Handbook of Electrical Installation Practice - BeKnowledge

Special Installations or Locations 249
Designers and installers should also be aware of the legal relationship and obligations
that may be created between themselves and the ultimate user of an installation.
The design and installation work creates what is legally termed a ‘duty of
care’ on the part of designers – to exercise skill and care in the design and selection
of materials and installation techniques and specified requirements, and on the part
of installers and maintainers – to follow strictly the best practices of the profession
and actually achieve a safe and workable end product. These obligations are not
unusual to special locations; however, the inherently greater risks associated with
such installations underscore the need for particular care and attention to detail.
There are also obligations under the CDM Regulations for all parties to design
installations for safe installation working, and provide information to allow for the
safe construction and maintenance of the installation.
Installations such as in explosive atmospheres or for lightning protection are not
referred to here because these are not covered extensively by BS 7671: 2001 but
either by a separate British Standard or they are the subject of special HSE guidance.
Furthermore, marinas have not yet been included in BS 7671 because although
guidance exists through the International Electrotechnical Commission, this has yet
to be agreed in Europe and accepted in the UK.
In respect of ‘restrictive conductive locations’ and ‘earthing requirements for the
installation of equipment having high earth leakage currents’, these installation
types are covered in a prescriptive format within BS 7671.
As further work is done at international level, and applications develop, it is likely
that more installation types will be categorised as ‘special locations’, although there
is significant debate whether some other installation types – such as external lighting
– are really ‘special’ in the terms of the requirements of the Wiring Regulations.
The list covered here should therefore be regarded as subject to further future
amendment.
Reference has generally been made to the content of BS 7671; however, IT
distribution systems have not been considered here in particular as it remains a
specific UK requirement that low voltage systems fed from the public supply
network should be connected with earth.
LOCATIONS CONTAINING A BATH TUB OR A SHOWER BASIN
The risks
The risks are from:
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Wet skin
Absence of clothing
Proximity of earthed metal
Splashing and ingress of water.
The protective measures
Users of baths for medical treatment will potentially be subject to additional risks
associated with infirmity and reduced tolerance to electric shock. Such installations