Horizontal safe zone with 'dry lining' back boxes

[robinbanks]

My gosh, the sparks forum does delve right the way down into navel fluff levels of inanity over some things

How do the proponents ever get the hours of their lives back, I wonder?

 

[blup]

John, you regularly argue that the regs are guidance not law, there’s your answer.

 

[ebee]

Well, if you comply with the regs then no one can argue.
If you you use common sense then some will argue.
Which is the easiest situation to adopt?

 

[blup]

My gosh, the sparks forum does delve right the way down into navel fluff levels of inanity over some things

How do the proponents ever get the hours of their lives back, I wonder?

These are the hours of their lives

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have no idea whether they still exist, but I wonder whether people would consider them to 'extend the zones'?

Well, it would already be a pretty daft assumption, and act, to drill so close to a socket, but fitting such a plate, would make the act even an even dafter one. Sometimes, you just have to engage common sense.

 

[ebee]

I don't know the answer to that, but I seem to recall that there were once 'surrounds' one could get, which extended about 15mm beyond the edges of the faceplate. I have no idea whether they still exist, but I wonder whether people would consider them to 'extend the zones'?

Those surrounds, known as pattresses (but a better term might be found to distinguish them I think) , actually I had never considered whether they move the zones or not (I would think not) and yes I think they are still available , Dark Brown for Georgian Brass sockets used to be quite popular

 

[JohnW2]

Those surrounds, known as pattresses (but a better term might be found to distinguish them I think) , actually I had never considered whether they move the zones or not (I would think not) and yes I think they are still available , Dark Brown for Georgian Brass sockets used to be quite popular

As I implied, I'd never really thought about it - but since they do enlarge the visible 'accessory', it would presumably not be difficult to argue that they do also 'enlarge the zones'. After all if, as morqthana asked/suggested, what if there were some accessories with 'oversized'; faceplates - if they exist, then presumably no-one would suggest that the zones were any narrower than the 'visible accessory', would they?

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

John, you regularly argue that the regs are guidance not law, there’s your answer.

I do,but ......

[ as in many other fields/aspects of life, that is true at in terms of "what I do", which is not necessarily the same as "what I say/advise"! "What I do" is very much a case of 'common sense guided by knowledge of the regs', rather pedantic/strict blind adherence to every word of the regs ]

... and ....

I'm certainly not 'panicking' about any of this total trivia and I wouldn't lose a moment's sleep if I knew that some of the cables in my house were a centimetre or three outside of the defined 'zones'.

.... and ....

NO, I am not "desperately seeking" anything - since, as I say, I personally see absolutely no need. .... Rather (actually, following a comment I received from a colleague) I asked the original question on behalf of those who are obsessed with the need for strict blind compliance with every word of the regs.

 

[blup]

I do,but ......

... and ....

.... and ....

OK it’s for the craic then

 

[SUNRAY]

Those surrounds, known as pattresses (but a better term might be found to distinguish them I think) , actually I had never considered whether they move the zones or not (I would think not) and yes I think they are still available , Dark Brown for Georgian Brass sockets used to be quite popular

Are you referring to spacers

Or fingerplates?

 

[SUNRAY]

OK it’s for the craic then

I wouldn't have thought it comes under craic as in real terms this is a discussion about a deviation from a British Standard, albeit minor.

 

[JohnW2]

Are you referring to spacers ..... Or fingerplates?

I can't speak for ebee, but I was certainly referring to those 'fingerplates'.

 

[JohnW2]

OK it’s for the craic then

Not being Irish, I'm only slightly familiar with that word, but I would not call it 'craic' - as I tried to explain, what I've written was for the sake of those who feel the need for strict adherence to 'the regs' (even if, in some circumstances, I'm perfectly comfortable to 'ignore' them myself).

 

[SUNRAY]

I can't speak for ebee, but I was certainly referring to those 'fingerplates'.

Realistically I think I'd consider them to be a decoration rather than electrical accessory, I'd perhaps consider the narrower spacer as electrical which my, but only may, give the additional clearance.

 

[ebee]

As I implied, I'd never really thought about it - but since they do enlarge the visible 'accessory', it would presumably not be difficult to argue that they do also 'enlarge the zones'. After all if, as morqthana asked/suggested, what if there were some accessories with 'oversized'; faceplates - if they exist, then presumably no-one would suggest that the zones were any narrower than the 'visible accessory', would they?

Kind Regards, John

I must admit that I`ve always reckoned the zone was actually the socket faceplate and no more, that would also be reliant on using the smallest possible which would actually be the standard size. If someone was using larger sockets I would not include that in my way of thinking even if installed from new on a rewire but I do see how that might be argued.
Obviously my aim would be from the standard backbox size and no more but I would personally allow the min faceplate size for the comparison of compliance, just my assumption, I had not considered the point to any greater degree.