Can I mount electrical sockets on a suspended panel?

I can't see any reason why this wouldn't be allowed but thought I'd ask.

This is in a garage, where I had a professional fit four double sockets on the rafters in a ring final circuit back to the garage's CU.

I'm going to be installing 130mm PUR insulation into the rafters which will effectively rule out the rafters as a vertical surface. So I'm thinking that I'll fit a new vertical panel suspended from the rafters and fit the sockets to that.

Note that the supply to the sockets won't pass through the PUR insulation - it will still be tacked in free air.

Is this acceptable? Do I need to be concerned about re-testing if I'm moving the sockets south and reusing the existing cable (and cable-path)?

skotl said:

I'm thinking that I'll fit a new vertical panel suspended from the rafters and fit the sockets to that.

Click to expand...

When you say "suspended", what do you mean?

Do I need to be concerned about re-testing if I'm moving the sockets south and reusing the existing cable (and cable-path)?

Click to expand...

After disruption like that you should confirm that everything is still OK - polarity, continuity, loop impedance etc.

Im assuming you mean like a board screwed to the side of the rafters, protruding lower than the ceiling.
Id prefer to see that than the sockets fitted upside down on a ceiling, although the regs dont forbid upside down sockets, plugs tend to work loose and could cause arcing.

Would this not be better with extension leads from out of the sockets, plugged into the extensions and fixed at the top so they are not pulling on the socket.
That way if they get damaged etc they can be replaced.

You can make extensions with proper sockets, a good cable, coily one even.

333rocky333 said:

Im assuming you mean like a board screwed to the side of the rafters, protruding lower than the ceiling.
Id prefer to see that than the sockets fitted upside down on a ceiling, although the regs dont forbid upside down sockets, plugs tend to work loose and could cause arcing.

Click to expand...

Yes - that exactly. A panel of wood secured to the rafters.

mattylad said:

Would this not be better with extension leads from out of the sockets, plugged into the extensions and fixed at the top so they are not pulling on the socket.

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It's primarily semi-permanent kit (drill press, bench saw, charger, etc) rather than hand tools that could pull at the plugs.