The first "object" that we erected on the newly acquired summer cottage was a bathhouse. Until this hysterical moment, I had not tried myself as a builder, so I got down to business at my own peril and risk. We already had a fire experience behind us and did not want to repeat it. For this reason, fire safety became a fix idea for me - I wanted to think through everything to the smallest detail.
A wooden bath requires a special attitude. Wood does not differ in refractory properties and requires taking into account all safety rules. These include the heat-insulated section of the ceiling (where the pipe passes), cladding metal walls next to the stove, thick layer of fireproof insulation, fire-fighting wood and so on. I have successfully completed all the requirements.
The problem of power supply also did not go unnoticed. We laid the cable underground (the bathhouse is located 25 meters from the house). To protect the cable from moisture, we placed it in an HDPE plastic pipe. I securely "sealed" the electrical wiring in the bath in corrugated pipes.
It would seem that protection against short circuit and fire is ready, there is nothing to fear. But as you know, trouble comes from where they did not expect. Our case was no exception. The situation is ordinary - we invited friends to take a steam bath, we kindled the stove, we are waiting for the bath to warm up. It's time to put some wood in the stove and check the temperature. I go into the dressing room, where pitch darkness meets me. I pulled the switch - the effect is zero.
I return to the house and find that the machine on which the bathhouse is held is off. After my timid attempt to reanimate the device, it immediately turned off. Armed with a flashlight, I went to the steam room to look for answers. The result was not long in coming - the wall above the lamp turned black from the resulting soot.
I will make a lyrical digression for self-justification. I chose a special lamp - for rooms with high humidity. It was placed in a metal case and had a ceramic cartridge. The wires were hidden deep into the wall and placed under a layer of thermal insulation, which made them invulnerable to any temperature. At the time of installation, I was confident that I had considered all the factors.
But the devil is in the details. A short circuit happened at the point where the wires go inside the lamp. They were wound up through a small hole in the case, where the short circuit occurred. The lamp has heated the metal body of the lamp. The insulation of the wire did not cope with the heat and simply “floated”.
As a result, the wires touched, a spark flashed, putting an end to the insulation. It's my luck that the machine went off and saved us from the conflagration.
On the same day, I removed the lamp in the steam room. The lighting was done through the window - using a carrier. The incident inspired me to study the issue in detail. After a couple of days of intense "googling" I learned that special wires are installed in hot rooms, which provide high temperature silicone protection.
After the "enlightenment" I replaced the wire section and made another hole in the case. It will be required so that the wires fall into the housing at a distance from each other and do not come into contact with each other.
These measures may seem superfluous to someone, but I do not want to repeat the sad experience with soot.