Plug Socket Height from floor - regulations

leese1980

I'm currently having a new kitchen fitted which has resulted in a re wire of the room.


My electrician has advised all plug sockets need to be 450mm from the floor. I really don't like this as it looks too high.
From my research it looks like these regulations would only apply to new builds to make them accessible to all abilities and not to re wires or extensions but I can't find very recent info.


Is someone able to confirm to me? Am I about to spend a fortune with a result I don't want when the regulations don't actually apply to me??


thank you in advance.

unforeseen

It only applies to new builds and current buildings where there is a material alteration.

I think the argument is that fitting a new kitchen is a material alteration. I don't think it is as you are only fitting new units and maybe moving sink etc.

Andy_L

unforeseen wrote: »

It only applies to new builds and current buildings where there is a material alteration.

I think the argument is that fitting a new kitchen is a material alteration. I don't think it is as you are only fitting new units and maybe moving sink etc.

Perhaps he's still working under the old Part P building regs & thinks that, because its in a kitchen its automatically notifiable & thus needs to comply

TheCyclingProgrammer

Andy_L wrote: »

Perhaps he's still working under the old Part P building regs & thinks that, because its in a kitchen its automatically notifiable & thus needs to comply

Even if it's not notifiable work it still has to comply with Part P of the building regs (unless you mean it doesn't matter because nobody from building control is going to check?).

In this case Part P refers to Part M regarding socket heights.

This link seems to confirm that they need not go at that height:
http://www.theiet.org/forums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=205&threadid=15678

Kiran

Even notifiable works such as a full require don't require you to change the heights of sockets. The 450 dimension is new build, refurbishment you can keep them at the same height as the existing etc.

leese1980

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I shall discuss it further with my electrician later.




450mm looks quite high so I'd rather not have that if I can avoid it.

Justicia

Take a look at the Part M document (pdf) here:

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200135/approved_documents/80/part_m_-_access_to_and_use_of_buildings

Page V is a good start in regards to the requirements for new building work.

jk0

Hmm. If you have sockets at 450mm in a kitchen, won't they be behind your cupboards?

Risteard

jk0 wrote: »

Hmm. If you have sockets at 450mm in a kitchen, won't they be behind your cupboards?

It's a minimum height. The maximum is 1200mm.

arbrighton

our sparks were fitting light switches to regs in the kitchen extension but moved them at our request and still signed it off