Disconnecting unused electrical socket and plastering over

Undervalued

Risteard wrote: »

It's not permitted for a number of reasons (as I mentioned above).

End of story.

I am sure you are right according to a very strict interpretation of current wiring regulations.

That said there must be thousands of situations where central heating has been installed with a radiator spanning across wiring which had previously been chased into the plasterwork.

Equally there must be millions (quite literally) of situations with central heating pipes and cables in very close proximity or actually touching under floorboards. I know that in new work cables are supposed to pass through drilled holes in joists several inches below any pipes which frequently run in notches cut in the top of the joist.

Whilst I'm sure this is good practice there is no obligation to move existing wiring so it presumably can't be considered a significant risk.

Given that some of the suggestions here don't involve doing anything to the current wiring, surely the relevant regulations (if any) are plumbing ones?

Risteard

Undervalued wrote: »

Whilst I'm sure this is good practice there is no obligation to move existing wiring so it presumably can't be considered a significant risk.

That's not strictly true.

On an inspection it would likely be coded as requiring urgent remedial action if in contact with hot pipework, and if there were signs of damage to the cable or of heat damage then it would likely be coded as requiring immediate remedial action.

Both of these outcomes would result in the report declaring the condition of the electrical installation to be Unsatisfactory for continued service.

Undervalued

Risteard wrote: »

That's not strictly true.

On an inspection it would likely be coded as requiring urgent remedial action if in contact with hot pipework, and if there were signs of damage to the cable or of heat damage then it would likely be coded as requiring immediate remedial action.

Both of these outcomes would result in the report declaring the condition of the electrical installation to be Unsatisfactory for continued service.

But unless you take every floorboard up you can't possibly know how many instances there are. Even then it is often when cables have been fished across from two access points when they may be laying on hot pipes going the other way.

Risteard

Undervalued wrote: »

But unless you take every floorboard up you can't possibly know how many instances there are. Even then it is often when cables have been fished across from two access points when they may be laying on hot pipes going the other way.

Why do you think Electrical Installation Condition Reports contain a statement to state that wiring concealed within conduits, trunking and the building fabric etc. are excluded from scope unless otherwise stated?

The simple fact is that periodic inspection and testing can never be as thorough as initial verification, and it is why it cannot be used for certifying installations. It is merely there to report on the condition of an existing installation, subject to the extent and limitations agreed. The idea which some people have that it is as good as initial verification by the actual installer is nonsense and shows an extreme lack of understanding.

shockrisk

There's no need to remove the socket, leave it where it is and fit the radiator over it.

In an ideal world the socket and cabling would be moved but in the real world the wall will be a finished surface and moving them only creates extra unnecessary work. If a periodic inspection and testing of the electrical installation was to be carried out the hidden socket would simply be a limitation noted on the report that cannot be inspected. In terms of electrical safety, which is what the report is carried out for, there is no impact.

ic

I would agree with the others, leave the socket where it is. If necessary fit a low profile socket. I did exactly this and it was like that for several years. It caused no trouble.

Risteard

shockrisk wrote: »

There's no need to remove the socket, leave it where it is and fit the radiator over it.

In an ideal world the socket and cabling would be moved but in the real world the wall will be a finished surface and moving them only creates extra unnecessary work. If a periodic inspection and testing of the electrical installation was to be carried out the hidden socket would simply be a limitation noted on the report that cannot be inspected. In terms of electrical safety, which is what the report is carried out for, there is no impact.

Wrong advice.