Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

On 26/10/2016 11:27, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.


Ours are in the wall, not the skirting board. About 1 foot from the
floor. That means less cord hanging down from the socket, which looks
nicer, but more bending to reach it. Done 20 years ago.

Did they?
That is a bit annoying then, as I have most of mine up high and its great
also for those with problems bending over to move the switches.
Brian

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"fred" wrote in message
...
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from
the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.


Other way round surely? Modern regs are supposed to make sockets more
accessible to disabled folk or those in wheelchairs.

Tim

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fred pretended :
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from
the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

We have a few at 4', but most at around 15". The high level ones are
handy for the likes of vacuums, plus most of the kitchen ones above the
worktops, those at low level for things like TV's etc. which remain
plugged in. In a home where someone might be disabled, likely they
would all be at high level.

Mounted high, the flex might be more of a hazard in some circumstances.

On 26/10/16 11:27, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

So that people in wheelchairs and the elderly could reach them to pl;ug
in their SDS drills and vacuum cleaners.

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On 26/10/2016 12:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 26/10/16 11:27, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

So that people in wheelchairs and the elderly could reach them to pl;ug
in their SDS drills and vacuum cleaners.


Why shouldn't someone in a wheelchair use an SDS drill?

Always assuming they remember to put the brake on first.

On 26/10/16 12:51, GB wrote:
On 26/10/2016 12:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 26/10/16 11:27, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

So that people in wheelchairs and the elderly could reach them to pl;ug
in their SDS drills and vacuum cleaners.


Why shouldn't someone in a wheelchair use an SDS drill?


Did I imply that they wouldn't?

;-)

Always assuming they remember to put the brake on first.




--
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too dark to read.

Groucho Marx

In article ,
GB writes:
On 26/10/2016 12:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 26/10/16 11:27, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

So that people in wheelchairs and the elderly could reach them to pl;ug
in their SDS drills and vacuum cleaners.


Why shouldn't someone in a wheelchair use an SDS drill?

I have this image of a wheelchair with a belt drive around the
drill chuck and the wheel...

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Wednesday, 26 October 2016 11:27:25 UTC+1, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

In the uni where I work we have many places where sockets are put, the ones low down near the floor are ment to be used as cleaners sockets thye are considered dirty mains. Most in teh lab are at waiste hieght or bench height.
I passed two double socket outlets just recently installed in teh corridor they are about 12-14ft from the floor. Probbley for the exclusive use of very tall people ;-)

On Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 1:36:10 PM UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
On Wednesday, 26 October 2016 11:27:25 UTC+1, fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

In the uni where I work we have many places where sockets are put, the ones low down near the floor are ment to be used as cleaners sockets thye are considered dirty mains. Most in teh lab are at waiste hieght or bench height.
I passed two double socket outlets just recently installed in teh corridor they are about 12-14ft from the floor. Probbley for the exclusive use of very tall people ;-)

Maybe it depends on the age of your installation but in every house I have ever bought once out of the kitchen all sockets were in or on the skirting.

In article ,
fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

It actually changed the other way round.

However, you can site them where you want in your own house.

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To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 26/10/2016 12:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

So that people in wheelchairs and the elderly could reach them to pl;ug
in their SDS drills and vacuum cleaners.

My wife is both elderly and in a wheelchair but she uses a vacuum
cleaner, a pressure washer, and many other appliances.

Bill

On Wednesday, 26 October 2016 13:36:10 UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
On Wednesday, 26 October 2016 11:27:25 UTC+1, fred wrote:

Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

In the uni where I work we have many places where sockets are put, the ones low down near the floor are ment to be used as cleaners sockets thye are considered dirty mains.

??

Most in teh lab are at waiste hieght or bench height.
I passed two double socket outlets just recently installed in teh corridor they are about 12-14ft from the floor. Probbley for the exclusive use of very tall people ;-)

very Russian


NT

On 26/10/16 14:49, Bill Wright wrote:
On 26/10/2016 12:40, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

So that people in wheelchairs and the elderly could reach them to pl;ug
in their SDS drills and vacuum cleaners.

My wife is both elderly and in a wheelchair but she uses a vacuum
cleaner, a pressure washer, and many other appliances.

Bill

WEll that's what I said.


How is she at changing lightbulbs?


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"fred" wrote in message
...
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from
the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

This is news to me. When I was a lad the sockets were always in the
skirting, but later wiring regs demanded they be mounted higher up. I
thought it was to avoid damage from vacuum cleaners.
--
Dave W

Dave W wrote:

"fred" wrote:

Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from
the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

This is news to me. When I was a lad the sockets were always in the
skirting, but later wiring regs demanded they be mounted higher up. I
thought it was to avoid damage from vacuum cleaners.

Then in 2000(?) Approved Document M demanded they were mounted even
higher [in new builds] for the benefit of the disabled.

Dave W wrote:

"fred" wrote in message
...
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from
the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

This is news to me.

I think Fred has caused some confusion by getting things the wrong way
round (unless he really does mean what he says).

It's the complete opposite of the current regulations as I understand them.

Tim

fred wrote

Just curious

Dont forget what that did to the cat.

but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up from
the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

Mainly because its easier to do it like that.

