Can I have an electrically heated towel radiator in the bathroom?

[lovezoo]

Just bought a 'dual-fuel' electric element to turn my bathroom towel radiator into a dual-fuel one, so that it can be used when the central heating is off. Imagine my suprise when I read the following in the instructions:

"WARNING: The BS Approved Spur socket (and towel radiator) must be sited so it is not possible to touch either when using the sink, shower or bath (Wiring Regulations 16th Edition)."

I can understand why the socket should be out of reach, but the radiator? Given that the whole point of the heated towel radiator is to have heated towels to hand in the bathroom, where the b****y h**ll am I supposed to put it? In the dining room, the shed or maybe out on the street?

Given that all the pipes in the bathroom are cross-bonded to earth what difference does it make if you can touch a tap and the radiator at the same time? If the radiator was out of reach of the sink and there was an electrical fault which made the casing live, this would make every rad, pipe and tap in the house live via the cross-bonding - so whats the point, or are the instructions wrong?

Rant over.

[John Rumm]

I think they have over egged that a little.

The sink location is not that relevant since it does not affect the positions of the zones. The FCU for connecting the rail needs to be either in zone 3 or outside the zones. That means the FCU should not be within 600mm of the bath or shower for example[1].

The towel rail itself will need joining to the equipotential zone in the bathroom, however you don't need an explicit earth tag for this, you can rely on the CPC connection in the power flex. Its CH pipes would also be included in the equipotential zone if metallic.

Yup.

[1] A little more complex than that if the shower head is not fixed.

[David Hansen]

On 21 Apr 2007 11:10:45 -0700 someone who may be lovezoo wrote this:-

To add to what has been said, the instructions are wrong in several respects. In particular there should not be a socket outlet in the bathroom to power the towel rail.

You can have the rail within reach of anything provided the rail is of suitable construction for the location. It is unlikely to be suitably constructed to be above the bath, or a shower tray, but is likely to be suitable for use beside either or a basin. As a simplification large metal parts that are simultaneously accessible should be bonded; these will include metal baths and pipes.

The switch that controls the rail must be out of reach of someone using the bath. This is measured by a system of zones which you can look up. Most people put the switch outside or install a pull cord switch, with a cord outlet beside the rail. The latter are best with a neon to indicate the element is on, which means getting a fused connection unit with neon unless you can find a cord outlet with neon.

The towel rail should be on a spur off the ring main. Where the switch and the fuse are depends on the particular circumstances.

[lovezoo]

Thanks for the answers, very useful. Looks like the towel rail can go where I want it and as the switch will be in another room, no problem there either.

Tony