Can you put a switch in a bathroom for your electric radiator?

A question that is asked a fair amount is 'Can you put a switch in the bathroom?'. By switch, what is meant is one that is like the one turning on and off your other lights (ie not a pull cord).

The quick and simple answer is no.

There are different zones in your house, these go from 0 to 2 and other areas as displayed below.



Zones explained

Zone 0 - IP68 submersible to 9 metres
Where items are able to withstand submission of 9 metres into water

Zone 1 - IP65 jetproof
Where items can withstand water being jetted towards them

Zone 2 - IP44 splashproof
Where items can withstand small splashes

Other areas
Areas where splashes of water will NOT occur


IP Rating explained:

First Digit: The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g. electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.

Level 0 - No protection against contact and ingress of objects

Level 1 - Effective against any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part

Level 2 - Effective against fingers or similar sized objects

Level 3 - Effective against tools and thick wires etc.

Level 4 - Effective against most wires and screws etc.

Level 5 - Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact

Level 6 - No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact

Second Digit: Protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful ingress of water

Level 0 - Not protected

Level 1 - Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect

Level 2 - Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15 degrees from its normal position

Level 3 - Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60 degrees from the vertical shall have no harmful effect.

Level 4 - Water splashing against the enclosure in any direction shall have no harmful effect.

Level 5 - Water projected by a nozzle (water jet) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.

Level 6 - Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

Level 7 - Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1m of submersion).

Level 8 - The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer.
NOTE: Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that produces no harmful effects.

An IP rating of 68 is the most protected against water and ingress of solid foreign objects.