Power sockets: Recommended height from floor?

Power sockets: Recommended height from floor?

Author
Discussion

SpeedBash

Original Poster:

2,318 posts

186 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
Quick question: When installing electrical power sockets in the living room or bedroom, what height from the floor are they 'usually' installed?

contractor

919 posts

184 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
SpeedBash said:
Quick question: When installing electrical power sockets in the living room or bedroom, what height from the floor are they 'usually' installed?
http://niceic.com/en/account/media/17thpg7.pdf

You really shouldn't be installing sockets if you need to ask this.

JimM169

392 posts

121 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
contractor said:
http://niceic.com/en/account/media/17thpg7.pdf

You really shouldn't be installing sockets if you need to ask this.
Err from what I can make out that only applies to new builds, the sockets in my house aren't 450mm from the floor more like 250mm and not sure I'd want them much higher for aesthetic reasons. Who want's sockets with cables trailing halfway down there walls ?? I understand the thinking behind trying to accomodate the disabled, but there are 18 steps between the footpath and my front door and if that doesn't put the wheelchair bound off I doubt if a few low sockets will either !


Edited by JimM169 on Friday 24th October 15:52

contractor

919 posts

184 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
yes, but to do electrical work like putting in/moving solid core T/E, don't you need to be certified now, or get the work certified as per part P? If you don't know the score regarding what you can and can't do with sockets, then it's a fair guess that you're not likely to meet the threshold for part P either, and so should be leaving the work to a pro.

SpeedBash

Original Poster:

2,318 posts

186 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
contractor said:
yes, but to do electrical work like putting in/moving solid core T/E, don't you need to be certified now, or get the work certified as per part P? If you don't know the score regarding what you can and can't do with sockets, then it's a fair guess that you're not likely to meet the threshold for part P either, and so should be leaving the work to a pro.
I hope this comes across in the right way, as I genuinely appreciate your reply, but the thread has slightly moved off topic because you have made an assumption that I will be installing the sockets myself.

To clarify, I need to mark where I want my fully qualified electrician to install the sockets.

I thought it would make sense to mark the wall accurately rather than approximately.


megaphone

10,694 posts

250 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
450mm. It's to make it easier for the disabled and elderly to reach them. Also means they are less likely to get damaged by vacuums etc. Also a perfect height to allow toddlers to stick their fingers into the sockets. So all very sensible.

Gareth79

7,628 posts

245 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
megaphone said:
450mm. It's to make it easier for the disabled and elderly to reach them. Also means they are less likely to get damaged by vacuums etc. Also a perfect height to allow toddlers to stick their fingers into the sockets. So all very sensible.
Small point - children's fingers can't reach anywhere far enough into a socket to touch a live part, and anyway all BS1363 sockets have shutters to prevent insertion of smaller objects that could reach something.

Little Lofty

3,275 posts

150 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
If I'm doing a full rewire the sparky fits the sockets at the new heights, which is a min of 450 from floor level (we still call them new even though they've been that way for over 10 years now) If it was just a few new sockets here and there then we'd probably just match the heights with the existing sockets. I much prefer the 'new' heights, its a much more comfortably reach.

contractor

919 posts

184 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
SpeedBash said:
I hope this comes across in the right way, as I genuinely appreciate your reply, but the thread has slightly moved off topic because you have made an assumption that I will be installing the sockets myself.

To clarify, I need to mark where I want my fully qualified electrician to install the sockets.

I thought it would make sense to mark the wall accurately rather than approximately.
No probz. My mistake for making a false assumption smile

SpeedBash

Original Poster:

2,318 posts

186 months

Friday 24th October 2014
quotequote all
contractor said:
No probz. My mistake for making a false assumption smile
Phew - glad my post came across in the right way.

Secondly, absolutely no harm done.

I'm always appreciative of answers to questions such as this so thanks again for taking the time to reply in the first place. smile

Renovation

1,763 posts

120 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
If it's not a new build put them where you like them.

I hate the 450 height (I built a new house) I'm currently refurbing one and they are back down to 250

HootersGsy

731 posts

135 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Gareth79 said:
Small point - children's fingers can't reach anywhere far enough into a socket to touch a live part, and anyway all BS1363 sockets have shutters to prevent insertion of smaller objects that could reach something.
J
I can tell you that as a kid it didn't take me long to work out that I needed to poke something in the top hole to get those to open up... Dad was not very impressed when he caught me shoving plastic toy swords into several bits of the socket at once!

Spudler

3,985 posts

195 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Renovation said:
If it's not a new build put them where you like them.
As above, plain & simple.

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
megaphone said:
450mm. It's to make it easier for the disabled and elderly to reach them. Also means they are less likely to get damaged by vacuums etc. Also a perfect height to allow toddlers to stick their fingers into the sockets. So all very sensible.
Bs1363 sockets are the safest domestic socket in the world it takes coordinated muppetry of the most idiotic nature to defeat the interlocked shuttering.

stuartmmcfc

8,653 posts

191 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
SpeedBash said:
contractor said:
No probz. My mistake for making a false assumption smile
Phew - glad my post came across in the right way.

Secondly, absolutely no harm done.

I'm always appreciative of answers to questions such as this so thanks again for taking the time to reply in the first place. smile
You 2 should be banned from PH for such reasonable behaviour. smile

ATTAK Z

10,595 posts

188 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
stuartmmcfc said:
SpeedBash said:
contractor said:
No probz. My mistake for making a false assumption smile
Phew - glad my post came across in the right way.

Secondly, absolutely no harm done.

I'm always appreciative of answers to questions such as this so thanks again for taking the time to reply in the first place. smile
You 2 should be banned from PH for such reasonable behaviour. smile
biglaugh