Paul,
I see from comments posted on other forums that there are currently proposals being discussed for the 17th edition of IEE Regs./BS7671 to allow the fitting of sockets in bathrooms.
Well, it's about time.
However in saying that, the only thing that springs to mind as being needed in a bathroom that would be required to have a socket, would be a hair-dryer.
All heating appliances (fan heaters and the like) should be wall-mounted and permanently-connected.
Oh and razors, but razor points have been allowed in the UK before today haven't they?.
(I'm talking about the Isolating transformer type sockets).
I can't really see a problem with any sort of electrical equipment in a bathroom, as long as it is installed correctly, kept away from water splashes and is (of course) protected via a properly installed and regularly tested RCD unit.
But the thing about that statement is, how many homeowners, even realise that RCD's have to be tested at least monthly, or even realise that they have them in the first place (until the lights go out one night).
If the mechanical part of the RCD freezes up (through lack of testing), you'd better hope that you aren't depending on the device tripping when it should.
Quite a few people have been killed like this.
