Minimum socket heights - first floor!

[ash2020]

Another minimum socket height question!

Material change of use - New flat in an old warehouse so I guess you could call it new build.

There's no way you'd get a wheelchair or anybody of limited mobility up to the first and second floors, so do the sockets still have to be min 450 and the switches max 1200? If so, the regs. are stupid!
Cheers
Andy

 

[AMST09]

If its not a new build....what ever the old height is they can be the same height

 

[ash2020]

If its not a new build....what ever the old height is they can be the same height

Surely if it is a material change of use, i.e. a dwelling where there wasn't one before it would have to meet the same requirements as a new build.
Andy.

 

[acat]

I would say a change of use is new and consequently a new build for that property what happens if after you have been a lift or stair lift is installed.

Chris

 

[Spudnik]

Indeed. Agree with the others.

New heights im afraid!

 

[sparks1234]

Agreed

 

[EddieB]

If the customer wants sockets at 300 mm above the FFL he can have them 300mm bove the FFL!!

 

[sparks1234]

Are you sure Eddie? on what basis

 

[ash2020]

My reading is new heights, that's what I've done, but I do think it's ridiculous in a 1st floor flat where you could never install a lift or a stair lift because of the old building.

I personally think that, say if 18% of the population are disabled, then 18% of new properties should cater, not 100%. If you can't manage the heights of the sockets in a house, then don't buy it or rent it!

Too harsh?

Thanks all for the input.
Andy.

 

[EddieB]

Sparks 1234, he pays his money he gets his choice.

 

[dragon-av]

I might be wrong but doesnt the new heights things only apply to general purposes sockets in a room likely to be used by guests? DEdicated sockets, and those in rooms unlikely to be used by a guest are not (if I'm right) included..... I think therefore its possible to have sockets and 300mm as long as they are dedicated use or in a room unlikely to be used by a guest. How else would sockets for TV's (behind the planned TV which i have seen loads of and hate) floor sockets in offices (again seen loads) and others be within regs. The regs are interpreted and as long as there is a good reason you should be fine (inspectors may not see it that way tho.......)

 

[Spudnik]

I might be wrong but doesnt the new heights things only apply to general purposes sockets in a room likely to be used by guests? DEdicated sockets, and those in rooms unlikely to be used by a guest are not (if I'm right) included..... I think therefore its possible to have sockets and 300mm as long as they are dedicated use or in a room unlikely to be used by a guest. How else would sockets for TV's (behind the planned TV which i have seen loads of and hate) floor sockets in offices (again seen loads) and others be within regs. The regs are interpreted and as long as there is a good reason you should be fine (inspectors may not see it that way tho.......)

Who told you that??

At the end of the day, if its an existing building , then the switches and sockets etc can be the same height as they were before, as long as they are no worse eg sockets 300mm from FFL and then rewired with them installed into the skirting instead.

If its a new build, then everything must comply with Part L, M and all the others that are related to our trade.

Industrial and commercial however, is a slightly different ball game.

 

[baldsparkies]

I have researched this one, ( have a thread on the forum about it,) If its existing old build being rewired you can keep the original socket heights provided they are not so low as to cause mechanical stress to flexes cables or plug tops. If an existing building has had major modification to the internal structure ie new walls built ect,then building control deem it new build and current regs come into force.

As an example if sockets in an existing build were at a height of 200mm and you wanted to move them to say 350mm thats ok because its an improvement on the original install.but if you wanted to move them down to say 150mm thats a no no,

Having done rewires on new build flats I can definately confirm that current regs have to be implemented, As Jason said commercial work is a different ball game.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

Sparks 1234, he pays his money he gets his choice.

so if he wants a socket beside his bath he can have one
i doubt it

 

[baldsparkies]

so if he wants a socket beside his bath he can have one
i doubt it

Only if he has paid you first, be a job getting yer money from a corpse