Ring Main layout

[skilly]

Can someone please confirm the 'correct' layout of connecting sockets in a two storey house?


I always thought that they should be split into upstairs and downstairs, but I have been reading that the kitchen should be on it's own separate ring no matter which floor it is on.


My own house is split into upstairs and downstairs, but my parents are moving into a house which is wired with the kitchen on one ring and everything else (downstairs living room and 2 bedrooms, toilet and stairway upstairs) on a second ring.


Is it 'law' that the kitchen is separate, or only a recommendation?



Many thanks again.....I think I'll have re-acquire a copy of the regs!!

 

[breezer]

recomendation, since you may want to have breakfast.

hmm, i will have toast, (on goes toaster) ah, coffee (on goes kettle) may as well start the WM, damn no clean cups (switch DW on)

so you see you soon have a lot of current being drawn which leaves very little for anything else if on same ring

 

[Taylortwocities]

It is up to the designer to provide circuits that are adequate for the load.
This may just be one ring circuit.
These days the largest current demand is the kitchen so a separate ring is a good idea there. The rest of the house might have much smaller requirement so could be met by one ring for the rest, or two radials, or two rings - all sorts.

 

[skilly]

Thanks for the replies guys.


I hadn't heard of the kitchen being on it's own ring before...(I don't work on domestic wiring) and since I've found a few 'quirks' in my mum's new house I thought I'd ask.


Her house was supposed to have been completely rewired recently but only the kitchen sockets have been done and the faceplates renewed everywhere else and this along with some dodgy lighting ciruits mean she is more than a tad nervous now.


I have a new build house and know the kitchen is on the same ring as the living-room and only wanted to know if the separate kitchen ring was law so that I could get on to the builders about it and add it to my list of 'snags'..



Cheers again

 

[Taylortwocities]

Not law and not a requirement of BS7671 either