heights of sockets & switches in 200 year old house

Matt Walters · Mar 20, 2011

hi

my uncle is currently renovating a 200 odd year old farm cottage. im wiring it for him, and the only thing im unsure of is the heights the sockets and switches should be at

i know that sockets should be at 450 to bottom, and switches 1200 to the top. but this is advised for new builds, seen as this is not a new build and a restoration does this still apply?

another thing thats a slight problem is that the joiner who has done the stud walls has put braces at 1200 centres from floor level. which leaves me with a problem for the switches obviously.

ive spoken to a couple of people about it and they say at the end of the day its his house and he can decide what heights things go at. which is fine, but if the biulding inspector doesnt pass it based on this we have a problem.

basically guys what heights can i put them at?

many thanks, matt

JD6400 · Mar 22, 2011

Hi

I may be wrong but i think if you go over a certain percentage on a refurbishment then it has to be treated as good as a new build . We look after a couple of big country estates in bucks amounts other stuff and are involved in at least 3 to 4 refurbishments a year varying in age from 100 to 400 years old , the architect always mentions it . if i were you i would check with your building inspector , they will make you change it if it is not right ! This is only my second post ever so if i am out of order , sorry chaps

malcolmsanford · Mar 23, 2011

dpelectricalltd said:
Hi

I may be wrong but i think if you go over a certain percentage on a refurbishment then it has to be treated as good as a new build . We look after a couple of big country estates in bucks amounts other stuff and are involved in at least 3 to 4 refurbishments a year varying in age from 100 to 400 years old , the architect always mentions it . if i were you i would check with your building inspector , they will make you change it if it is not right ! This is only my second post ever so if i am out of order , sorry chaps

Not at all out of order, and it's good that you have obvious experience working on older graded property, I think your still right a building that old I would certainly talk to my local building control to make sure, but as the OP posted it is not graded.