Light Switches and Power points in extension - height?

[davidrobinson]

Group,

I'm aware of the regulations that don't allow you to put light switches high up where young children can't reach them, but require them to be at a level where visiting wheelchair users can switch lights on and off to their heart's content. I believe power points have to be slightly higher than was typical in older properties.

What do the regulations say concerning an extension to an existing (1950s) house? Can I (or a suitable part-P qualified electrician) put the light switches and power points at whatever height I want in the extension (e.g. at the same height as in the original house), or do they have to be at the new regulated height?

Cheers, David.

[Lurch]

On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:52:44 -0700, [e-mail] mused:

Put the at whatever height you want.

[davidrobinson]

Thank you. I will.

My problem Lurch is that I recalled similar advice from you, to someone else, here on this ng a couple of years ago. OK, that's not the problem - my problem is that my architect is telling me otherwise. I don't have the time+skill to do his job (though I'll probably do the wiring), and I worry that building control / inspectors might be equally difficult. Where does it say that extensions to old properties are exempt?

(I only have the On Site Guide).

Cheers, David.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Wouldn't be the first time an architect doesn't know his arse from his elbow. Until I see otherwise in writing from a reputable source only total new builds have to conform to this stupid regulation. Waist high sockets are a safety hazard through trailing cables and should only be allowed where actually needed.

[John Rumm]

Part M only applies to new builds IIUC. So if you follow the rule of making things no less accessible than they were in the first place you should be fine.

[Hugo Nebula]

On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:33:23 -0700, a particular chimpanzee, [e-mail] randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

In the Requirements of Part M (Access to and use of buildings). Go to the Planning Portal website. Near the front of Approved Document M is the legal requirement in green. Requirement M1 (Access and use) says, "the requirements of this part do not apply to an extension of or a material alteration to a dwelling". M2 and M3 only apply to extensions to buildings other than dwellings. One caveat; the work must not make the existing building any less compliant than before the work was carried out, i.e., you can't replace existing sockets and switches that comply with ones that don't.

[Andy Hall]

First point is that part P does not specify height of sockets, although BS7671 (aka Wiring Regulations) does have things to say about cable routings, especially when hidden.

The reference to socket heights is in part M of the Building Regulations - in connection with access etc.

You are not required to put sockets at the specified heights in an extension to an existing building as long as it doesn't make the overall situation "worse" from the access perspective. In other words if the existing building has sockets at part M heights, you have to do the same in an extension, but not if they aren't.