Light switch height

telectrix · Sep 19, 2019

Suet33 said:
Own flat but council lease

then it's your choice. get a sharpie. put an X on the wall/s where you want the switches. if sparks argues, sack him.

if you want to be really posh, specify Quinetic . then you can fit switches wherever, even on the window glass.

Suet33 · Sep 19, 2019

Thanks for all the comments - I phoned the local building control dept this morning and he was very clear that these heights are the new British Standard and, as such, even a re wire must conform if you want it signed off!!! Looks like We’re stuck with it - despite being on the first floor of a block without a lift (where a wheelchair user could never live!!). PC gone mad!!!

telectrix · Sep 19, 2019

he's incorrect. it is not a new british standard. it is a building regulation for new build homes.designed for use by persons with limited reach. both your building control guy and your sparks are wrong. switches should be placed according to existing positions or lower, as long as they are no less accessible than they were before.

Andy78 · Sep 19, 2019

Suet33 said:
Thanks for all the comments - I phoned the local building control dept this morning and he was very clear that these heights are the new British Standard and, as such, even a re wire must conform if you want it signed off!!! Looks like We’re stuck with it - despite being on the first floor of a block without a lift (where a wheelchair user could never live!!). PC gone mad!!!

He is absolutely wrong. They often are. Ignore this opinion as the electrician will be "signing off" the rewire themselves. Your local building control merely get informed the work has been done and complies by the electrician's scheme.

Suet33 · Sep 19, 2019

Yes - just phoned another council and got another answer!! I guess it’s given me a bit more empathy for the Electrician though - the message is obv confused - but if that’s what he is being told by Building Control then he can’t really afford to risk his certification by doing something else!!!
Source URL: Light switch height - https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/light-switch-height.178691/#post-1575005

Intoelectrics · Sep 19, 2019

Risteard said:
Let's be honest - regardless of whether it's required in these circumstances, it's good practice to fit them at these heights. So I certainly wouldn't be overly critical of the Electrician.

In the south of Ireland it's part of the Wiring Rules and therefore must be done in all circumstances, including adding an extra point to an existing installation - even where this results in a mismatch of heights. Personally I don't agree with this idea of rewiring the entire place but keeping the old heights - it seems wrong and lazy to me. But by all means ask him if he's willing to do it that way.

I disagree, with some of your post (in bold)
My opinion is, it's good practice to try and meet the clients preferred requirement so long as it complies with the regs.
Why is retaining the old heights wrong or lazy? provided they are accessible and meet the regulations for that particular install then why make extra unnecessary work?

telectrix · Sep 19, 2019

you need to get your sparks to liase with BC

The details of electrical fitting heights:

In new dwellings only, switches and socket-outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished floor level.

source: Light Switch & Socket Heights: What’s Right? | Premier Guarantee - https://www.premierguarantee.com/resource-hub/are-your-electrical-fittings-the-right-height/

clear as a bell. use this post to educate the silly buggers.

Andy78 · Sep 19, 2019

Further info

Q & A of the Day – What height should sockets be installed at when re-wiring a property?

James asks this question, which concerns socket heights in existing residential properties. It has been answered by the NICEIC (Theme – Regulation and Legislation):

www.voltimum.co.uk

Risteard · Sep 19, 2019

Intoelectrics said:
I disagree, with some of your post (in bold)
My opinion is, it's good practice to try and meet the clients preferred requirement so long as it complies with the regs.
Why is retaining the old heights wrong or lazy? provided they are accessible and meet the regulations for that particular install then why make extra unnecessary work?

The requirement of the Building Regulations exists for a reason so I don't see how you can possibly argue that it's not good practice to observe this even where not strictly required.

Clients' preferred requirements aren't always informed decisions. Some haven't liked the location or presence of smoke detectors but BS 5639 requirements take precedence over their misguided opinions every time.

telectrix · Sep 19, 2019

Risteard said:
The requirement of the Building Regulations exists for a reason so I don't see how you can possibly argue that it's not good practice to observe this even where not strictly required.

Clients' preferred requirements aren't always informed decisions. Some haven't liked the location or presence of smoke detectors but BS 5639 requirements take precedence over their misguided opinions every time.

these same building regs. that think gobbing a sheets of plasterboard onto crumble blocks is an acceptable construction method: roof trusses that will just about support a roof while making loft space inaccessible with 2 ft. of itchy-poo to anything bigger than one of snow white's dwarfs: need i go on?

Risteard · Sep 19, 2019

telectrix said:
these same building regs. that think gobbing a sheets of plasterboard onto crumble blocks is an acceptable construction method: roof trusses that will just about support a roof while making loft space inaccessible with 2 ft. of itchy-poo to anything bigger than one of snow white's dwarfs: need i go on?

Those are minimum requirements. Really has nothing to do with accessibility or usability though, which is what is being discussed.

As I said, by all means ask him if he's willing to keep existing heights - but I certainly wouldn't criticise him for promoting the new heights. As I say, they're there for a reason.

Andy78 · Sep 19, 2019

Risteard said:
Those are minimum requirements. Really has nothing to do with accessibility or usability though, which is what is being discussed.

As I said, by all means ask him if he's willing to keep existing heights - but I certainly wouldn't criticise him for promoting the new heights. As I say, they're there for a reason.

It appears in this case that the installing electrician is not recommending or promoting compliance with building regs for reasons of accessibility, but saying they are a requirement which is incorrect. I think slight criticism is warranted for this viewpoint which is probably born of ignorance.

Zerax · Sep 19, 2019

Risteard said:
...
As I said, by all means ask him if he's willing to keep existing heights - but I certainly wouldn't criticise him for promoting the new heights. As I say, they're there for a reason.

From the way I read the OP... he wasn't simply 'promoting', he was insisting that the regulations required it. I think it's safe to say that we're all agreed that he's wrong on that point... so, having made the homeowner aware of what he would like to do, he should now do what the homeowner wants him to do.

...just saying

Taylortwocities · Sep 19, 2019

Socket heights are a component of Building regulations Part M. They apply to new dwellings and to dwellings undergoing what is termed "material alteration".
A rewire of an existing building is neither of these. Tell him to read the building regs.

If he is to apply Part M, then there would need to be ramps, a downstairs WC with wheelchair access, all sorts of things.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Light switch height

David Prosser · Sep 19, 2019

He is not risking anything. Building control don't give the electrician any form of certification.

Light switch height

telectrix

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Suet33

telectrix

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Andy78

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Suet33

Intoelectrics

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telectrix

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Andy78

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Q & A of the Day – What height should sockets be installed at when re-wiring a property?

Risteard

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telectrix

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Risteard

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Andy78

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Zerax

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Taylortwocities

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David Prosser

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