What height for mounting shower unit ?

A reputable plumber should employ a qualified electrician and other specialists even if on a 'freelance' basis.

Hetty and Notagran, I do wish I'd gone to a bathroom specialist, as I suspect the electrician has little experience with plumbing or tiling and doesn't like to admit it. It can be a problem to decide which trade one needs for a job.

Anyway my shower is not an important event and if it's not right I can get someone else to sort it. I do feel reassured about not being electrocuted.

Ours is similar to this Alexa, then has a vertical rail and the detachable shower head slides up and down. You can choose the type of shower head.

www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/round-minimalist-top-outlet-bar-shower-valve
I don't know what make ours is, the plumber supplied it.

Our bar shower has a detachable shower head; the plumber asked us if we wanted that style or a fixed one. I unhook it to rinse my hair. It does slide up and down as well, if I'm showering and not washing my hair I can lower it.

The bar has end bits which turn for on/off and temperature control, not a very good plumber's description! but I could try to find a link (can't do that on this device).

Callistemon, I looked up 'bar shower' and from the images it looks like my old shower the shower head of which slides up and down a vertical rail mounted on the wall.

Actually I never use this as I invariably hold the shower head in my hand or looped around my shoulder.

My main concern is having the on off and temp control switches so I can turn them whilc sitting down and without being electrocuted. I will certainly check RCD with the electrician. Thanks.

Please check with your electrician, though!!

Are you able to have a bar shower? I think that is dependent on your water pressure.

Callistemon, thanks for coming back with that. I feel better about that and will ask the electrician if there is one.

It's a Residual Current Device ie has its own circuit breaker.

RCD

Thanks all for your advice which is better than I could find from a google search!

Hetty, what is an RGD? It sounds encouraging.

Our old shower unit was lower than the shower head. It should be waterproof. We never had a problem, although if it had ever cracked, I would have called a plumber immediately.

Do you have to have a unit? Ours runs off the hot water and is just an on/off bar with a temperature adjustment.

Alexa, showers have to be on their own RCD, so, in theory, if it's all fitted properly, there is no risk of electrocution!

Alexa .
We have a ‘walk in ‘ shower that you can set the temperature in advance to suit you and ‘ save’ it .
Our’s has a button outside the shower cubicle mounted on the wall to switch it on , in addition to one inside - it flashes until the correct temperature is reached .It saves having to go into the cubicle and mess around with the temperature
getting cold in the meantime .

It us a Mira shower which are very popular and easily available.
It was an overhead shower and hand-held hose/head too.

My advice is to go to bathroom specialist and take their advice .

I've a wet room so no problem about pipes and tray.

If the shower unit is cracked do you get electrocuted or does the fuse go?

A specialist might be best as electrics and pipes would have to be replaced and the original gaps made good/re-tiled.

I had to have a non-return valve to avoid the possibility of dirty water entering the mains (due to the extra long hose).

There is no regulation about the height of the unit - as long as it's above bath or shower tray level, of course.

My unit is chest height for me (5' 4") the rail for the shower head is above it so it must get water on it.
We've never had a problem.

My shower was installed using the existing pipes. I have the same problem I have to stand on my toes to switch it on. The one we replaced had a pull cord! I would imagine that as long as the corntrol box is not getting too wet it would be okay. After all they are supposed to be shower proof.

Showers are designed to be waterproof. The casing should prevent any water from entering the unit. Mine is fairly low so the children can reach it. I hose everything down when I clean the cubicle anyway. I have two shower rails for the head, low and high. I also had an extra long Triton hose put on.

Of course, it goes without saying that a damaged or cracked unit should never be used!

PS my old shower needs replacing. It is too high. I don't like to stand on my my toes to reach the controls. I am just under 5 ft tall.