Domestic sockets

[brewdexta]

I'm just about to extend the upstairs ring main into the extension. I'm doing the cabling, a spark will be wiring them up.

I forgot to ask a couple of questions and my spark is on holiday.

The extension is a bedroom, I seem to remember that there are now rules about the height from the floor of the socket?

Also, the T&E is going behind 50mm insulation backed plaster board that is fixed directly to the wall. The cable pokes directly up from the floor void to the socket then back down to loop to the next socket. Do I need capping over the cable between floor and socket? If so do the rules state plastic or metal capping?

In both cases it's the regs I'm interested in so I can get the cable in and plasterboard on ready for the spark. I've done this before but that was 17 years ago and things change

Cheers
Andy

 

[dobbslc]

You could cut a channel out of the back of the insulation for the cables and if you're keen put them in a bit of 20/25mm plastic conduit.
Sockets should be 450mm to the BOTTOM of the socket on new builds and there's no regs for heights for sockets switches etc on a rewire.

 

[Charliefarlie]

The height of sockets is applicable to new builds. If you are adding sockets at home it’s up to you it’s not regulated. That said higher sockets are just easier whether old or young.
If in doubt shield the cables. You can’t be to safe.

I’m not a spark but a builder so no absolute expert ....

 

[Robotstar5]

Capping/conduit is a good idea as if for any reason in the future you need to replace or extend the circuit it's a damn sight easier.

 

[brewdexta]

Perfect, thanks guys.

I am channelling the insulation, it was the capping/conduit I was unsure about.

Cheers
Andy

 

[lshigham]

As it's not a new build you can put the socket at whatever height you want. No need for capping/trunking provided the cables are ran in the safe zones with Rcd protection or more than 50mm deep.

EDIT - I didn't make it clear but the capping wouldn't actually fulfil the requirement for protection unless it was more than 3mm thick (steel) or earthed. Essentially it's only really used for protection from a plasterers towel which doesn't apply in this case.

 

[brightspark]

as said above nothing more needs adding to the post

 

[slimjim]

I fitted all mine at 650mm centres, mainly because the old ones were at that,

i am a bad man, because I fitted them myself, including fixing the historic failed neutral in one part of the ring

 

[sg66]

Cable is not to come into contact with polystyrene insulation it reacts with cable insulation.

 

[brightspark]

I fitted all mine at 650mm centres, mainly because the old ones were at that,

i am a bad man, because I fitted them myself, including fixing the historic failed neutral in one part of the ring

tut tut the health and safety police national inspection council and gas safe will be on the case now

 

[brightspark]

Cable is not to come into contact with polystyrene insulation it reacts with cable insulation.

that is true but in practice its unavoidable in some places so don't worry about it most insulation now is kingspan not the old white stuff