rewired sockets and the 450 rule?

[manicjon]

Hi there,

I have this problem my partner lives in a council house and it had really bad electrics and they would not do anything so after 4 years of trying to get them to sort the problem I eneded up doing the electrics on two rooms.

I put in two new ring circuits one for the lounge and one for the mian bedroom but I kept the sockets in the same place and not as the regs state 450mm high?


Now after 12 months the council have desided they are going to fit new kitcken but as there is a fault with the old electrics and not the new circuits I have put in but they are wanting to rewire the hole house stating the fact the sockets are not at 450mm high in case of flooding and if anyone is disabled?

So im not to happy as i have plastered both rooms and they are wanting to knockout all the work I have done just to move the sockets 10cm highter.

Ive also put in pvc conduit just incase they wanted to rewire what I have done but still this is not good enough?

Help they are coming Monday...


Cheers

 

[Chri5]

New builds require the new (ish) regs for part M- Disabled users.

On rewires it's a choice, you can keep the existing arrangements or opt for the new positions for socket, switch and CU heights.

Problem you have is that the owner of the flat isn't you, it's the Council and they will be taking a view that you may not always be there and hence want to do the work to a standard that allows them the option of satisfying Part M should a disabled tenant occupy the flat.

As for flooding What floor are you on ?

 

[sparkwright]

If your work is entirely rewired in harmonised cable, and has been done to professional standards, there is every chance the electricians will leave it as it is IF THEY think they can get away with leaving the sockets 10 cm out.

If your work is found to be sub-standard, they may insist on ripping it all out.

All you can do is ask if they can turn a blind eye to the socket height, and salvage anything they are not happy with.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

The requirement for switch and height sockets, are for new builds not for re-wires.
The council might look on it differently though.