When it comes to electrical work in bathrooms, laundries, kitchens, and outdoor areas, safety isn’t optional — it’s regulated. The Australian and New Zealand Wiring Rules, AS/NZS 3000, clearly define “wet area zones” that specify where electrical fittings can be placed, what types of equipment are permitted, and what protection levels are required.

At Approved Electrix, our local electricians work with Melbourne homeowners and builders to ensure all wet area electrical installations are safe, compliant, and future-ready. If you’re renovating, rewiring, or building new, understanding these zones is essential.

What Are Wet Area Zones?

The AS/NZS 3000 standard breaks wet areas into three main zones, each with its own restrictions and IP (Ingress Protection) requirements:

Zone 0 – Inside the Shower or Bath

This area includes the interior of the shower base or bathtub. Only Safety Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) equipment (typically 12V) may be used, and fittings must have a minimum IPX7 rating — fully protected against immersion.

Zone 1 – Above the Shower or Bath

This zone extends up to 2.5m vertically above the shower head or bathtub rim. Only fixed, water-resistant appliances rated IPX4 or better may be used, such as water heaters and exhaust fans.

Zone 2 – 600mm Beyond the Shower or Bath

Zone 2 continues 600mm horizontally outside of Zone 1, and up to 2.25m high. Electrical fittings here must also be IPX4-rated, and only specific types such as enclosed light fittings, mirror demisters, or approved shaver sockets may be installed.

Clearances Near Basins and Sinks

Where basins or troughs are concerned, the zone rules differ based on water capacity.

< 45L Basin: Switches and outlets must be at least 150mm horizontally from the edge.
> 45L Basin (like in laundries): Often treated similar to a bath, with additional distance and IP requirements.

Outdoor Taps and Power Points

Outdoor environments are considered high-risk due to exposure. AS/NZS 3000 recommends:

Power outlets must be at least 300mm horizontally from taps
Outlets must not be installed directly below a tap
All fittings must be IPX4-rated or higher and enclosed in weatherproof housings

Fixed Plumbing Exceptions

Power outlets can be located next to or below fixed plumbing connections — like dishwashers or washing machines — provided the plumbing is permanent and sealed, and the outlet is safely positioned away from any splash or leak risk. This is common and compliant in modern kitchens and laundries.

Visual Reference: AS/NZS 3000 Diagrams

To fully understand wet area zones, consult the official diagrams in AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Clause 6.2.4). These visual aids show exactly where Zones 0, 1, and 2 begin and end in relation to showers, bathtubs, and basins.

Note: For licensing reasons, we can’t publish the diagrams here. You can access them via Standards Australia or through your licensed electrician.

Trusted Products for Wet Areas

We always specify fittings that are compliant with AS/NZS 3000, durable, and visually clean. For both outdoor and indoor wet areas, we recommend the Clipsal Iconic range, designed in Australia to meet modern electrical safety requirements.

Clipsal Iconic Outdoor – Perfect for Zone 1 & 2

O3025-XW – Double Weatherproof Power Point (IP54)

O3015-XW – Single Weatherproof Power Point (IP54)

O3041HA-XW – 1 Gang Weatherproof Switch (IP56)

Clipsal Iconic Indoor – Ideal for Kitchens, Bathrooms & Laundries

3041V44-VW – 1 Gang Vertical Switch, 10AX, 230/240V, IP44

P3041V44-XW – Pro Series 1 Gang Vertical Switch, 20A/16AX, 230/240V, IP44

These products not only meet compliance — they look great in any modern home or renovation project.

Why This Matters

Improper electrical installations in wet zones aren’t just non-compliant — they can be life-threatening. Avoiding risk means:

Using the right fittings
Following spacing regulations
Consulting a licensed electrician to ensure total safety

That’s where we come in.

Need a Bathroom or Laundry Rewired?

We offer:

Full compliance with AS/NZS 3000
Supply and install of weatherproof & IP-rated fittings
Hardwired smoke alarms, exhaust fans, and modern LED lighting
Professional service across Melbourne, backed by a lifetime workmanship warranty

Call Approved Electrix on (03) 8370 5737

Visit: approvedelectrix.com.au

Dean Barton

Dean Barton is the Director and founder of Approved Electrix, a Melbourne-based electrical contracting company with over 15 years of hands-on industry experience. Dean is a fully qualified and licensed A-Grade electrician in Victoria and a registered electrical contractor, delivering residential, commercial, and industrial electrical projects across Melbourne in strict compliance with AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and Victorian electrical regulations.

Approved Electrix is a proud Master Electricians Australia member, and Dean is directly involved in quoting, system design, compliance checks, and final quality assurance on every job. He works closely with homeowners, builders, architects, and property managers to provide safe, reliable, and future-proof electrical solutions.

Tagged ASNZS3000, ElectricalRewire, HomeSafety, IP44, LocalElectricians, Melbourne bathroom renovations winter, MelbourneElectricians, WetAreaZones

Vanessa

02:41 26 Apr 24

Dean was super easy to coordinate with. Had 2 electricians out within hours who were super nice and replaced light switches fast. Really good prices, by far the cheapest. Would use again easily.

John Moy

00:58 25 Apr 24

Received 4 quotes for a switchboard upgrade. This group was the most professional and gave me the most confidence. Was flexible in adjusting the work to suit my preferences, turned up on time, work was completed without fuss and I was pleasantly surprised that they cleaned up everything at the end. I had an inspector drop by to review the work (because this included a new mains connection from the street) and they said it was a ‘good job’. Recommended.

