Rewire switch and socket position

[Blimey]

I have had two electricians to estimate a complete rewire of a 1950's ex council house. The first said that all the switches and sockets will need to be re-positioned to conform to the latest height regulations and the second insists that they could stay in their original positions and any extra ones can be fitted at the same height to match. Is there a right and wrong here?

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

The first is wrong - for a re-wire you do not have to change socket/switch heights.

 

[Adam_151]

As above, You may retain them at existing heights and add extra ones at that height to match, if that is your desire.

Conversely, if you find the new part M compliant heights better, then now is the time to decide that.

What you may *not* do, is make it any "worse" in terms of part M compliance. For example the requirement for new builds is that all sockets and switches are between 450 and 1200 mm, so 450 to the bottom of the sockets. If your sockets were 300mm to the bottom, then while you could keep that height, you could not move them further down to 200mm. Officially of course... in the real world no one is going to measure the height of your sockets and then try and investigate if they were at any other height previously!

Make your mind up where you want them, just make sure its right, because you're more a less stuck with it!

 

[PBC_1966]

What you may *not* do, is make it any "worse" in terms of part M compliance.

That's often stated and applies in some situations, but if you read the Building Regulations carefully it does not apply to something like this, because:

For example the requirement for new builds is that all sockets and switches are between 450 and 1200 mm

And even those measurements are not an absolute requirement, only official guidance that adopting such heights would be considered to be compliance. It doesn't mean that heights outside that range might not also be considered acceptable.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The first is wrong - for a re-wire you do not have to change socket/switch heights.

And for a so-called professional to be so ignorant of something so fundamental would make me wonder if he was truly competent at anything. Kick him into touch.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

As above, You may retain them at existing heights and add extra ones at that height to match, if that is your desire.

Conversely, if you find the new part M compliant heights better, then now is the time to decide that.

Or he can have his accessories at any heights he wants, subject to sockets not being so close to the floor that they or plugs & cables etc could be damaged.

Paddy - where would you like your switches and sockets to go?

 

[Taylortwocities]

The first said that all the switches and sockets will need to be re-positioned to conform to the latest height regulations

I smell the waft of a 5WW here………

 

[Blimey]

Thanks all for the advice and comments. Think I'll be leaving them at original heights.
@Taylortwocities They're both NICEIC Approved Contractors and their estimates were within a £100 of each other

 

[ban-all-sheds]

From what you've just said I think you'd be horrified to find out how barely-qualified and inexperienced you can be and join NICEIC....

 

[Taylortwocities]

It's not just NICEIC. The basic problem is that, these days, a basic sparky course gets you into many of the "schemes".
Some of the training includes some on Building Regulations Part P. But there is none on other Building Regs that an electrician needs to be aware of. As well as part M = socket heights for disabled access, many others apply including B C F L and a few others.

So your first electrician may have knowledge of electrical stuff. but not much experience of the rest of building regs.
You should be concerned about this if he is doing a rewire, otherwise he may fall foul of extractor fan requirements (F), low energy lighting (L), passage of moisture from the bathroom through downlights (C), and much much more.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It's not just NICEIC. The basic problem is that, these days, a basic sparky course gets you into many of the "schemes".

Funny, isn't it, how the scheme organisers spent years beating up various governments saying that for reasons of vital safety there had to be controls on who could do electrical work, and then as soon as they got it they set about lowering the standards for what qualified as an electrician.

Why - one might be tempted to think they are nothing but a bunch of venal, self-serving, callous, lying scumbags interested in nothing but lining their pockets, even at the expense of people's lives.

 

[EFLImpudence]

 

[Blimey]

Who's responsible for connecting the new Consumer Unit to the mains tails when we do the rewire (there's no isolation switch between the main fuse and Consumer Unit)?

 

[securespark]

That pipe could do with shifting...

You can make an appointment with the DNO to cut the seal, remove the main fuse & refit, making an appointment with them to return and restore power.

Or get an isolation switch fitted and isolate and reinstate power at your leisure.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Strictly speaking this is normally the sequence:

1. Your electrician installs the new CU, does dead testing etc.
   
2. DNO staff come and remove the fuse.
3. DNO staff drink tea and eat Hobnobs (other biscuits are available) while the electrician connects the tails to the new CU.
4. DNO staff replace and re-seal the fuse.

Some DNOs officially allow qualified electricians to remove the fuse themselves. Most of the others turn a blind eye unless Something Bad has happened. It is not uncommon for electricians to be prepared to pull the fuse themselves, particularly when it's a modern cutout with good access.