Amalfi Five Function Shower Set - White

Shower fittings and spares cover the parts that make up a shower and the replacements that keep one working: heads and handsets, hoses, riser rails, wall arms, shower valves, thermostatic shower panels, wastes and traps, and spares for electric and mixer showers.

Heads, hoses and rails

Handsets range from single-spray to multi-function heads. Hoses are commonly 1.25m or 1.5m long, in plastic or reinforced stainless steel, so measure the distance from the outlet to where the handset will hang. A riser rail lets you slide the handset up and down, while a fixed head mounts on a wall arm. Spares such as circuit boards must match the shower model.

Valves

Concealed valves are built into the wall with only the controls on show, while exposed valves sit on the wall surface; twin and triple valves run more than one outlet. Thermostatic mixing valves should suit the hot and cold supplies that feed them: BS EN 1111 covers valves for high pressure (PN 10) systems and BS EN 1287 covers low pressure valves.

Water regulations and safety

A flexible shower hose that can reach into a toilet or bidet is a backflow risk. Restrain it, for example with a hose retaining ring, or shorten it so the head cannot reach. Mixer showers normally have single check valves on the supplies to stop hot and cold water crossing over. Fittings must be suitable under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. In England, a new shower circuit, or altering a circuit in a bathroom, is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations and must be done by a registered competent person or notified to building control.

For complete units, see bathroom showers, or browse shower pumps.