Wondering if you can have a new boiler installed in the bathroom? Here we explain why that may and may not be possible.
If you want to keep an open mind as to where you could have a new boiler installed (or even where your existing boiler could be moved to), you might want to consider having a boiler fitted in a bathroom.
Many households might like the idea of opting to have a boiler added to a bathroom because the hot water could reach your bathroom fixtures very quickly while being relatively easy to install.
But can you actually fit a boiler in a bathroom? Are there rules against it?
Let’s take a look!
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Is It Legal to Have a Boiler Installed in a Bathroom?
Note: Gas boilers must be installed by a Gas Safe Register engineer, while an OFTEC technician must fit an oil boiler.
Also, a qualified heating engineer would be needed for an electric boiler installation.
All in all, only a suitable professional may install a boiler. It is not a DIY job.
First and foremost, yes, it is legal to have a boiler added to a bathroom so long as you meet certain regulations.
Of course, if your bathroom design/layout is insufficient to meet the regulations then you won’t be able to have a boiler installed in that case.
Of course, bathrooms are generally small spaces, so while many bathrooms are suitable (to some degree) to have a boiler added, many others are not.
So, how might you tell whether your bathroom is suitable?
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Explaining Bathroom Zones
According to the boiler in bathroom regulations (which we’ll explore in significantly more detail in the next section), a boiler may only be installed in bathroom zone 3.
Again, this is just one point among many, so see ‘The Boiler in Bathroom Regulations’ below for all legal requirements.
There are four zones that a bathroom can be divided into in relation to the electrical equipment that can be installed there (if any at all) based on their capacity to protect against water.
To reiterate the point raised above, you cannot have a boiler added anywhere in a bathroom, even if it is suitable in one way or another. Bathroom zones serve the purpose of ensuring safety while also protecting functionality.
The higher the bathroom zone number, the less protective against water electrical equipment can be. This is because higher bathroom zone numbers mean that the area is less exposed to water.
Ultimately, bathroom zone numbers are intricately linked to IP ratings, which determine how self-protected electrical equipment is from solids (e.g., dust) and water.
The first digit of an IP rating describes how well the installation can protect against solids, whereas the second digit measures its ability to protect itself from water.
To give an example, if a piece of electrical equipment has a rating of IP20, this means that it has a protection of 2 against solids and a protection level of zero against water.
Therefore, electrical equipment that has an IP20 rating can only be installed in areas with zero water exposure, whereas equipment with a rating of IP67 is more suited to areas with water immersion.
Here are the UK’s bathroom zones:
Zone 0 - Electrical equipment needs to have a minimum IP rating of IP67. This zone covers the shower.
Zone 1 - Electrical equipment in this zone requires a rating of at least IP44, however, it would be best to opt for equipment that is IP65 rated or greater. Zone 1 relates to the area over the bath and reaches a height of 2.25 metres above the floor. A light fitting in zone 1 that uses mains voltage must come with an RCD.
Zone 2 - Again, any electrical equipment here needs an IP rating of no less than 44. This second bathroom zone includes the area that is located 0.6 metres beyond the outer perimeter of the wash basin/bath. This area also covers up to 2.25 metres above the floor.
Zone 3 - Lastly, we have the only zone where a boiler may be installed in a bathroom. This area is considered by far the safest for electrical equipment. Indeed, equipment that is IP20-rated would be suitable here since it is the zone of a bathroom without any meaningful risk of water exposure.
Boiler in Bathroom Regulations
As mentioned, a boiler may only be installed in bathroom zone 3. If your bathroom lacks a zone 3 or this zone is insufficient for a boiler installation, unfortunately, you cannot have a boiler added to your bathroom.
However, if you do have a suitable zone 3 space to have a boiler installed, there are additional regulations to take into consideration.
There are various regulations that apply to having a cupboard added to your bathroom as a means of concealing your boiler.
Even with having a boiler installed in a zone 3 space, to truly maximize safety, it’s best to have a cupboard installed.
While a bathroom zone 3 is not realistically at risk of water exposure, there are some unlikely (yet feasible) scenarios where an exposed boiler could be hit by water.
For example, if you have a small child, they might grab the shower head and unintentionally point it toward the boiler, thus proving that zone 3 is not 100% infallible from a safety perspective.
