Bathrooms and electric showers
Water and electricity need extra care, and bathrooms have their own set of rules to match. From a new electric shower to a full refit with lighting, a demist mirror, an extractor fan and the supply for underfloor heating, Carl makes sure everything is in the right place, with the right rating, and properly certified.
Electric showers, explained
An electric shower heats water as it flows, so it's one of the biggest loads in your house. Pick a power rating and a season to see what it means for the water, and for the wiring.
Shower power
Time of year
Bathroom zones and IP ratings
BS 7671 splits a bathroom into zones based on how close water gets. Drag the ceiling light along the ceiling, change the ceiling height, or tap anything in the room to see what's allowed where.
| Zone | Where | What's needed |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Inside the bath or shower tray | IPX7 and extra-low voltage (12 V SELV) only |
| Zone 1 | Above the bath or tray, up to 2.25 m | IPX4 minimum (IPX5 where jets are used); 230 V fittings need 30 mA RCD protection |
| Zone 2 | 0.6 m beyond zone 1, up to 2.25 m | IPX4 minimum; shaver sockets allowed out of direct spray |
| Outside the zones | Everywhere else in the room | No minimum IP rating, but we fit IP44 or better. Standard sockets must be at least 3 m from zone 1 |
Demist mirrors
No more wiping the mirror with your sleeve.
A heated pad on the back of the mirror keeps the glass just warm enough that steam can't settle. We wire it to come on with the bathroom light or the extractor fan, so it just works. Most illuminated mirrors now include one, along with an LED surround and sometimes a shaver socket.
- Wired from the lighting circuit or a fused spur outside the zones
- IP44 rated for zone 2 or outside the zones
- Linked to the light or fan so it's never left on
Run the shower, then switch the demister on.
IP-safe bathroom lighting
The IP rating tells you how well a light keeps out dust (first number) and water (second number). In a bathroom, the water number is what matters.
- Fire-rated downlights to keep the ceiling's fire resistance
- LED strip in shower niches and under vanity units
- Low-level night lights on a motion sensor
- Mirror and cabinet lighting with shaver sockets
- Extractor fans on a timer or humidity sensor
- Supplies for electric underfloor heating and heated towel rails
Tell Carl what you need
Free, no-obligation quotes across the Wirral. Most enquiries get a reply the same working day.