Bathroom & Kitchen Zones

Bathrooms and kitchens have special rules under BS 7671. Water and electricity are a lethal combination — the regulations define zones that restrict what can be installed where.

Bathroom Zones

Bath/ShowerZone 0Inside fitting only. IPX7.Zone 1IPX4 min.Zone 2IPX4 min.

| Zone | Location | IP Rating | Sockets | |------|----------|-----------|---------| | Zone 0 | Inside bath/shower | IPX7 | No | | Zone 1 | Above bath, up to 2.25m | IPX4 | No | | Zone 2 | 0.6m outside Zone 1 | IPX4 | No (shavers: SELV only) | | Outside zones | Rest of bathroom | — | Yes (shaver socket only) |

No standard 13A sockets are permitted anywhere in a bathroom.

Kitchen Rules

All electrical work in a kitchen is notifiable. Additional rules:

  • Sockets must be at least 300mm horizontally from a sink
  • Any socket within reach of a water source should be on an RCD-protected circuit
  • Underfloor heating, extractor fans, and cooker circuits must be notifiable

Part P Reminder

Any electrical work in a bathroom or kitchen is notifiable under Part P — even replacing a like-for-like fitting. Always use a registered electrician or notify building control.