Particularities

In certain bathrooms, not all the appliances and accessories that have been indicated are installed. In cold countries, the toilet (with a sink) is usually separated in another location apart from the rest of the bathroom, since this area requires more ventilation, and this would cool the environment too much when you want to take a shower.

The bathroom, which was once a place unrelated to design and devoid of decoration, now enjoys the same aesthetic importance as other rooms such as the living room and bedroom. The bathroom has been gaining relevance over time. Its purely hygienic functionality has transmuted into one. In line with the social patterns of the present, the bathroom has had to respond to an increasingly accelerated pace of life.

The design of a bathroom has to consider the use of both hot and cold water in significant and moderate quantities to wash the human body. Water can spill on walls and floors and humid air can cause condensation on cold surfaces (turning liquid). To prevent water from splashing onto the floor, bathtubs and showers are usually surrounded by curtains or screens.

The use of ceramic or glass, as well as plastic materials, is common in bathrooms, due to their ease of cleaning. However, such surfaces are often cold to the touch, so bath mats are also used to make contact warmer. Likewise, given that they have permanent contact with water, these surfaces must be impermeable to prevent it from penetrating and causing damage.

As these are small rooms and in many cases interior, decorators recommend installing many points of light and, at least, placing a large mirror, to visually enlarge the space.

Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and towel radiators, are usually placed as fixed elements, avoiding the use of sockets. They must also be at a minimum distance from the bathtub or shower, to reduce the risk of coming into electrical contact (with wet feet, that is, grounding) and suffering a shock that could be fatal.

Plug sockets that interrupt the electrical circuit can reduce this risk and are mandatory in bathroom installations in some countries such as the United States and Canada. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, only certain special plugs for electric razors are allowed in the bathroom.

No less important is to emphasize that these spaces require thorough cleaning since, due to humidity, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria, molds and fungi that can produce bad odors and cause infectious diseases. The use of sterilizing agents such as ozone or ultraviolet rays that can annihilate all types of microorganisms is being studied.

In rooms with a bathtub or shower, there is a greater risk of people being endangered by electrical systems and equipment - due to the at least temporarily humid environmental conditions - than in the usual dry environment. Therefore, special requirements apply to the electrical installations of these rooms, which are the subject of the international standard IEC 60364-7-701:2006-02 and are covered for Germany in the DIN-VDE standard "0100-701:2008-10".[9]​.

For electrical installations in rooms with bathtubs and showers, the specified installation zones 0, 1 and 2 and their limits according to DIN VDE 0100-701:2008-10 must be taken into account. The type of approved electrical equipment, the required protection class, the permissible operating voltage and the design of cables and wiring systems in individual zones are strictly regulated. The following information represents a simplified and abbreviated overview of the key points of the standard; for detailed questions, consult a qualified electrician.

All electrical circuits[10]​ must be replaced by a residual current protection device (RCD) with a rated differential current of I=30 mA protected. This also applies to cables and wiring systems that only pass through the room but are intended for another room.

Installation manifolds are not permitted in rooms with a bath or shower and when installed in an adjacent room, a residual mineral wall thickness of at least 6 cm must be maintained to the room with a shower or bath.

Upgrading to the current state of the art (standard situation) is not required for older systems that are subject to stock protection") as long as the system is not expanded. Existing sockets can be replaced at any time with similar sockets or with sockets with additional protection (SRCD or colloquially FI sockets). However, if one socket is moved or another is added, then it must be upgraded to the current state of the art. Therefore, the entire power supply circuit (i.e. including cables and wiring system) must be protected with an RCD (requiring continuous three-wire wiring to the next distributor).

In the United States, all forms of bathroom lighting must meet the IP44 rating as safe for use in the bathroom.[11]​.

Particularities

In certain bathrooms, not all the appliances and accessories that have been indicated are installed. In cold countries, the toilet (with a sink) is usually separated in another location apart from the rest of the bathroom, since this area requires more ventilation, and this would cool the environment too much when you want to take a shower.

The bathroom, which was once a place unrelated to design and devoid of decoration, now enjoys the same aesthetic importance as other rooms such as the living room and bedroom. The bathroom has been gaining relevance over time. Its purely hygienic functionality has transmuted into one. In line with the social patterns of the present, the bathroom has had to respond to an increasingly accelerated pace of life.

The design of a bathroom has to consider the use of both hot and cold water in significant and moderate quantities to wash the human body. Water can spill on walls and floors and humid air can cause condensation on cold surfaces (turning liquid). To prevent water from splashing onto the floor, bathtubs and showers are usually surrounded by curtains or screens.

The use of ceramic or glass, as well as plastic materials, is common in bathrooms, due to their ease of cleaning. However, such surfaces are often cold to the touch, so bath mats are also used to make contact warmer. Likewise, given that they have permanent contact with water, these surfaces must be impermeable to prevent it from penetrating and causing damage.

As these are small rooms and in many cases interior, decorators recommend installing many points of light and, at least, placing a large mirror, to visually enlarge the space.

Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and towel radiators, are usually placed as fixed elements, avoiding the use of sockets. They must also be at a minimum distance from the bathtub or shower, to reduce the risk of coming into electrical contact (with wet feet, that is, grounding) and suffering a shock that could be fatal.

Plug sockets that interrupt the electrical circuit can reduce this risk and are mandatory in bathroom installations in some countries such as the United States and Canada. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, only certain special plugs for electric razors are allowed in the bathroom.

No less important is to emphasize that these spaces require thorough cleaning since, due to humidity, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria, molds and fungi that can produce bad odors and cause infectious diseases. The use of sterilizing agents such as ozone or ultraviolet rays that can annihilate all types of microorganisms is being studied.

In rooms with a bathtub or shower, there is a greater risk of people being endangered by electrical systems and equipment - due to the at least temporarily humid environmental conditions - than in the usual dry environment. Therefore, special requirements apply to the electrical installations of these rooms, which are the subject of the international standard IEC 60364-7-701:2006-02 and are covered for Germany in the DIN-VDE standard "0100-701:2008-10".[9]​.

For electrical installations in rooms with bathtubs and showers, the specified installation zones 0, 1 and 2 and their limits according to DIN VDE 0100-701:2008-10 must be taken into account. The type of approved electrical equipment, the required protection class, the permissible operating voltage and the design of cables and wiring systems in individual zones are strictly regulated. The following information represents a simplified and abbreviated overview of the key points of the standard; for detailed questions, consult a qualified electrician.

All electrical circuits[10]​ must be replaced by a residual current protection device (RCD) with a rated differential current of I=30 mA protected. This also applies to cables and wiring systems that only pass through the room but are intended for another room.

Installation manifolds are not permitted in rooms with a bath or shower and when installed in an adjacent room, a residual mineral wall thickness of at least 6 cm must be maintained to the room with a shower or bath.

Upgrading to the current state of the art (standard situation) is not required for older systems that are subject to stock protection") as long as the system is not expanded. Existing sockets can be replaced at any time with similar sockets or with sockets with additional protection (SRCD or colloquially FI sockets). However, if one socket is moved or another is added, then it must be upgraded to the current state of the art. Therefore, the entire power supply circuit (i.e. including cables and wiring system) must be protected with an RCD (requiring continuous three-wire wiring to the next distributor).

In the United States, all forms of bathroom lighting must meet the IP44 rating as safe for use in the bathroom.[11]​.