building regs

[lurch]

chaps, is there any buiding reg that will stop me chopping an existing socket into a skiting board? Alternately i will need to lift the socket up (if there is enough cable!) and cut it into the lathe and plaster wall, which in it's self can be a nightmare.

Thx i advance

 

[sparks1234]

I assume it is a surface socket at present, I would have thought if you are not making the situation worse by lowering it then no problem, as for building reg, cant think of anything

 

[Spudnik]

Agree, although not ideal.

Try and get it as high as possible in the skirting so that the flex on any plug that is used wont get bent back too far when inserted.

 

[lurch]

the skirting is 150mm so sufficient space to position the s/o high enough to ensure the 13A plug does not fowl agaisnt the floor. I ask the question as I was told last week that a NIC assessment had picked this up and highlighted a building reg, so was interested to know what the bulding reg that deals with this particular item. Unfortunately the chap who told me was only an acquaintance met on site. . . .

 

[acat]

Hi Lurch

Excuse the pun but I think the NICEIC man has got his wires crossed the only ones that I know about is for new installs where the minimum is 450mm and above kitchen worktops where middle of socket has to be a minimum of 150mm above work surface. Cant think of any more hope someone can add to the list if we have more

Chris

 

[electro]

Hi
You have referred to Building regs and that states 450mm height above floor to bottom of the socket. You should at the absolute minimum allow 100mm from bottom of socket, if not complying with BC, just to stay within BS regs.
Regards

 

[scotsparky]

Just had a glance at the "electricians guide to the building regs" the small green book section 10.7 p137 It says in new builds use guidance in part M

However it says and i will quote " If a dwelling is to be rewired ,Then there is no requierment to provide the measures described. (in part m) {rovided that on completionthe building is no worse in terms of the level of compliance with the other parts of shedule 1 to the building regulations"

so what i take it to say is As long as you dont make anything worse that it already is its not a problem.

 

[electro]

Hi Scot

You need Part M if the jobs comes under BC for what ever reason, mostly new builds. The statement " As long as you don't make anything worse that it already is its not a problem" will not stand up in court and is not a statement I would work to. If something is wrong and you are working/updating you need to change or improve to current regs. Forget BC for a moment what about the BRB...

regards

 

[scotsparky]

Electro what i am reading the statement as is if its an old house and getting rewired then the cables,Basic protection and Fault protection ect must be to current standards. however if you cannot move the location of a socket for example its in a skirting its ok. You dont have to coply to part M.

 

[Spudnik]

Indeed, however, i have been working in a flat wee the sockets are in the skirting, and its virtually impossible to plug anything in with a moulded plug!

With this in mind, i think putting them higher is a must, but thats all IMHO.

 

[electro]

Hi
See what your saying but the title of the thread is building regs.. if you cannot move the location and it falls below the minimum standard the BS regs (17th edition) then you do not reconnect. They have given a minimum of 100mm from the bottom of the socket to the floor due to bend radius to go below this may cause a fire. Always protect your self and your liability remember you will be the last person on the EC certificate.
Regards

 

[scotsparky]

so you are raising them and " not making it worse"?

sorry rum in kicking in

 

[electro]

Nice moon walk

regards

 

[scotsparky]

electro the minimum heights in the BRB are for new buildings. What is shown in the OSG also refers you to part m section 8 its the same drawing as in the "Electricians guide to the building regulations" page 137 which is what i quoted.
So if you raise you are improving no worries.

 

[electro]

Scot

You quoted “so what i take it to say is As long as you dont make anything worse that it already is its not a problem” that means leave as it is? We have have now got to the same thinking, good result ayy.


regards