Light switch heights?

mark66

mark66

mark66

Soldato
Joined
1 May 2003
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3,207
Location
Bucks
Hi,

We're having some work done to our 1930's house, part of which is to put new down lights in the Dining Room. Our electrician placed the new light switch a foot over from the original one and at a lower height. I didn't like the position of this new switch and have asked him to place the switch back to its original position, but he is unhappy with this as it would be against regs?

I can understand that new builds / rooms may require lower light switches, but this is not a new build, just a re-wire of the lighting in the existing room. Am I wrong to ask him to wire the switch back to its original location?

Thanks
 
I was under the impression that for a rewire you are within your rights to have it at the old height "so long as the installation is no worse than it was previously".

Can't see why new build regs would apply to your house, rewire or not.
 
No more that 1.2 metres off the ground for new build's and complete refurbs.

So as long as you arent refurbing the whole property it sounds like you are able to refit at the previous height
 
I can't see anything in the electrical regulations that specify a height of switches.

The onsite guide mentions Building Regulations (a different set of regs) that require switches to be between 450mm - 1200mm from FFL, so that all persons, including those whose reach is limited can easily use them. To be fair, there is stacks of reasons why sockets and switches aren't mounted at those heights and I can't see how it can be enforced. I've certainly never been pulled up for mounting a socket or switch outside of those zones, but I don't work in "dwellings".

That being said, I've just looked at what 1200mm from FFL actually is, and I'd be demanding that the switches be placed at a normal height. If the height challenged ever visit, i'd happily give them a step up. :)
 
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He us being a pain tell him to put it back where it was there is no need to set the modern heights in older houses.
 
Common misconception that its in the wiring regs as it isn't, it features in the on site guide as mentioned above but actually comes under Part M of the building regs.

If he's unhappy tell him to add it as a departure on the cert that he should be issuing you as a "customer demand" or some such.
 
Lumeycom said:
Common misconception that its in the wiring regs as it isn't, it features in the on site guide as mentioned above but actually comes under Part M of the building regs.

If he's unhappy tell him to add it as a departure on the cert that he should be issuing you as a "customer demand" or some such.
Click to expand...

It's not a departure where wiring exists as the refs say your entitled to use current height otherwise imagine the stupidity when you add an extra double socket behind the TV!
 
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