Bathroom zones 0, 1 and 2 (volúmenes del baño)

What the bathroom zones are

Water greatly lowers the body’s resistance and raises the risk of shock. So ITC-BT-27, the Spanish rule for rooms with a bath or shower, divides the space into zones (volúmenes) and sets what can go in each. British readers will recognise the idea from UK bathroom zones.

• Zone 0: inside the bath or shower tray. The most restrictive; equipment must be IPX7.
• Zone 1: above the bath or shower, up to 2.25 m from the floor. Only fixed equipment designed for it, IPX4 minimum.
• Zone 2: a 0.6 m band around zone 1, also up to 2.25 m high. More is allowed, IPX4 minimum.
• Zone 3: a 2.4 m band beyond zone 2. Sockets can go here, protected by a 30 mA RCD, with equipment at least IPX1.

Where a socket can go

Ordinary sockets go outside zones 0, 1 and 2, that is, more than 0.6 m from the edge of the bath or shower tray, protected by a 30 mA RCD. Exact distances depend on the shape of the bath or tray and whether there is a fixed screen, so we measure each bathroom.

Bonding

On top of the zones, ITC-BT-27 requires the metal parts of the bathroom (pipes, bath, wastes) to be linked by equipotential bonding connected to earth.

Swimming pools

ITC-BT-31 applies a similar system of zones 0, 1 and 2 to pools, with 12 V safety extra-low voltage in zones 0 and 1.

When to call an electrician

When renovating the bathroom, moving the shower or adding a heated towel rail, an extractor or a shower light, the zones must be respected. See bathroom electrics and renovation electrics in Seville, Spain.