According to the approved Document P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales), it has been confirmed that the domestic electrical installations can be done safely and are the perfect fit for people who want to use them. The main objective is to ensure that the entire work is done in a way that will fulfill the Building Regulations 2010. This guidance in Approved Document P suggests that electrical installations need to be designed as well as installed to BS 7671.
Besides, the Technical Manual offers complete guidance for cabling and appropriate quantities of electrical sockets for different rooms in a typical new house. This article gives an overall summary of positioning guidance as well as the outline of warranty requirements.
About cabling and electrical service
As per the Technical Manual guidance in the ‘Electrical installations section’, it has been suggested that, “A suitable electrical service of the appropriate size for normal domestic use shall be provided.”
In case of cabling, PVC-covered cables need not be kept in contact with polystyrene insulation. So, electrical cables should not be diagonal and their exact locations have to be in compliant with the guidance.
Socket outlets
Socket outlets should be conveniently positioned very near to TV aerial and telephone outlets. This will enable for electrical equipments such as TVs and DVD players.
In case of warranty purposes, the rooms must be provided with the following 13a outlets:
- Kitchen or Utility – 8 outlets
- Living room – 8 outlets
- Dining Room – 4 outlets
- Bedroom (main) – 6 outlets
- Bedroom (other) – 4 outlets
- Hall – 2 outlets
- Landing – 2 outlets
Cooking
The cooking appliances that are kept at the cooker space in the house should be switched properly and then terminated with a minimum 30a electricity supply. When a cooker panel is offered, it should be positioned at the side of the cooker space. However, choosing a 13a socket installation in London means it needs to be positioned at the cooker space where gas supply is offered to the house.
Light fittings
There has to be at least one fixed lighting outlet offered for all the rooms. Certain areas that are bigger than 25m2 need to be provided with two fixed lighting outlets.
Staircases, landings and halls should be provided with two-way switches and lighting outlets. Down lighters as well as other flush-fitting attachments need not be installed with a ceiling in case the ceiling is offering a part of the much needed fire resistance or acoustic insulation to the property.
If down lighters are offered to the ceilings which is just below roof voids, then it is suggested to take necessary precautions and ensure that there is no fire risk caused due to the proximity of other materials. Passive infrared (PIR) sensors need to be used for common as well as external areas.
Positioning of switches and sockets
Sockets and switches need to be positioned properly and a consumer unit’s switches has to be somewhere between 1350mm and 1450mm.
Thus, switch installation in London should be done by experienced electricians only so that there might not be unnecessary risks and problems in your house in future.