In message ,
"ARWadsworth" wrote:

What are the regulations covering this?

BS7671:2001 Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring
Regulations Sixteenth Edition).

Height of sockets AND switches governed by Building Regulations part
M - to be installed between 450mm and 1200mm above floor level, though
there are excemptions for rooms such as kitchens where sockets are
installed above worksurfaces. Part M concerns itself with "access", e.g.
for disabled persons, and also insists on things like "level" access to
the main entrance, and a wheelchair-accessible downstairs loo in
newly-built or renovated houses.

This applies to new buildings only. You can place the sockets at any height
you wish when doing a rewire as long as they can be used safely (i.e. not
usually on skirting as it causes the cable from the plug to be under
stress).


Realised it didn't apply to simple rewires, but I thought it did apply
to renovations. Mind you I've only just downloaded part M (12 meg!) and
haven't read it yet.

Is it possible that the housing association have in mind the possibility
of putting tenants in the house who need some of these adaptations? It
was just that apparently *they* mentioned it so I thought it might be
relevant. If you're going to rewire and as part of that move sockets,
why not make sure all the switches are also within the band?

Hwyl!

Martin.

--
Martin Angove (it's Cornish for "Smith") - ARM/Digital SA110 RPC
See the Aber Valley -- http://www.tridwr.demon.co.uk/abervalley.html
.... Never attribute to malice that which may be explained by stupidty.