Published: 16 September 2014
Category: Q&A
Paul asks this question, which concerns testing an electrical installation on a farm building that has an unusual kitchen and shower arrangement. It has been answered by the NICEIC (Theme – Cable, Wiring and Wiring Accessories):
This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.
Question: While testing an electrical installation on a farm, I have found in the farm’s canteen, a shower cubicle within the kitchen area - with sockets only 1.5m away.
This shower was fitted after the kitchen was built and it is apparently never used (being required for to comply with health and safety regulations).
How do I approach this on an Electrical Condition Inspection Report (ECIR)?
Any thoughts on how I can make the installation comply with the regulations, so that the owners can still use the kitchen and shower if necessary.
Answer: If the shower is in place as an emergency shower only and is labelled to indicate this, Section 701.1 states that the requirements of 701 does not apply to this situation.
This would need to be clearly marked 'For emergency use only’, so there is no risk of persons using the shower for recreational purposes.
If it is, indeed being, used on a day-to-day basis, then no socket should be within 3m on a horizontal plane from the shower cubicle.
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