Bathroom Electrics: Zones, Extractor Fans and What an EICR Checks

Bathrooms are where water and electricity come closest, so the wiring rules there are stricter than anywhere else in the home. When we carry out an EICR in a London flat or house, the bathroom is one of the rooms most likely to produce a code on the report. This guide explains the bathroom zones, what we check, and what to fix before a test.

The bathroom zones in plain English

• Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower tray itself. Only special low voltage equipment made for it can go there.
• Zone 1 is the space directly above the bath or shower tray, up to 2.25 metres from the floor. Electric showers and suitable fan or light fittings can go here if they have the right water protection rating.
• Zone 2 is a band 0.6 metres around zone 1. Fittings here also need a suitable protection rating.
• Outside the zones the rules are more relaxed, but every circuit serving the room must still be protected by a 30mA RCD.

Ordinary sockets are not allowed within 2.5 metres of the zone 1 boundary. Shaver sockets made to the correct standard are the usual exception.

What an EICR checks in the bathroom

• RCD protection on every circuit that serves the bathroom, including lighting and the extractor fan.
• Light fittings and fans in zones 1 and 2 with a suitable IP rating.
• Pull cords or switches outside the zones, never a standard wall switch next to the bath.
• Electric shower supply cable, isolator and protective device sized for the shower's rating.
• Supplementary bonding where the circuits are not RCD protected or the installation needs it.

Extractor fans

Most bathrooms without an opening window need mechanical ventilation, and many landlords fit a fan after a damp or mould complaint. The fan must be the right type for where it sits, wired through a fused spur or the lighting circuit with RCD protection, and usually needs an isolator for maintenance. A fan wired straight into a socket circuit with no protection is a common finding.

Common bathroom codes on London EICRs

• No RCD protection for the bathroom lights or shower, often recorded as C2.
• Standard light fittings or downlights above the bath.
• A socket or wall switch inside the room on older installations.
• Electric showers fed by undersized cable after a shower upgrade.

If any of these come up, our guide to what happens after an unsatisfactory EICR explains the time limits for landlords.

Getting the bathroom checked

Energy North Ltd carries out EICR inspections and bathroom electrical work across North, East and West London. Our City & Guilds certified electricians can usually attend within 48 hours, and certificates are emailed the same day. If you are also thinking about a home car charger, see our EV charger installation page.