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
Current regulations recognise only two zones — Zone 0 and Zone 1. An older Zone 2 existed in previous editions but has since been removed.
| Zone | Location | IP Rating | Sockets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Inside the bath or shower fitting | IPX7 minimum | No |
| Zone 1 | Bath: above and to the sides of the bath, up to 2.25m high. Shower without tray: 1.2m radius from the shower head, floor to 2.25m. | IPX4 minimum | No |
| Outside zones | Rest of the bathroom | — | Shaver socket only — no standard 13A sockets |
No standard 13A sockets are permitted anywhere in a bathroom. A shaver socket (the type with the small round holes and an isolating transformer) is the only socket outlet allowed.
RCD Protection in Bathrooms
Every circuit in a bathroom must be protected by a 30mA RCD — including lighting, the shower, extractor fans, and shaver sockets. This is a legal requirement, not optional.
Bonding in Bathrooms
All metalwork in a bathroom that you can touch — metal pipes (water, waste, gas), metal baths, metal shower trays — must be connected together and to earth with bonding conductors. This prevents a dangerous voltage difference appearing between metal parts if a fault occurs.
If you're doing bathroom electrical work, check that the bonding is in place. If in doubt, ask the electrician to confirm it's correct as part of the job.
Kitchen Rules
In kitchens, only new circuits are notifiable under Part P. Like-for-like replacement of sockets, switches, and fittings in a kitchen is not notifiable in England since the 2013 revision of Approved Document P. Additional rules:
- Sockets should not be installed immediately adjacent to a sink — allow adequate clearance from water sources
- Any socket within reach of a water source should be on an RCD-protected circuit
- Underfloor heating, extractor fans, and cooker circuits are notifiable when installed as new circuits
Part P Reminder
- Bathrooms and outdoors: All electrical work is notifiable — including like-for-like replacement. Always use a registered electrician.
- Kitchens: New circuits are notifiable. Like-for-like replacement (replacing a socket, switch, or fitting in the same position) is not notifiable in England since 2013.
- Standard rooms: Adding to existing circuits and like-for-like replacement are not notifiable.