SOCKET POSITION

[aberdeenpaul]

Hi
I am just rewiring my house
I live in Scotland so i know that i am not affected by part M building regs.
Is there anywhere that states the height of a socket and also how far from the wall is the socket allowed to be?
I have read through the regs but nowhere does it state a height or position from the wall

 

[mattylad]

I'm not qualified & I dont know about in Scotland, but AFAIK for new builds in England sockets should be fitted no lower than 450mm.
However, this does not affect an existing installation.

No idea about how far from the wall (not sure what you mean here???).

It is in section 8.3 (page 70) of part M even if it does not apply to you.

 

[skenk]

Found this in the SBSA domestic handbook section 4(.8.5)


>>
Outlets and controls of electrical fixtures and systems should be positioned at
least 350 mm from any internal corner, projecting wall or similar obstruction
and, unless the need for a higher location can be demonstrated, not more
than 1.2 m above floor level. This would include fixtures such as sockets,
switches, fire alarm call points and timer controls or programmers. Within
this height range:
• light switches should be positioned at a height of between 900 mm and
1.1 m above floor level.
• standard switched or unswitched socket outlets and outlets for other
services such as telephone or television should be positioned at least 400
mm above floor level. Above an obstruction, such as a worktop, fixtures
should be at least 150 mm above the projecting surface.
Where socket outlets are concealed, such as to the rear of white goods in a
kitchen , separate switching should be provided in an accessible position, to
allow appliances to be isolated.
<<

News to me, I thought it was 450-1200 as per the OSG and part M!

 

[robby71]

Sorry to dig up this post

we've had out house fully rewired and the sparky has replaced the sockets that were on the skirting boards with new ones which sit on the wall but the bottoms sit on (maybe 5mm) the skirting - shouldn't they be higher up the walls?

thanks

 

[ColJack]

ideally yes..
if it's a full rewire, then there's no reason not to use the 450mm of the new build rules if you want to..
there's no rules governing the height of sockets in existing houses...

 

[robby71]

wow quick reply

Thanks for that as we're having problems with the job done and want to know he's working within the regs