Water changes everything
Dry skin resists electric current fairly well. Wet skin does not: the same touch that would tingle in a hallway can be fatal in a bathroom. That is why wiring standards treat bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor areas as wet zones.
Why exactly 30 mA
Currents above roughly 30 mA across the chest can make a heart fibrillate. A 30 mA RCD disconnects the circuit in under 40 ms — before the current does lasting harm. Higher-rated RCDs (100–300 mA) protect against fire, but not against shock.
What must be protected
- All socket circuits in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor areas.
- Fixed appliances that combine water and electricity: water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers.
PlanMyPanel flags these circuits automatically, and the rule engine reports an error if any wet-zone circuit lacks 30 mA protection.