Skirting-mounted sockets

[Capitol]

I wonder if metal boxes were used for protection? A lot of plastic patress boxes are very brittle.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Ah - it is about height?

There is no law about this - only a recommendation. Are they perfectly usable as is? Not so close to the floor it puts a strain on the flex when inserting a plug?

[Kevin]

BS4662 metal back boxes, mounted such that the sockets appear to be flush-mounted, just as one would on a plastered wall.

According to my OSG (OK, 16th ed) Building Regs have an accessibility requirement which mounting at a suitable height can satisfy.

I expect it was, but it frightens some buyers, especially old ladies who haven't bought a house in 50 years (and whose husband sorted it all out back then)

No logical basis, afaik. She's probably the local equivalent of the Thurber character.

One factor of many perhaps? Or of none?

No question of major expenditure like that - it's whether a few quid on blanking plates and wago connectors would be a sensible investment.

[ARW]

It would start alarm bells ringing.

Such low sockets would be associated with old electrics.

I have seen many place rewired with sockets (usually replaced like for like) on the skirting to save on redecoration costs.

Unless there is further investigation or proper paper work the assumption is that the wiring is old.

[charles]

In this house, the skirting would have to be replaced since all the sockets are just above floor level and cut into the skirting. It doesn't make the wiring old - it isn't, but refitting skirting which would have to be specially made, since it's Edwardian woul have been a right pain

[tabbypurr]

sounds good

immaterial

yup. nothing you can do about that

nearly all houses are the same in this respect

blanking plates wouldn't make the wiring look more modern. You're chasing a red herring.

NT

[John Rumm]

The height of existing sockets is a non issue and has no bearing on their electrical safety or if the place needs a rewire. The height requirement comes from part M of the building regs (accessibility for disabled users), and only applies to new work, not existing. Also if new work is done, you can usually get away with it being no worse than before rather than fully to the current new build spec.

That really is the only point that matters. Once the decision has been made, any further detail is just an attempt to justify the decision and save a bit of face.

So long as the sockets are mounted safely - i.e. they are sunken flush into the skirting with the metal box non visible to the casual observer, there is no problem (I could understand a surface mounted flush box would however look ugly and scream "bodge" to any prospective viewer).

[John Rumm]

That's fine then.

Does not apply to an existing installation. If you rewired, then you might place the sockets at the 450mm minimum height. Note that if you did you are equally likely to put off buyers, who find that sockets mounted "half way up the wall" rather on the skirting where they expect that nature and God intended them to be, are butt ugly.

That's just going to make a normal looking installation look abnormal.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I'd certainly never fit sockets on 6" high skirting. They would IMHO be too close to the floor. My standard height is 10" above the floor to the bottom of the socket. But the idea of having them at waist height absolutely stupid - except in perhaps custom built sheltered housing for the elderly.

If you're going to say all sockets should be easily accessible for those with limited movement, I'd hope you'd also legislate for handrails on both sides of stairs, non slip floor coverings everywhere, and handrails inside showers, etc.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

You think having fewer sockets in a room a plus for selling the house?

[RJH]

Generally, yes, agreed. Although 10" would be a little too conspicuous in most of my home - inch above skirting is about right.

On redoing a study room I put one in an alcove at about 2', thinking it'd be easy to access, not too conspicuous, and useful for the intended desk/computers. It wasn't entirely thought through, but in the event it's proved very useful. Not just for the planned purpose, but also occasional pluggage - hoover and such.

I have the mixed fortune of staying in hotels abroad quite a bit - they often have sockets at waist and bed height. Not the last word in room-eleagnce, but functional.

- except in perhaps custom built sheltered housing for

Not there - yet ;-)

I don't think it works quite that way.

[The Natural Philosopher]

There is a building regulation. Disability access. So new sockets are NOT to be installed below IIRC 450mm so that your ageing geriatrics don.t have to bend down to plug in the chainsaw, but can trip over the flexes instead.

I had to comply with it back in 2002

[Kevin]

I don't think anyone here is saying that 450mm high sockets (hardly waist-high) are a universally good idea. I certainly don't think they are, but any feature which enables a surveyor to write "Does not comply with current standards", no matter whether the standards apply to the property in question or not, is not what old ladies like to see on surveys.

[John Rumm]

You really are over thinking this ;-)

There are very few properties in the country that do comply with all modern standards. Building regs are not retrospective, and there is no requirement (generally) to upgrade a property to meet the current standards when it was compliant with the appropriate standard in force when originally installed.

Surveyors reports generally don't comment on how compliant with standards the electrics are. They are far more likely to make rather less precise statements like "The wiring appears to be in good order, though we suggest you seek a report from an electrical specialist if you require a more comprehensive assessment", or "It was noted that some locations do not appear to have an adequate number of sockets", or "some electrical accessories appear to be damaged and should be checked and replaced by a competent electrician".

Since you suggestion seems to be: Chase in new sockets, extend the wires to the new locations, and then blank all the old socket positions, ISTM that all you would achieve to draw more attention to them in the first place. Not to mention making it look fugly!

However, as was observed earlier, once a mind is made up, any excuse will do!

[tabbypurr]

nor for work that was never compliant.

NT

[Dave Plowman (News)]

That's fine in your own house when you've decided on the layout. But people have their own taste when it comes to how each room will be used - and where any furniture goes.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I doubt any old house complies with current standards.

[ARW]

I would be surprised if any of the new builds I work in do (apart from my electrics of course).

[Steve Walker]

The height requirement only applies to new builds, full rewires or "substantial" partial rewires. Any new sockets added to an existing system with low sockets can also have them low down.

SteveW

[charles]

when we bought this house the room I am in had a central heating radiator in the the middle of two walls, a large window ina thrid and a hatch to the kitchen in the fourth. Nowhere to place any furniture - oh and the power outlets were set into the walls 2 ft from the corners or door frames!