Bathroom Renovation Electrics: Planning Lights, Fans and Showers

A bathroom refit is a good time to get the electrics right: better lighting, a fan that actually clears the steam, a heated towel rail and perhaps a new shower. Bathrooms have stricter rules than other rooms, and the work needs to be planned around the plumber and tiler. This guide covers what to decide and when.

Decide what you want before the strip out

• Lighting: ceiling downlights, a mirror light, or LED strips in a niche.
• Extraction: a fan sized for the room, ideally with a humidity sensor or overrun timer.
• Heating: an electric towel rail or underfloor heating.
• Shower: keep a mixer shower, or fit or upgrade an electric shower.
• Shaver socket: the only type of socket normally allowed near the basin.

Zones and fittings

Every fitting must suit the zone it sits in, with the right IP rating for water. Switches usually go outside the room or as a pull cord inside. Our guide to bathroom electrics and zones explains what is allowed where.

Electric showers need extra care

A new or more powerful electric shower may need a larger cable and its own circuit from the consumer unit. Running a bigger shower on the old cable is a common and dangerous mistake. Our guide to electric shower upgrades explains cable sizes and isolators.

Timing around the other trades

The electrician's first visit comes after the strip out and before the plumber closes up the walls, to run cables and fix back boxes. Underfloor heating mats go down before the floor tiles, with tests before and after tiling. The second visit, after tiling, fits the lights, fan, towel rail and shower connection, then tests everything. Our guide to electric underfloor heating covers the testing.

RCD protection and certificates

All bathroom circuits need 30 mA RCD protection. Work in a bathroom is usually notifiable, so you should receive a certificate and building regulations sign-off. Keep these with the rest of your renovation paperwork.

Book an electrician for your bathroom

Energy North Ltd works with homeowners, plumbers and bathroom fitters across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EICR service to check the existing wiring first.