Q & A of the Day – What are the Zone requirements for a shower?

Question: Can you please confirm the Zone requirements of the 17th Edition for the installation of a ceiling-mounted downlight in a shower cubicle area? Also, will it have to be SELV? As 'old' classified fittings are still available, what Zone would this new requirement equate to for these older fittings?

Answer: Zones are now 0, 1 and 2. In a shower cubicle, Zone 1 extends to 2.25m above floor level. Above this height is outside the zones. Zone 2 extends 600mm horizontally from the shower basin and is 2.25m vertically above floor level. Above this height is, again, outside the zones.

If a luminaire is installed within the Zones, it should be suitable for use in that Zone. e.g. IPX4 for Zone 2. The luminaires can be either mains or SELV.

NB: Remember that all circuits within a bathroom/shower room should now be protected by a 30mA RCD regardless of which Zone they are installed in.

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