New Build corridor socket outlet

[CTID]

Hi folks,

I have a friend who is having a new build done for him. The builders have brought in a DI to install the electrics just recently. When my friend noticed that no socket outlet was installed on the first floor landing, as was laid out in the plans, he asked why it had been missed out and the DI informed him that regs didn't allow a socket outlet on a landing corridor. Is this right? I can not find any reference to this in the BGB.

The corridor is a 'T' shape, 8 m long with a 2 m Tee off, stairs leading up to it around 1m from one end.

Please can someone shed some light onto this for me.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

 

[m4tty]

Sounds like a load of old borrox to me mate. He's missed it and trying to cover up ffs. No sockets allowed in hallways lol whatever next

 

[CTID]

Just what I thought, reckons it can cause a trip hazard near stairs! Probably worse when my mates wife has to trail vacuum cleaner cable from a bedroom to other end of corridor! I trawled through regs and couldn't find any reference to it anywhere.

 

[m4tty]

I'm getting worried now that all the rewires I've done dont comply as all have sockets in hallways up and down lol ..... NOT.

It's a load of old tosh mate.

 

[CTID]

Ha cheers Matty, will let my mate know. He has still withheld some money from the DI so he can go back to him now and say he needs to rectify.

 

[Monkeyboy]

Technical Wiring accessories information

Recommended quantity of socket outlets for domestic installation

Inadequate installations can occur when not enough socket outlets have been installed or where the existing sockets are located in the wrong areas. This could lead to potentially dangerous improvisations.

The table below summarises the recommendations of the Electrical Installation Industry Liaison Committee (EIILC) regarding the minimum number of twin switched socket outlets per room, suitable for domestic installations. This takes into account likely uses and likely trends.

Room Number of sockets

Landing/stairs 1 Hall 1 Garage 2 Store/workroom 1 Central heating boiler point 1

I found the above info on a technical website and it clearly states 1 x socket outlet on the stairs/ landing

Mark

 

[Sharpend]

The NHBC will not pass a new house of if the landing and hall do not have a double socket, the only time that this is different is the landing that isn't a landing, you know the one where only a ballerina can turn without colliding with everything.

When asked about this with NHBC they quote that a landing of x size requires a socket for the purpose of vacuuming. He did also say why it has to be a double but it escapes me at the minute, probably one for the vacuum the other for a plug in air fresh.

 

[PC Electrics]

A load of rubbish mate. It is quite normal to place a socket on a landing.

Check out appendix H7 in the OSG.

Ask the electrician to justify his response by quoting which reg would be broken by installing one!

He won't be able to.

Get him back to install one before it becomes difficult after final finishing.

 

[CTID]

Thanks for all replies. Phoned my mate tonight and he gonna ring the DI tomorrow morning and get him to come back and install to agreed plans or no final payment. Passed on all your information for his argument.

Much appreciated,

Andy

 

[ProDave]

Yes it sounds like he messed up and is trying to hide his mistake.

BUT I'd be interested in what you guys REALLY do on a new build?

Do you only look at the plans, and fit sockets EXACTLY where shown?

Or do you do as I usually do, walk round the property accompanied by the client and with the plans, and a big marker pen, and check that the sockets are REALLY where the client wants them, and not where the architect has arbitrarily placed them?

This usually results in more sockets being fitted than shown on the plans.

Ditto lighting, in particular 2 (or more) way lighting.

 

[Sharpend]

New build private, as you do. New build national builder as plan.

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Yesterday i refused to fit 8 downlights in a kitchen ceiling the size of a postage stamp. The builder said it was not my place to decide that so i reminded him to a conversation on a previous job where he blamed us for doing what he asked (which was wrong) because "we should of advised him".

 

[Sharpend]

That's why with a builder you do it to plan.

 

[Steve3948]

Or do you do as I usually do, walk round the property accompanied by the client and with the plans, and a big marker pen, and check that the sockets are REALLY where the client wants them, and not where the architect has arbitrarily placed them

?It could be said that the architect is employed by the client and should have gone through all this with the client beforehand and he should be acting with their interest as a main concern.

Last year we did a biggish job on a refurb to an old mill, it was worth about 90k for us on the electrics, the architect was from London and had a total disregard to electrical regulations, so we did not get on that well, every time I met with the client and offered advise the architect would overturn my suggestion, and as the client paid him a huge sum for his services felt they should agree with him.

When the job was finished the client said to me I should have listened to you instead of that stupid architect and that stupid lighting designer, then I may have got what I wanted instead of what they wanted.

However 10 minutes later she was on the phone to him chatting away like he was her very best friend, so who knows what she really thought.

What I do know is the day I said something could not be done, she said but we have money it must be done.

 

[Doc Hudson]

In short the DI is out of his depth by the sounds of it.

Doc H.

 

[Manator]

I think the DI is right, I think the new amendment has this covered, the wording of the new regulation is " no socket shall be provided after the plasterers have finished so has to maintain safety and integrity of the fabric of the building". It shall be against the law to provide sockets for the client use, they should only be fitted by those who know where to put them.

Who needs sockets in a kitchen these days, next thing we will be asking for a socket in the hallway.