Mirror fitting over existing bathroom flex outlet

[Matt_85]

Might be a daft question but thought I'd ask regardless.

We had power (from light circuit) supplied to 600mm above our sinks in our new build incase we wanted a mirror cabinet either on moving in or in the future.

We've decided we dont want one yet so are simply going to fit a flat mirror above the sinks (adhesive to wall).

The power supply points are covered with a single gang blank plate.

When it comes to removing this blank and fitting the mirror, does it need to be done and/or checked by a sparky to ensure compliance or since it's being covered, am I ok to isolate the bathroom/light ring, check it's dead and fit the mirror ? (With silicone around the cut in the tile to prevent water ingress if any)

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Leave the plate and space the mirror off the wall. It will look better and do less damage to the wall.

 

[Taylortwocities]

If the plaster is proud of the back box edge, you could chase the blanking plate into the wall so it is flush.

 

[Matt_85]

Thanks for the replies

Detlef, the mirror has no mounting holes and has bevelled edges designed to fit flush to the wall. I could make a box I guess but it could look strange.

Taylor

Not sure what you mean. Open the hole in the tile so that the blank plate fits inside and back onto the back box?

 

[333rocky333]

You can get 3mm thick blankplates and as TTC says above you may be able to recess that in flat

 

[Taylortwocities]

Not sure what you mean. Open the hole in the tile so that the blank plate fits inside and back onto the back box?

Yes, organise it do that the cover plate is recessed. It sounds like you could just remove a tile or two to do this.

 

[Matt_85]

Thanks for the reply Taylor, know what you mean now.

I'll have a look at opening up the hole and flushing the blank plate or putting a thinner one in if it sits proud.

To Winston's reply (now deleted ?), in this new build after the faults we've had so far, anything is possible lol, inc a lighting ring

 

[Taylortwocities]

To Winston's reply (now deleted

He may have been moderated.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

One slight issue you'll have- if you cover the blanking plate you are removing the safe zone for the cable supplying it. If the cable is floating in a stud wall (or buried more than 50mm behind the surface) then less of an issue, if cable is chased then there's a decent chance you'll forget its there and put a nail through it

 

[Matt_85]

Good point.

The cable is in a stud wall

 

[Taylortwocities]

If you want to be totally correct, then you need to find where the cable feeds from (in the loft?) and disconnect it there

 

[Matt_85]

Each of the three bathrooms has a isolator switch to turn the extractor fan on/off.

I'm also fairly sure the sparkies said this is fed from the light circuit and that the mirror power points share the power supply with the fan.

Therefore I presume disconnecting the cable in the isolator would achieve the same result?

 

[Taylortwocities]

The feed probably comes from the lighting circuit. It may be wired from the isolator switch, or it may come from somewhere else. It depends on how it is wired. You’d need to trace the wire (either visually or electrically) to find out.