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Electrical

Install a toilet in the same room as the electrical panels

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.23 PM

Hello, I live in a block of flats managed by a company. I would like to install a toilet (Saniflo style) in a spare box room (about 1.5mt x 1.5mt wide) which has all the electrical panels on it. I had a plumber coming around and installing the piping (the main discharge pipe will go into the main water drainage). However I have some last minute concern on the electrical safety of all this. There is the electrical fuse board in the same room and I am aware that is not possible to install showers or baths. However the electrician I had spoken about it before told me that should be ok to install a WC + a sink. What are the building regulations in this regard? Would really appreciate some precise feedback. Also, if this is allowed by the building regulations do you think that the management company can stop me doing so? The neighbour downstairs has put a sink and a washing machine in the same room (however I don't recall if the neighbour has removed the electrical panels).

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5 Answers

Anonymous user

Hello, As far as the building regs are concerned, there is nothing wrong with having a consumer unit in the same room as a toilet and washbasin. Many new build properties are actually designed with the consumer unit in the downstairs loo. The electrical regs states a minimum distance of 150mm from the consumer unit to any sink (or drainer) and that's as far as it goes. Obviously use a little common sense to avoid any future problems (for example, I wouldn't have the sink or trap directly above the consumer unit for obvious reasons) but as long as the room doesn't contain a shower or bath, you should be fine. Hope that helps, feel free to ask any further questions.

Answered7 May 2019

Butterworth Electrics

Rating: 5 out of 5

Leigh

For just a toilet, it's perfectly safe and legal to keep your consumer unit in there.

Answered15 May 2019

dminstallations

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Garndolbenmaen

As long as it's away from any potential splashing of water, and personally, I don't like them sited where children have access

Answered7 June 2019

EH electrical services

No reviews yet

Hove

Hi as long as you don’t put the sink too close to the consumer unit that is fine!

Answered26 November 2019

Anonymous user

This is common practice especially in new build properties, I see this in the down stairs toilets usually. The sinks are usually installed on the opposite side to the consumer unit. In some cases you’ll find the consumer unit is boxed out with a cupboard door on depends how big the room is.

Answered1 April 2022