how high do plug sockets have to be set when you are rewiring a house?

Question

just had house rewired and i think the plug sockets have been set too low.

Answer 1

The building regulations ( Not Scotland) state that switches and sockets in houses should be installed in a way that persons with limited reach can use them easily.

The suggested heights are, for socket outlets, no lower than 450mm from the floor and for switches, TV points, telephone outlets, doorbells etc, no higher than 1200mm from the floor.

Unless the house is specifically designed for a person with limited reach these requirements do not apply in garages and kitchens.

Just make sure you can fit your skirting boards. Sockets set within the floor are acceptable, but not in bathrooms or kitchens.

Answer 2

On a rewire, then there is no compulsion to comply with limited reach for socket heights. Only for new build.

The sockets however should have enough clearance to insert/remove a pluig without bending the flex too much. So anything above the skirting height is 'acceptable' under regs. If you wanted the sockets a particular height then you should have said so before commencement of works.

Answer 3

Rewiring means changing the wires so the sockets and switches just stay at the same height, unless you want to change the heights.

I've often wondered about why they have all these height regs, even upstairs, and the staircase in new houses tend to tight and loop round. So how would, for example a wheel chair user, benefit from these regs?

Answer 4

I have had three houses rewired to the standard expected by building control.The sockets were fixed at a midpoint of 500ml.The switches at midpoint of 1200ml.This seemingly is the height for new complete re-wire jobs to comply for certification

Answer 5

As a rule of thumb, we normally set sockets to 350mm above floor level. But as long as they clear the skirting by 50 mm, then you should have no problems plugging in appliances with molded plug tops

Answer 6

In the U.S., it depends on where you mount the receptacle. In a basement 48 inches above the floor. Over a counter top 52 inches abovethe floor. In the rest of the house 12 inches above the floor. Don't forget to use GFI receptacles in the bath room, laundry tube, or sink. Never cut the ground wire in flexible conductors. Europe's electrical code may be different.

Answer 7

same height as before if only rewiring, 450 mm if new.

Answer 8

If the electrician didn't do your re-wiring job properly, get him/her back to fix the problem. If you want a modification carried out, ask an electrician to do it. Electrical wiring is not a handyman job. Take care.