Bathroom electrical zones are the areas around a bath, shower or basin where AS/NZS 3000, the Wiring Rules, limits what electrical equipment can go. Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower base, zone 1 sits above it, zone 2 is a band around zone 1, and zone 3 reaches further out. Rules tighten closer to the water.
The zones decide where a power point, light switch, downlight, exhaust fan or heated towel rail can sit, so they shape a bathroom layout before the tiler or plumber arrives.
What are the four bathroom electrical zones?
Each zone is a measured space around the water, and every fitting is judged by which zone it sits in. The Wiring Rules draw the zones in a set of figures for baths, showers with and without screens, and basins.
| Zone | Where it is | What it generally allows |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Inside the bath or shower base, the part that holds water. | Only extra-low voltage equipment made for immersion, rated IPX7. |
| Zone 1 | Directly above zone 0, up to about 2.25 m above the floor. With no shower screen, it also spreads out around the shower rose. | No power points or switches. Fixed fittings such as lights and fans need at least IPX4. |
| Zone 2 | A band beyond zone 1, typically 0.6 m wide from the edge of a bath or the entry of a screened shower. Around a basin it is smaller. | No standard power points. Switches only if rated IPX4 and not right at the edge. Lights must be IPX4, double insulated or extra-low voltage. |
| Zone 3 | A wider band beyond zone 2. | Power points with RCD protection or a separated or extra-low voltage supply. No IP rating needed for lights or switches. |
Basins, sinks and laundry tubs create their own, smaller zones. For a basin, the Wiring Rules figure shows zone 2 reaching about 0.15 m to the side and 0.4 m above the bowl, and a larger container such as a laundry tub has a bigger clearance.
Where can a power point go in a bathroom?
A standard power point cannot go in zone 0, zone 1 or open zone 2, so it usually ends up in zone 3 or outside the zones. Table 6.1 of AS/NZS 3000 allows two exceptions in zone 2: a shaver outlet, or a power point inside a cupboard with RCD protection. That is how many vanities hide a power point for a toothbrush or hair dryer.
In zone 3, a power point is allowed if it has RCD protection, a separated supply or an extra-low voltage supply, and the table still rules out the strip closest to zone 2. In practice, every new power point in NSW goes on an RCD-protected circuit anyway. Our guide to RCBOs and RCDs explains how that protection works and which type suits a bathroom circuit.
Where can a light switch go?
Switches are banned from zones 0 and 1, and they are allowed in zone 2 only with an IPX4 rating and some distance from the zone's inner edge. A switch further out in zone 3 needs no IP rating. The NSW Building Commission lists switches inside zone 2 without an IPX4 rating as a common fault found on inspections of bathrooms, laundries and kitchens.
The Commission suggests moving the switch out of zone 2 or fitting one rated IPX4. For a bath, that means at least 0.6 m from the edge. For a basin, at least 0.15 m to the side and 0.4 m above. For a screened shower, at least 0.6 m from the screen entry. Most switches end up beside the door.
What lights and fans can go in each zone?
A light or fan is judged by the zone it sits in, so a fitting above the shower is held to a stricter standard than one above the door. Inside the bath or shower base, only extra-low voltage lights made for immersion are allowed. Above the bath or shower, in zone 1, lights and fans need at least IPX4. In zone 2, a light can be IPX4, double insulated or extra-low voltage.
This catches people out with 3-in-1 heat, light and fan units. Fitted over the shower, the unit is in zone 1 and has to suit it. Heated towel rails are usually hardwired on their own circuit and placed outside zones 1 and 2. If you are also choosing dimmers for bathroom downlights, our guide to why LED downlights flicker covers which dimmers suit LED fittings.
Planning a bathroom renovation?
DM Electrical can mark out the zones, place your power points, switches, lights and fans where they are compliant and practical, and certify the work. Based in Brookvale, licensed and Level 2 ASP accredited, across the Northern Beaches and greater Sydney.
Does a shower screen change the zones?
Yes. A fixed screen or hinged door shrinks zone 1 to the space inside the shower, which frees up the wall outside it. Without a screen, water can splash further, so zone 1 reaches out around the shower rose. With a screen in place, zone 2 is measured from the screen entry, typically 0.6 m out. An open-ended walk-in shower often needs a different layout from a fully screened one. Settle the screen design before the electrical rough-in.
Do the zones apply to laundries and kitchens?
Yes. Any fixed water container, including a kitchen sink or laundry tub, creates a zone 2 area around it. The Wiring Rules set different clearances for containers under 40 litres and over 40 litres, so a laundry tub carries a bigger exclusion area than a small basin. A power point right beside a kitchen sink or above a laundry tub is one of the faults the NSW Building Commission sees most often.
Can I move a bathroom power point myself?
No. In NSW, moving or adding a power point, switch or light is electrical wiring work that only a licensed electrician can do. The electrician tests the work and issues a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work,. If you are renovating, book the electrical rough-in after the layout is fixed and before the walls are sheeted. Our guide to the electrical check before a renovation covers what else to look at while the walls are open.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have a power point in a bathroom in Australia?
Yes, as long as it sits in the right zone. A standard power point cannot go in zone 0 or zone 1, and in zone 2 it is only allowed as a shaver outlet or inside a cupboard with RCD protection. Most bathroom power points sit in zone 3 or outside the zones altogether, beside the vanity or near the door.
How far does a power point need to be from a shower?
It depends on whether the shower has a screen. With a fixed screen, zone 2 runs 0.6 m out from the screen entry, so a power point is kept beyond that line. Without a screen, zone 1 spreads further from the shower rose and the clear distance grows, which is why an electrician measures the room before choosing a spot.
What IP rating do bathroom lights need?
Inside zone 0, lights must be extra-low voltage and rated IPX7. Zone 1 needs at least IPX4. Zone 2 needs IPX4, double insulation or an extra-low voltage supply. Zone 3 has no IP rating requirement, though a rated fitting is still a sensible choice in a room full of steam.
Do bathroom zones apply to exhaust fans and heat lamps?
Yes. An exhaust fan or a 3-in-1 heat, light and fan unit fitted above the shower or bath is in zone 1, so it needs a fitting rated for that zone. Mounting the unit outside the shower area is often the simpler option, and it also tends to clear steam from the whole room better.
The bottom line
Bathroom electrical zones keep power points, switches and lights away from where water lands. Standard power points go in zone 3 or beyond, switches stay out of zones 0 and 1, and anything above the bath or shower needs at least IPX4. Lock in the screen and vanity layout first, then place the electrics around it. Our residential electricians plan and wire bathrooms across the Northern Beaches and greater Sydney. Get in touch before the rough-in.