Bathroom electrics: what Part P means for your refit
Part P is the piece of the Building Regulations that covers electrical safety in homes. Bathrooms are singled out because water and electricity are a bad mix. You do not need to become an electrician. You do need to know that “my mate will spur it off the landing light” is not a specification.
What usually needs doing
- —Downlights or a replacement ceiling light on a suitable circuit
- —An extractor, often with a timer
- —A heated towel rail, electric or dual fuel
- —A mirror circuit
- —An electric shower only if that is the chosen system — it needs its own supply
Zones, without the diagram
The closer a fitting is to the bath or shower, the stricter the rules. That is why a socket does not appear beside the basin, and why a fan in the shower zone is a specific product, not any fan from a DIY aisle. We plan positions before the panels or tiles go on.
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Quick answers
Can my bathroom fitter do the electrics?+
Only if they are competent and the work is certified. New circuits and work in a bathroom’s special location are notifiable. Ask who signs the certificate.
Do I get paperwork?+
You should. A completion certificate for notifiable work is part of selling the house later. If nobody mentions it, ask.
Are LED mirrors and towel rails included in that?+
They are electrical fittings in a wet room. They need a suitable circuit, isolation where required, and fitting by someone who understands the zones.
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