Socket & Outlet Height Query

[Pickup]

Hi Folks,

Refurbishing a bathroom and I've been told that new sockets must be installed with centres at 400mm above floor level and min 300mm from internal corners.

Does this also apply to FCUs (we're putting in underfloor heating, an electric towel rail and an extractor and I'd rather not put the 3 FCUs at 400mm in the hall so I'm thinking either a cupboard (outside the bathroom)) or above the door where they won't be immediately obvious.

Thanks

F

 

[RF Lighting]

Who told you that? What height are the existing sockets at?

 

[securespark]

I would think from inside the room, above the door will be extremely obvious and far from ideal. Put them outside the room. And they don't have to be so high unless you are refurbishing the whole property: where did you get that from?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

height of sockets, switches, accessories etc.. apply to new builds only, not refurbs.

 

[ericmark]

The heights you quote are for commercial premises not domestic and come from the Part M document which may not be even valid in Scotland.

I am very nervous about giving advice for Scotland and would ask the other people who have answered this did they note location?

Very easy missed!

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Good point, The British Standards(Scotland)Regulations, did not have height limits of sockets,switches, etc

 

[Pickup]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the info - even if I'm more confused than before. The dimensions were on the plans that the architect submitted for the building warrant - we're also moving the kitchen & the boiler.

I queried the plans before they went in - they also said that the light switches had to be between 900 & 1100 mm above floor level and this would have meant that the light switches would have been at different heights in different rooms which I thought could have been a safety issue.

Architect said they must be at these heights even it means some rooms may have switches / sockets at different heights. Think a call to building control officer mighht be in order...

Securespark.. Sorry should have made it clear the FCUs are going outside the bathroom. The hall is quite long and narrow thought was that the FCUs would not be so obvious above the door as you look along the hallway.

Anyway once again thanks to all for their responses.

F

 

[RF Lighting]

I would suggest your architect is wrong.

Even if you did need to install your accessories to Part M compliant heights (which you don't), your architect has these wrong any way.

The heights are 450mm to the BOTTOM of socket outlets, and 1200mm to the TOP of switches etc. Any where within this zone is acceptable for accessories which may be expected to be used by disabled persons.

Things like isolators for maintenence are not forced to be sited in the 450mm - 1200mm zone.

There is no requirement for accesories to be 300mm away from an internal corner.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

There is no requirement for accesories to be 300mm away from an internal corner.

There's no requirement for them to be between 450 and 1200mm from the floor either.

AD M ought to have a guideline on distance from corners, as even if they're at the guideline height they'd be inaccessible to wheelchair users if too close to a corner.

However, guidelines or no, I think you'd be on dodgy ground claiming that you'd made reasonable provision, in the context of disabled access, if you had put accessories tight into corners.

 

[ericmark]

I made a mistake reading Part M and had not realised I had strayed from the domestic section and in hotels and the like there is a distance to corners and the sockets are at 400mm not 450mm and items which need to be read need to be over 1200mm and items to be manually manipulated under 1200mm which means the thermostat which has both can't be fitted at correct height.

Although "Pickup" talked about bathrooms he did not say what type of building. So if "Pickup" goes here he can down load the document and read himself.

However with my copy I looked for Scotland and nothing came up. However with England and Wales it did so as I said with last post Part M may have nothing to do with Scotland. A google for "Access to and Use of Buildings in Scotland" did come up with some PDF documents and it seems likely Scotland has adopted similar regulations but I think it is better for "Pickup" to read these himself.

Out of interest is the building wholly a dwelling? I know Hotels have problems as some bits have public access and some bits come under dwelling.

 

[ebee]

Approved Document M suggests one way of achieving this being 450mm to 1200mm (never heard any alternative ways though). Good point by Ban about corners being less easy for wheelchair users I must admit I hadn`t considered that.

Ban give up yer day job and get on some of these committees lad, I`m sure we`d get more sensible rules to work to

 

[RF Lighting]

Maybe you could head an electrotechnical QUANGO

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Can I be given powers to ban downlights, patio heaters, hot tubs and warm air curtains?

 

[RF Lighting]

I've changed my mind.

 

[ebee]

Can I be given powers to ban downlights, patio heaters, hot tubs and warm air curtains?

You got my vote