what type of back box do I buy for my electrician to fit into plasterboard wall
2 gang switch backbox
- Thread starter misterboumsong
- Start date
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Depends. Let the electrician decide (and supply).
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There are three main questions when buying a regular* backbox, width, depth and type.
Width: there are two main sizes of plate used for electrical accessories in the UK. A "single" box fits a single socket, while a "double" box fits a double socket, there are also triple backboxes and socets but they are quite rare. For single peice lightswitches normally 1-3 gang switches fit on a single box, while 4 and 6 gang switches fit on a double plate. Modular switch systems and datacom outlets tend to be a bit less dense, usually 1-2 modules on a single plate and 3-4 on a double plate.
Depth: traditionally 16mm backboxes were used for lightswitches while 25mm were used for sockets, but nowadays it's often considered advisable to step up to the next depth with 25mm for lightswitches and 35mm for sockets. 47mm boxes are used for cooker control units and cooker outlets. For a regular flush box the lip of the box should ideally be just below the wall surface, so sometimes it makes sense to use a deeper box just to fill up a hole (I have a lightswitch on a 47mm box for this reason).
Type: there are two main types of flush box used in the UK. Regular flush boxes are made of metal and designed to be fixed by screwing though the back into the wall behind. These are generally the most appropriate type for traditional brick/block walls, whether plastered in the traditional way or covered with dot and dab plasterboard. They can also be used in new stud partition walls by mounting them on wooden noggins. They generally aren't a great choice for retrofits in stud partitions though.
The other type is "dryline" boxes. These mount to the plasterboard itself. They are generally what would be used for retrofit work on stud partition walls. They aren't great on "dot and dab" however as the adhestive can get in the way of the mounting ears.
* Some products require special backboxes, such as "architrave" switches, larger modular plates and AV combination plates.
Width: there are two main sizes of plate used for electrical accessories in the UK. A "single" box fits a single socket, while a "double" box fits a double socket, there are also triple backboxes and socets but they are quite rare. For single peice lightswitches normally 1-3 gang switches fit on a single box, while 4 and 6 gang switches fit on a double plate. Modular switch systems and datacom outlets tend to be a bit less dense, usually 1-2 modules on a single plate and 3-4 on a double plate.
Depth: traditionally 16mm backboxes were used for lightswitches while 25mm were used for sockets, but nowadays it's often considered advisable to step up to the next depth with 25mm for lightswitches and 35mm for sockets. 47mm boxes are used for cooker control units and cooker outlets. For a regular flush box the lip of the box should ideally be just below the wall surface, so sometimes it makes sense to use a deeper box just to fill up a hole (I have a lightswitch on a 47mm box for this reason).
Type: there are two main types of flush box used in the UK. Regular flush boxes are made of metal and designed to be fixed by screwing though the back into the wall behind. These are generally the most appropriate type for traditional brick/block walls, whether plastered in the traditional way or covered with dot and dab plasterboard. They can also be used in new stud partition walls by mounting them on wooden noggins. They generally aren't a great choice for retrofits in stud partitions though.
The other type is "dryline" boxes. These mount to the plasterboard itself. They are generally what would be used for retrofit work on stud partition walls. They aren't great on "dot and dab" however as the adhestive can get in the way of the mounting ears.
* Some products require special backboxes, such as "architrave" switches, larger modular plates and AV combination plates.
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