That’s why using a cupboard would make your boiler as safe as possible in a bathroom and why you should strongly consider this option.
And while concealing your boiler in a cupboard is not a legal requirement (although it may be a manufacturer requirement for the boiler you have purchased), various building regulations apply in general when it comes to concealing a boiler.
According to the building regulations, when it comes to hiding a boiler inside a cabinet/cupboard:
There must be a gap between the inside of the cupboard and the top of your boiler. The size of this gap will vary from model to model and will be provided by the manufacturer. So, be sure that your installer follows your manufacturer’s guidance per the manual for this part.
There needs to be, at a bare minimum, a gap between the inside of the cupboard and the bottom of your boiler. Again, the precise gap required will be specified by the manufacturer.
What About Gas Safety?
Of course, along with electrical safety, you also have to consider gas safety when having a boiler added to a bathroom.
Firstly, any existing boiler components such as the boiler flue require sufficient space so that they can safely exit your bathroom. The heating engineer should achieve this in alignment with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Also, there must be sufficient space to provide easy access to your boiler, which would be particularly relevant for maintenance and servicing. This would also play a role in ensuring adequate ventilation.
Ultimately, whether we are talking about bathroom zones or gas safety (assuming you have a gas boiler installed - if not then other safety measures will apply for oil or electric boilers), an experienced and qualified professional should know exactly how to install your boiler in a safe and legal way that is in line with the various relevant regulations.
Of course, they should also perform the installation in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions since the exact safety requirements (e.g., the gaps required between a boiler and the interior of a cupboard, if applicable) can vary depending on your boiler model of choice.
Hiring a Qualified Heating Engineer
When hiring a qualified heating engineer for a boiler installation, they may have several questions regarding your bathroom.
For example, the engineer might ask how susceptible your bathroom is to condensation. That would help them determine the ideal spot to fit your boiler.
Of course, as touched on earlier, it’s possible that nowhere in your bathroom will be suited to a bathroom installation.
The only way to know is to have a heating engineer come out and take a look ahead of having the actual boiler installed. So, it would be best to do this before making a purchase, if possible.
More than likely, we imagine that you’d hire the same professional to evaluate your bathroom ahead of time and install your boiler at a later point.
Either way, when hiring a heating engineer, we suggest obtaining quotes from three qualified engineers in your area.
You should weigh up their experience, pricing, customer reviews/ratings and references (if applicable), and even simply how well you get on with them.
Once you’ve considered these points and anything else you find relevant to choosing the right person for the job, you should be able to pick the engineer who offers the most value for money out of the three.
Concealing a Boiler in a Bathroom
Aside from helping to maximize safety, hiding a boiler in a cupboard/cabinet can be more visually appealing.
After all, a boiler can act as an eyesore no matter where you have it installed and it would certainly stand out in a bathroom.
Therefore, why not have your boiler concealed in a cabinet and then have the cabinet painted the same colour as much of the rest of the bathroom (or another suitable colour that suits your bathroom and contrasts the other tones nicely)?
If you want to have a boiler cabinet painted, be sure not to get any on the boiler or pipework as this could be a safety hazard.
We’d suggest hiring a professional painter and ensuring that they are well aware of the safety risks associated with getting paint on a boiler or any of its pipework should you wish to have your cabinet painted.
Lastly, while you may want to opt for a mid-sized cabinet that is to the scale needed to meet the regulations, you might be interested in going for a large built-in cabinet if this is suitable and meets the regulations.
Boiler in the Bathroom Final Thoughts
In summary, there are many regulations that apply to having a boiler installed in a bathroom.
These regulations, which primarily relate to ensuring a boiler is fitted in zone 3 are designed to keep you and your household safe.
Moreover, it’s also important to adhere to the regulations that apply to a cabinet installation and other safety concerns and building regulations that apply. If in doubt about anything, consult a qualified heating engineer.
Remember, only a Gas Safe Register engineer may install a boiler. It would be both illegal and unsafe to undertake this working DIY.
When looking for a qualified heating engineer, we suggest obtaining quotes from three engineers and weighing up the pros and cons of each before making a decision as to who you should hire.
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