Bathrooms are classified as Special Locations in BS 7671 because water and electricity are a dangerous combination. The regulations divide bathroom spaces into zones and specify which electrical equipment may be installed in each zone. Understanding these zones helps homeowners make sense of what their electrician can and cannot do.
Zone 0 is the interior of the bath or shower tray — permanently wet. Only SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) equipment at no more than 12V AC/DC may be installed in Zone 0, and it must have a minimum IP rating of IPX7 (suitable for temporary immersion). In practice, this means only purpose-designed underwater bath or shower lighting.
Zone 1 is the area directly above the bath or shower tray, up to 2.25m above the floor. Equipment installed in Zone 1 must have a minimum IP rating of IPX4 (splash proof) and must be rated for the voltages present. Fixed shower units, IP-rated downlights, and extractor fans (if located above the shower area) are common Zone 1 installations. Zone 2 extends 0.6m horizontally from the Zone 1 boundary — fittings here also require IPX4 as a minimum.
Outside the zones, standard electrical equipment may be installed but must still be RCD-protected (mandatory for all bathroom circuits). Shaving sockets — which contain an isolating transformer — are specifically permitted close to basins. Standard socket outlets are not permitted within 3 metres of a bath or shower. All bathroom electrical work is notifiable under Part P and must be carried out by a qualified electrician. DP Power Solutions handles all types of bathroom electrical installations.
About DP Power Solutions: We are qualified domestic electricians based in Staffordshire, providing EICRs, consumer unit upgrades, rewires, EV charger installation, and more across Cannock, Rugeley, Lichfield, Stafford, and the surrounding area.