I didnt myself, the absolute vast bulk of mine are one full block
up from the floor, in the middle of the second course of blocks,
with the blocks 8" high and with no skirting boards at all. The
block walls are laid directly onto a full concrete raft floor that
is the entire floor of the house, quarry tiled everywhere.

In the kitchen there are lots of sockets right up just under the
cantilevered 20' long bench that runs the entire length of that
wall with the dishwashers, bar fridge sized freezers etc plugged
into those. With lots more sockets above that bench. And quite
a few others about 4' up from the floor for fridges and freezers
and wall ovens etc.

Same with the bathrooms, separate toilets and laundrys, all
of the sockets in those are nowhere near floor level, most of
them above the bench top area at about the 5' level on the
wall but with some below the benches there too.

On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 14:03:28 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

It actually changed the other way round.

However, you can site them where you want in your own house.

The BCO will of course have a fit if your house is a new build.


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On 26/10/2016 16:25, Dave W wrote:
This is news to me. When I was a lad the sockets were always in the
skirting, but later wiring regs demanded they be mounted higher up. I
thought it was to avoid damage from vacuum cleaners.

Another reason for fitting them higher up is to reduce the likelihood of
flood damage. Whether or not a particular location is liable to
flooding, from weather or plumbing, is another matter. Maybe it is
easier simply to make it standard rather than having arguments about
whether one location can have a lower socket because it won't flood...

--
Rod

In article ,
ARW wrote:
On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 14:03:28 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

It actually changed the other way round.

However, you can site them where you want in your own house.

The BCO will of course have a fit if your house is a new build.

Very likely. So get it signed off then move them to a sensible place. ;-)

It might well make some sense for things like a vacuum cleaner that is
used for a short time then moved. But with the plethora of stuff we have
plugged in all the time these days it's a nonsense.


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"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
ARW wrote:
On Wed, 26 Oct 2016 14:03:28 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
fred wrote:
Just curious but why did they stop fixing electric plugs about 3ft up
from the floor and start fixing them to the skirting, in general.

It actually changed the other way round.

However, you can site them where you want in your own house.

The BCO will of course have a fit if your house is a new build.

Very likely. So get it signed off then move them to a sensible place. ;-)

It might well make some sense for things like a vacuum cleaner that is
used for a short time then moved. But with the plethora of stuff we have
plugged in all the time these days it's a nonsense.

Actually, looking at all the stuff I have plugged in and switched on, I'm
afraid to leave the house, or go to bed.
All the net stuff, phone chargers, toothbrush chargers, sky box, lappy
chargers, tablet chargers, drill chargers etc in the shed, wireless phone
chargers (~£2.50 from China and will burn your house down), toaster left
powered-up waiting for a small breeze to activate it, forgetting the OCD on
13A sockets and light switches etc.
Sod it, i'll just get ****ed as usual. Bit of a bugger, only just waxed the
car.

On Wednesday, 26 October 2016 21:47:18 UTC+1, polygonum wrote:
On 26/10/2016 16:25, Dave W wrote:
This is news to me. When I was a lad the sockets were always in the
skirting, but later wiring regs demanded they be mounted higher up. I
thought it was to avoid damage from vacuum cleaners.

Another reason for fitting them higher up is to reduce the likelihood of
flood damage. Whether or not a particular location is liable to
flooding, from weather or plumbing, is another matter. Maybe it is
easier simply to make it standard rather than having arguments about
whether one location can have a lower socket because it won't flood...

Might be difficult convincing someone on the 20th floor of a new build block that their sockets might get flooded.



--
Rod

In article ,
whisky-dave wrote:
On Wednesday, 26 October 2016 21:47:18 UTC+1, polygonum wrote:
On 26/10/2016 16:25, Dave W wrote:
This is news to me. When I was a lad the sockets were always in the
skirting, but later wiring regs demanded they be mounted higher up. I
thought it was to avoid damage from vacuum cleaners.

Another reason for fitting them higher up is to reduce the likelihood
of flood damage. Whether or not a particular location is liable to
flooding, from weather or plumbing, is another matter. Maybe it is
easier simply to make it standard rather than having arguments about
whether one location can have a lower socket because it won't flood...

Might be difficult convincing someone on the 20th floor of a new build
block that their sockets might get flooded.

Not quite sure why you'd be worried about sockets being flooded. A drop in
the ocean compared to replacing everything else that would be ruined. And
I dare say they're one of the few things that could be cleaned up OK.

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Dave Plowman London SW
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On 27/10/2016 17:00, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Not quite sure why you'd be worried about sockets being flooded. A drop in
the ocean compared to replacing everything else that would be ruined. And
I dare say they're one of the few things that could be cleaned up OK.

It does make sorting the whole mess easier if the electrics are out of
the way. And having the electics still working during the flood can be
useful to eg run pumps.

Our electrics did survive the flood, but not the builders hacking away
the plaster and hitting the cable...

On 27/10/2016 10:19, whisky-dave wrote:
Might be difficult convincing someone on the 20th floor of a new build block that their sockets might get flooded.

Which is why I included this sentence:

Whether or not a particular location is liable to flooding, from weather
or plumbing, is another matter.

--
Rod