hi does anyone know the regulations for lights above bath and shower please?

Question

i had a qualified electrician put up some low voltage flush fitting halogen downlighters in the bathroom although they look lovely they are very small almost starlights dotted around all over the ceiling i am now a bit worried as they are also above the bath and shower area it said on the box zone 3 they also have a transformer in the loft i dont think one would actually drop out into the bath but the shower is quite forceul and i am getting worried i any water splashes onto them of what could happen i wouldnt like to get electrecuted all because of a nice bathroom

Answer 1

Jayktee is right.
My questions to you are , did you recieve a test certificate under Part "P" of the building regulations ?
The bathroom is a notifiable area under Part "P"
You say that the lights are for Zone 3, are they above 2.25 Metres?
The area directly above this height and above a shower or bath is actually zone 2, up to 3 Metres.
Finally they should have the correct IP rating ( Ingress Protection) and in this Zone they should by IP 4X.
Hope this helps you.

Answer 2

The beauty of low voltage lights is that you can't get electrocuted by them. The transformer is connected to the line voltage and a low safe voltage comes out of the transformer. That is what runs the lights and even provides protection against a fire if the wires got shorted together. A qualified electrician would make sure that the lights themselves are appropriate for a zone where water could splash and that they were firmly attached up there (two things that are in the National Electrical Code). That eliminates those problems so just relax in your shower.

Licensed electricians do not mess around with skimping on those details for fear they could lose their license and end up unemployed.

Answer 3

Have no fear! If he was a qualified electrician, he would have made sure that no high voltage could get wet from your shower. Normally one transformer serves many low voltage lights and the electrician is duty bound by the 'Electrical Regulations' that he must work by, to ensure it is securely fixed and can in no way come into contact with water or anyone in the water be able to touch it.

As the lights are probably 12 volts, there is no way you should get an electric shock.

Answer 4

omg not really one right answer above me.. one wasnt too bad but not totally right...I am laughing all these people believe a qualified person would not do it wrong...OMG most guys i know will do the job as fast as they can and leave and most dont even know the code properly! (oh yes electrician and inspector for over 32 years here.) Also LOW VOLTAGE can kill you ... whoever said it cant is seriously deranged...and uninformed... it takes aprox 80 milliamps to stop your heart...that is .000080 of an amp I believe....notice the decimal point before it...it ISNT the volatage that kills anyone...its the amperage! OK the lights? MUST be installed on a GFCI circuit per code...it within 6 feet of shower... or within reach from a grounded area (sink, shower etc)
and in NO way shall they be above a SHOWER! without an approved enclosure

Answer 5

Any light fitting in a bathroom whether above a bath or shower must be of the sealed cover type, that means that a cover has to be over the bulb, whether it's low energy bulb or a D-bulb. these light are steam and moister resistant. This also to prevent you touching the bulb with wet hand wile in the bath/shower. These light fittings also have to be earthed to a permanent earth such as a water pipe in the bath room.
Hope this is of help to you.

Answer 6

The lights should only be switched on/off via a pull switch by the door. The light fitting should preferably be an enclosed type so moistier ie steam cant get in a cause shorting out.I do believe that new regs have recently come out restricting what electrical work can now be carried out by DIYers.

Answer 7

If he was a qualified electrician all will be well as he would have made sure that the lights were rated for the job and installed correctly. If he was not from a reputable company or you doubt his qualifications get in another electrician to test the installation in accordance with IEE regulations.

Answer 8

What rubbish!! No way can 12 volts kill you. In the UK 0v to 50v ac is classed as SELV (Safety extra low voltage) Low voltage is from 50 to 600 v. to earth or 1000v between conductors.

Once again I wish the replies from the US would stop assuming that we use their regulations in the UK, we have our own!!

Answer 9

i think of which you get air purifier in a bathtub yet baths rather make you experience comfortable so i bathe universal yet as quickly as a week i take a bathtub, and then rinse off with a bathtub after it, so i assume i like the two. yet i wouldnt only take a bathtub because of the fact you do no longer possibly get great sparkling.

Answer 10

not need to worry cause they are on the ceiling and not on the wall where the water can get to them and besides you can't get electrocuted, if anything happens you might just get a little shock and nothing else. Cause if the electician is certified he also grounded them to the breakers and when you get a shock they shut off, so enjoy and don't worry.