Surface mounted sockets on skirting board

[dickuk]

Hi
A good friend of mine has recently had someone round to test their electrical wiring to obtain a certificate for their insurance as its a thatched cottage.
One of the items on the list was compulsory and was to move all the sockets on the skirting boards up to the walls.
Is this correct? The sockets have been there for years and are not new installations. They all have back boxes and none are sunk into the skirting board. The cabling then is surface clipped up the wall (This has to go into conduit too according to the report).
Thanks

 

[malcolmsanford]

When you say compulsory it should have been given a code 1-4 if working to the existing regulations, what code number was it given?

IMO if there was not obvious damage to the installation cables and no obvious damage to the appliance flexible cable then I would not have bothered with any code.

As for the cable having to go into a conduit, unless there is a chance that it could be damaged by impact then no, and in a domestic situation damage such as this is unlikely.

If your friend wants to argue these points then the relevant regs they can quote from the new amended regulations are

Sockets 553.1.6 concerning height

Cable Installation Impact 522.6 Mechanical Stresses 522.8

 

[telectrix]

5 week wonder drumming up work for himself?

 

[dickuk]

When you say compulsory it should have been given a code 1-4 if working to the existing regulations, what code number was it given?

IMO if there was not obvious damage to the installation cables and no obvious damage to the appliance flexible cable then I would not have bothered with any code.

As for the cable having to go into a conduit, unless there is a chance that it could be damaged by impact then no, and in a domestic situation damage such as this is unlikely.

If your friend wants to argue these points then the relevant regs they can quote from the new amended regulations are

Sockets 553.1.6 concerning height

Cable Installation Impact 522.6 Mechanical Stresses 522.8

Thanks for the quick reply.
He didnt give a code, it was just an informal visit to give us a list of what needs doing before he comes back officially to sign everything off and give a certificate.

What do the codes mean? Are they whether the work is recommended or required?

Thanks for the regs, is there a website that I can look up these codes for more information?

 

[Des 56]

Look at Guide No 4 and also information for customers

Periodic inspection : Electrical Safety Council

 

[colshaws]

5 week wonder drumming up work for himself?

Why do you say this, I have followed up time seved sparks who also spout this sort of rubbish just to try and "drum up" work, there are good and bad in all levels of the trade and I am getting a little tired of some people blameing all the bad workmanship on domestic installers.

 

[Engineer54]

Errrr!! ...So who else are you going to blame then?? I take it that domestic installers are the electricians that work on domestic installations, ....aren't they??

And i would put it to you, that the majority of ''bad workmanship ''as you put it, is far more likely to be by an under trained 5 week wonder, than a guy with several years experience under his belt. Or would you disagree with that statement??

 

[spark 68]

Re: Surface mounted sockets on skirting board

Originally Posted by telectrix
5 week wonder drumming up work for himself?"

Why do you say this,

Because usually it is the Electrical Trainee, who spouts this drivel, because they only know the current Regs, and do not understand that the Regs are NOT retrospective.

Having said that, sometimes letting agents and councils etc. may have their own requirements/preferences, which they may require to be done to a certain standard, and this may not always be negotiable.

​

 

[johnboy6083]

I would say that it would be impossible for you to quantify the above statement E54 unless you experience it first hand, lots of times. Ive met many so called time served sparks who are crap at their jobs, and lots of trainees ect who care about the quality of their work, and the trade as a whole. I'm only 24 so I bet there are many older blokes on here who have noticed this before the invention of the 5 week courses.

 

[spark 68]

I would say that it would be impossible for you to quantify the above statement, unless you experience it first hand,

Hi JB,

The amount of times I have been asked for a "second opinion" on work that need not be carried out, and work that should be carried out that is missed from the report, and maybe 7-8 times out of 10 it has been a newly started/"qualified" spark that has given the duff advice.

On a couple of occasions I have spoken to the said "sparks", and pointed out the errors, they have usually ended up agreeing with me, and usually said something along the lines of " Iam new to this PIR game, and did not realise".


In my previous post I did say usually, I agree it is not just the Electrical Trainee who does this, there are good and bad in all walks of life, BTW I do not usually do PIR's in my day to day work (too much hassle), but do know how to do them, and sometimes have coded/advised on the side of caution where I have felt this is justified.

Oh! and Iam a registered DI.

 

[Engineer54]

I would say that it would be impossible for you to quantify the above statement E54 unless you experience it first hand, lots of times. Ive met many so called time served sparks who are crap at their jobs, and lots of trainees ect who care about the quality of their work, and the trade as a whole. I'm only 24 so I bet there are many older blokes on here who have noticed this before the invention of the 5 week courses.

I didn't say there are no bad time served electricians, of course there are, were in my time too. What i said was, ...that it is far more likely that a 5 week wonder spark to be responsible for bad workmanship than one with many years experience. ... I think i can stand behind that statement with a good degree of confidence. Especially as they are given no work experience whatsoever!! You can't run, before you can walk, and that's true about any trade or profession...

 

[TPES]

Sockets mounted close to floor level on skirting boards is a code 2 in my opinion, alot of strain on the flex cables as they enter the plug top, or the LV plug transformer that are used for some appliances can be quite big and bulky, ive seen some that won't physically sit flush in the socket but the pins will just enter the socket to just make contact... (only just), obviously each scenario is different and can't judge them all the same without seeing the hights there mounted at

 

[spark 68]

Hi TPES,

Sockets mounted close to floor level on skirting boards is a code 2 in my opinion,

can be, but sometimes on older properties with huge skirting boards it isn't, or maybe a code 4 if at all, but some common sense to be applied, if they are too close and clearly unsuitable (less than say 100-150mm from the bottom) I too would use a code 2.

 

[Engineer54]

I've set twin back boxes into a friends house (cir 1930's house) that had 10 or 12'' skirting boards. Set them in just below the fancy top moulding, plenty of room, no flex obstruction whatsoever...

 

[supasparxs]

Look at Guide No 4 and also information for customers

Periodic inspection : Electrical Safety Council

Thanks DES,
I didn't know that download