socket outlet heights help????

happyhero

Hi can anybody advise please?

My Mum is going for a rewire in her house and we know the sockets are not high enough according to regs. We also know that the regs cannot normally be applied retrospectively i.e. they cannot make everybody rewire there house to bring them up to date as the regs change,

BUT

what if she is having a rewire just to renew the cables?

Surely the regs won’t ask that every socket is moved to the correct height because it’s being rewired. Her sockets are ok and there are conduits to them so a rewire will not be too bad unless of course all the sockets have to be moved and therefore require loads of channelling out of the walls.

Can anybody advise on this or even quote the regs regarding this situation, i.e. new cable but sockets can be left alone?

Any help appreciated.

Willsnarf1983

i'm no expert on this but as far as i was aware was that they only need to be adjusted to the correct height if its a new build, if its an old house they can stay where they are

Will

not a spark in anymeans

Willsnarf1983

Plus electricity is dangerous and you should get a qualified spark

Will

Willsnarf1983

can i also just say don't take my word for it, type in part p regs or niceic into google and you may be able to find out that way

Will

Willsnarf1983

i should really just edit this but looking on Screwfix's forums there has been a question like this before

http://http://www.screwfix.com/talk/thread.jspa?forumID=23&threadID=14838&messageID=138342#138342

hope this helps

Will

ps thread will work now

seven-day-weekend

How high do mthe sockets have to be?

seven-day-weekend

OK...found the answer - 450mm from the floor.

Good sense.

happyhero

Also in case we had an awkward tester or certifier, I believe the height range is 450mm to 12mm from floor level, but where is this to, the middle of the socket or the bottom?

And what about light switch heights, what is the height required?

weekendwarrior

450mm from the floor to the bottom of the socket-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/diy_electrics_height_of_switches_sockets.htm

For kitchens-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/diy_electrical_height_of_sockets.htm

As said above if the house is being rewired you cen leave the sockets at their existing height. The new rules are not retrospective and so only apply to new builds.