IP24 Bathroom Heater Installation Zones Near Showers
IEC 60364-7-701 zones 0-2 mark the shower splash boundaries; IP24 heaters like airear A3, electriQ VG2TR and Adax wet-room units must mount in zone 2 or beyond, per each maker's manual (checked 2026-10-24).
Applies to IP24-rated bathroom heaters (wall-mounted ceramic, PTC and panel types, e.g. airear A3, electriQ VG2TR, Adax wet-room heaters) installed near a fixed bath or shower under IEC 60364-7-701 zones 0-2, and Korea's KEC 234.5 rule for sockets on 220 V wet-area circuits.
- Code or manual section
- IEC 60364
Where should an IP24 bathroom heater be installed so shower splash cannot reach it, and what should buyers check before choosing one?
| Item | Requirement | Code or manual section | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 (inside the bath tub or shower tray) | No bathroom heater may be fitted here; only equipment specifically rated for this zone, minimum IPX7, is permitted | IEC 60364-7-701:2019 zone 0 | webstore.iec.ch |
| Zone 1 (directly above the bath/shower, up to 2.25 m or the fixed water outlet) | Fixed equipment must be at least IPX4 (IPX5 if a cleaning water jet is used) and on a 30 mA RCD circuit | IEC 60364-7-701:2019 zone 1 | electrical-installation.org |
| Zone 2 (0.6 m band beyond zone 1, up to 2.25 m high) | Fixed equipment must be at least IPX4 and RCD-protected at 30 mA; IP24-rated equipment meets this minimum | IEC 60364-7-701:2019 zone 2 | electrical-installation.org |
| electriQ VG2TR / VG2TR-1.2BW panel heater placement | Maker states the IP24 unit and its cable must stay outside zones 0-2 and must not be sited where it could fall into the bath; the circuit needs an RCD | electriQ VG2TR installation manual | appliancesdirect.co.uk |
| Adax wet-room heater placement | Maker states its IP24-rated room heaters are sited in zone 2 and beyond (zone 0 requires minimum IPX7) with a fixed connection installed by an authorised electrician | Adax heaters-in-wetrooms guide | adax.no |
| airear A3 (30 x 30 x 12.5 cm, 1.5 kg) wall mount | Maker lists an IP24 life-waterproof wall-mount body sized for rooms up to 5 pyeong on a 220 V circuit; mounting it on the bathroom wall outside the zone-0/zone-1 splash band, on an RCD-protected 220 V line, matches both its IP24 rating and the zone-2-or-beyond placement makers specify for IP24 units | airear A3 product listing; KC safety cert JU071831-21001 | brand.naver.com |
| Korea - sockets and fixed connection points in wet bathrooms | Outlets and fixed-appliance connections in a bathroom or washroom where the body may be wet must be earthed, splash-proof (방적형) type with a personal-protection RCD | KEC (Korean Electrical Code) 234.5 | 24time.kr |
| General area beyond zone 2 | No zone-specific IP rating is mandated by IEC 60364-7-701 itself, but the heater's own manual rating (e.g. IP24) still governs wherever it is mounted | IEC 60364-7-701:2019; electriQ VG2TR manual | electrical-installation.org |
Installation
- Map the bath or shower's zone 0 (inside the tub/tray), zone 1 (directly above it, up to 2.25 m or the fixed water outlet) and zone 2 (0.6 m band beyond zone 1) per IEC 60364-7-701:2019.
- Pick a wall or ceiling spot outside zones 0-2 for any heater without a zone-0/1 rating; an IP24 unit's manual (electriQ VG2TR, Adax, airear A3) places it in zone 2 or beyond, never zone 0 or 1.
- Confirm the circuit carries a 30 mA RCD before wiring any fixed bathroom heater.
- Mount the heater on its own bracket at the height and clearance its manual states (airear A3: wall bracket for a 30 x 30 x 12.5 cm, 1.5 kg body) so the unit and its cable sit clear of direct spray.
- Route the power cable so no section crosses zone 0 or zone 1; use a fixed spur or the maker's stated plug/socket arrangement.
- In Korea, fit an earthed, splash-proof (방적형) outlet with a personal-protection RCD per KEC 234.5 if the circuit ends in a socket rather than a fixed connection.
- Test the RCD trip button after wiring and before first use.
- Keep the manufacturer's manual and the IEC/KEC clearance figures on file for inspection.
FAQs
Where should an IP24 bathroom heater sit relative to the shower?
Outside IEC 60364-7-701 zones 0 and 1; IP24 units such as the electriQ VG2TR and Adax wet-room heaters are specified by their makers for zone 2 or beyond, never for direct spray inside zones 0-1.
What IP rating do zones 1 and 2 require under IEC 60364-7-701?
At least IPX4, rising to IPX5 where a cleaning water jet is used, per the zone table published on electrical-installation.org's summary of the standard.
Does an IP24 rating let a heater mount inside the shower enclosure?
No - IP24 covers splashing from any direction, not the sustained wetting of zones 0-1, so electriQ and Adax both restrict their IP24 units to zone 2 or beyond.
What should be checked before buying a heater for this spot?
Its IP rating, rated wattage steps, room-size coverage and its manual's zone rule; 2026 Korean retail listings price the airear A3 at KRW 219,000 (list) and the Hanil AI+ bathroom heater at KRW 199,000 (list), both checked 2026-09-14.
Does Korea have a separate rule for wet-area outlets?
Yes - KEC 234.5 requires earthed, splash-proof (방적형) outlets and a personal-protection RCD for sockets in a bathroom or washroom where the body may be wet.
Resources
- IEC - IEC 60364-7-701:2019 publication page
- electrical-installation.org (Schneider Electric) - Bathroom electrical installation
- electriQ - VG2TR / VG2TR-1.2BW installation manual
- Adax - Heaters in wetrooms
- airear official brand store - A3 bathroom heater
- Daum - 이상현의 가전털기: 한일 AI플러스 욕실온풍기 리뷰
- 24time.kr