Socket height

[mylittlehouse]

Hello all of you
Whe having sockets installed on a rewire do they hve to put the sockets up so high or can you opt out from this.

Thanks

 

[maguire]

there are recommendations on this but they are just that, I have fitted sockets and light switches where the customer requests them within reason of course, for example whellchair users and other less mobile people will have requirements other than those reccomendations
DM

 

[wingcoax]

Obviously if the old sockets were on the skirting it is a good idea to raise them up above,they can be just above or at the reccommended 450mm. On a rewire the choice is yours.

 

[ericmark]

Part M is the bit covering this. There is some leeway and I know I was permitted to mount the thermostat lower than the 1200mm in regulations so she could use it.
But you must have some good reason for not following the regulations. There is a difference between public and domestic buildings 400mm public and 450mm domestic. If you can show reason for example not being damaged by bed then you can get away with lower I have done this so there are below the part of bed that touches the wall.

But it is all down to building inspector.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If it's a rewire you can just about have them were you want, within reason of course.
Part M applies to new dwellings, there is no requirement to provide these measures in a rewire, providing the new installation is in no worse a level of compliance, than the original.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

But it is all down to building inspector.

Whilst reluctantly agreeing that pragmatically this statement is correct, it's my recollection that Part M applies to new build, and possibly 'major' refurbishment (involving change of use?).

Part M doesn't apply to rewires. Whilst you may like to take the motives into consideration, they can't make you change socket positioning arbitrarily.

EDIT: Shouldn't have used all the big words, apparently.

 

[Taylortwocities]

EDIT: Shouldn't have used all the big words, apparently.

indubitably!

Building regulations Part M (which includes the socket/light switch height requirements) applies to
The new requirements apply to:

• Access to and use of new buildings

• Access to extensions to buildings other than dwellings

• Sanitary conveniences in extensions to buildings other than dwellings

So for an existing house it does not apply. Otherwise you would have to put in ramps, extra wide doors, big WC rooms, etc etc if you were doing a refurb. And you don't need to.

 

[Chri5]

Part M is the bit covering this. There is some leeway and I know I was permitted to mount the thermostat lower than the 1200mm in regulations so she could use it.
But you must have some good reason for not following the regulations. There is a difference between public and domestic buildings 400mm public and 450mm domestic. If you can show reason for example not being damaged by bed then you can get away with lower I have done this so there are below the part of bed that touches the wall.

But it is all down to building inspector.

As a rewire you can do what you want, if the rewire is existing house and new extension you need to check with the LABC regarding the new area.

If they turn round and say part M heights then you'd best do the lot in a uniform height.

I assume yours is a straight rewire without any new areas covered via building control, so the choice is yours.

 

[mylittlehouse]

This is excellent news I will make sure they go at a descrete height.

 

[ColJack]

must be up off the skirting boards though.. impact risk from the hoover and all that...