, about 3-4 feet away. It's all accessible from the shower room as it's being refurbed, which is why it occurred to me to get it done. And yes, it's a newish CU with RCDs,

More likely - RCBO's.. RCD, combined with an MCB.

 

[JohnD]

I think I'd add a drip-loop to the cable in the wall, it prevents water running down and into the socket.

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks for the quick reply. Am surprised - I'll get it done before they change the rules..

You shouldn't really be surprised- if you look around,, you'll find plenty of sockets under, for example, kitchen sinks!

 

[JohnD]

You shouldn't really be surprised- if you look around,, you'll find plenty of sockets under, for example, kitchen sinks!

Never been keen on them, myself

 

[JohnW2]

Never been keen on them, myself

Maybe not, but that doesn't alter the fact that they're fairly common.

Furthermore, although it is a general truth that 'electricity and water don't mix well', I'mnot sure that there is any significant safety issue. For a start, all sockets should be RCD protected, and an RCD/RCBO would operate very quickly if significant amounts of water got into an accessory. However,even in the absence of RCD protection, I very much doubt that even an accessory 'filled up with water' would actually present a significant risk of a serious electric shock.

 

[Murdochcat]

Never been keen on them, myself

Absolutely nothing wrong with that location what so ever

 

[JohnD]

It's great to know you've never seen a pipe leak or a sink overflow.