Electrical safety, and electrical standards in the bathroom, are essential to help keep homes and people safe. The risks of electrical fires, and electric shocks are very real. In fact, more than half of all fires in England were caused by electrics between 2015 and 2016, with 1380 fatalities and injuries caused by electrical fires. So if you’re a landlord, or a property developer, there are certain things you should know about electrical safety in the bathroom. Here at Walker Electrical, we are Preston’s leading electrical experts. And we work with a range of companies in a variety of sectors, from residential settings like student accommodation, to industrial and commercial environments. As a result, we have produced this guide to electrical safety in the bathroom.
Electrical safety considerations in the bathroom
There are a number of things you should keep in mind when considering electrical safety in the bathroom. These include:
- sockets
- lights
- electric heaters
Sockets
In a bathroom, there are specific rules regarding sockets. Shaver-supply units are generally the only socket that should be available in most bathrooms. Unless you can fit a socket at least 3m away from the bath or shower. So some large bathroom spaces can use a socket, but these are few and far between.
Lights
Enclosed ceiling lights are the perfect option for bathrooms. And these are generally preferred to pendant lights that hang down. Your light switch will need to be positioned outside the bathroom, unless you use a pull cord light switch. This is to reduce the risk of people using the light switch with wet hands.
Electric heaters
Most heated towel rails will connect to your central heating system, just like a normal radiator.
Electric heaters in the bathroom must be fixed and permanently wired, unless they are powered by a socket fitted three metres from a bath or shower.
For more information or advice about Electrical safety in the bathroom, get in touch with the team today, here at Walker Electrical.