S G

07:04 27 Mar 24

Very happy experience with Approved Electrix. Very prompt response to my request. Though mine was a small job, got rid of an unwanted wire and relocated a PowerPoint, it was done quickly and nicely. Thanks again to Dean and his team. Definitely will call them again when I have another job in the future.

Sam Freshly

05:26 28 Feb 24

The boys did fantastic work very quickly at my place. My new garage is now wired up for cameras and electric car charging couldn’t be happier.Really appreciate Jordon accomodating changes to the plan on the fly as I thought of additional stuff I would like. Shannon also did great work from digging trenches to getting in the roof to run cables and wiring up all my new lights. I’ll definitely use these guys again.

Jason Hay

03:51 10 Jan 24

I needed some domestic work: a mix of new power points and lights, the relocation of internet (FTTB) modem point to a more convenient location, and then running two cat6 network cables from the modem point across my apartment to another rooms.Dean responded fast to provide a detailed and competitive quote. Once confirmed he was able to schedule the job two days later.I work in IT and have seen lots of electrical work carried out by various electricians over the years so I'm confident in saying that his guys carried out the work very professionally.Rob turned up when they said he would, had the all necessary parts already with him, did the work to a high quality, and most impressively, was able to recommend creative and low cost solutions for a couple of things I hadn't considered, e.g. the network cables were cleverly able to be routed via the roof space to in between the narrow wall so there was no additional unsightly holes or conduit. Then they tested everything properly and cleaned up very well after themselves.This is all consistent with my previous experience when employing Dean several times over the past almost 10 years. Great service at reasonable prices... what more could you ask for?!

Anthony Hart

11:41 09 Jan 24

I have been using Dean and his team regularly since 2016 to assist with a range of electrical works at both my house and my parent's unit. Not only has he been very responsive and easy to deal with but the work is always of the highest quality. Highly recommended!

M Vecchio

03:00 06 Dec 23

I went to the trouble of getting a number of quotes for a TV to be mounted & for x3 ceiling fans to be installed. Approved Electrix was not only the quickest business to respond, but the easiest to communicate with and had the most affordable quote. Their text message booking system was easy to use and made communication really easy. I was home the day the electrician (Al) came to do the job. He was so kind and helpful. He chatted to me about what he was doing and asked lots of questions has he installed the items to ensure they were positioned in the most ideal location. He even helped me fix up a few other small jobs in my house, he was wonderful & it was an excellent experience. I will definitely be using them again if I ever need electrical work done. Thank you for such a seamless service and thank you to Al for his work at my place :)

Vinny

10:38 23 Oct 23

Very happy with the job Dean and his team did for my ensuite bathroom that included 2 power points, light switches and downlights. They encountered a few problems caused from the previous tradies but were able rectify the issues with minimal fuss.Thanks again fellas.

Andy Northrop

02:48 13 Oct 23

Very happy with Jordan and John’s ceiling fan installations. They were super efficient and friendly and provided a really reasonable quote as well. Thank you!

Lisa Heming

06:26 10 Sep 23

As a tradesperson myself I have seen and dealt with many trades of varying degrees of quality, from some of the best (rare) to some real shockers unfortunately. Dean and his team of guys most definitely impressed, the whole way through. Thanks Dean for coming by so quickly and for organising the job at lighting speed. Most appreciated thank you. Your guys were early/right on time and so friendly, polite and professional. I’m wrapped with Rob’s work and his meticulousness. Your team is teaching each other quality, and apprentice Shannon is so keen and willing to learn and keen to be helpful and back up his ‘mentor’ on the job at such a young age.. It was awesome to see!!! Quality is hard to find. Definitely highly recommend. Champions! Thank you

Mike Lafky

08:01 03 Aug 23

I needed a data cable installed at our new unit. AE attended the site on short notice and provided a quote, and were able to start the job two days later. The day of the work, the electricians arrived promptly at their start time and completed their work. Would hire again.

Brett Chaney

06:41 25 Jul 23

Dean with his excellent team (Al and John) did a number of electical jobs around our home recently. We are very happy with the whole process and outcome. Even when we added more items on the fly they were happy to accomodate and did everything to a very high standard. I highly recommend Approved Electrix for all your electrical needs!

Emily Bui

10:35 19 Jun 18

I freaked out when my two lights in my unit were down but the rest of the house was fine, luckily I found you guys in the area and you were a big help fixing this. Highly recommended

Angelique Both

23:11 14 Jun 18

Really happy with the service and work I received from Dean and his apprentice. I had a number of new light fittings to install and also wanted some advice on getting power and lighting to our garages. I will book dean again for future work and highly recommend! Thanks again, Dean, the lighting looks amazing.

erbil aykutyan

00:14 01 Jun 18

I am writing this review on behalf of my parents. I always use and recommend Dean to everyone. Recently my parents had a problem with random power going off at some parts of their home. Being elderly , Dean attended on site immediately, identified the issue and fixed it. He is very experienced and a genuine person , does not waste time and most importantly fixes the problem without overecharging. Would highly recommend Dean.

Linda Aykut

00:10 01 Jun 18

Fantastic service yet again! Dean and his team always provide a professional service. The best electricians I have used. Very reasonable pricing and knowledgeable. Always on time. They fix all my electrical problems. I highly recommend them.

Andrew Wang

10:53 16 Apr 18

Dean is excellent! Arrives on time, professional, knowledgeable with impeccable after sales service. Nothing was a problem. If I could give him more stars I would! Highly recommend Dean to anyone looking for an electrician.

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Wet Area Zones in Australia: What You Need to Know (AS/NZS 3000)
June 1, 2025