Socket heights in renovation project (Scotland)

[iep]

Renovating an old house and adding an extension. The existing wiring in the main house is okay and does not need to be replaced. Just needs a few new sockets in the main living area which are easily added to the existing ring.

Do I need to abide by the 400mm min height rule for these new sockets or (worse) do I have to move all sockets in the renovated area up to 400mm? The latter would be a huge pain as there is not enough slack in the existing wiring so it'd be a full rewire.

I've seen a few posts on various forums saying that the 400mm (or 450mm) rule only applies to new builds and so shouldn't apply to any part of this project (renovated area or extension) but thought I'd see what people think.

Cheers,

iep

 

[ericmark]

It is at the end of day down to guy issuing certificates. But in most cases the 450 mm (domestic) or 400 mm (commercial) is not worried about with refurbishment.

Even with new build you are still allowed to use floor sockets on suspended floors so clearly there is some common sense.

Even with new build if you can show why it should not be 450 - 1200 mm from finished level they will normally allow it. I set them at what I thought was finished level to then find floor was raised so they ended up low. Told inspector it was so they would go under the bed head to prevent damage from bed movement and I got away with it.

 

[iep]

Thanks, this makes sense with the English regs but the Scottish ones seem less clear.

Architects drawings for planning permission stated 400mm(?) and I didn't think to check the height of the existing sockets. Hoping there is some leeway on this spec or I've got an extra two days of wiring to do.

Cheers,

iep

 

[iep]

Bump.

Any more thoughts on this (ideally from people with experience of the Scottish regs).

English regs are pretty clear cut. Not a new build, not a problem.

However, Scottish regs have resulted in people I know having to have different height sockets in different rooms dependent on the level of renovation in that room. Minor renovation, existing 200mm socket height okay. Large renovation (full re-plastering), 400mm socket height required.

We're not re-plastering the room so I'm hoping we can keep the existing sockets and add new ones at the same height.

Cheers,

iep