Installation height of sockets and switches

The main criterion that determines the location of sockets and switches is the ease of use. However, it is necessary to ensure maximum safety in the operation of electrical appliances and the aesthetics of the interior of the room. Currently, most of the apartments of the old building are equipped with sockets and switches, which are located at a height of 90 or 160 cm from the floor. In many cases, this distance is not very convenient from the point of view of comfortable operation. The fact is that the placement of the switch at the shoulder level of an adult is not always comfortable for those family members whose growth is much lower. That is why it becomes necessary to make the arrangement of these elements of electrical wiring more convenient.

Placement requirements

There are currently no special location requirements. outlets and circuit breakers.

In European countries, the height of the installation of outlets is not strictly regulated, however, the installation of these devices at a level of 30 cm from the floor is generally accepted. At the same time, switches can be installed from 30 to 90 cm from the floor covering, based on the convenience of their use. In everyday life, such placement is often called the "European standard."

As well as the European standard, the rules for the installation of electrical installations (PUE) do not impose special requirements for height placement of sockets or switches, limited to the recommendation for their installation in the most convenient for the user location.

Concerning mounting outlet or light switch when entering the room, it is customary to do this at the height of the lowered hand of an adult. Such a recommendation is reflected in domestic official documents. In particular, SP 31-110-2003 says that it is necessary to place switches near the entrance door to the room, on the side of the door handle, up to a meter from the floor. The same arrangement of switches provides for the European standard. It allows not only to quickly find the switch in a dark room, but also does not create obstacles when used by children.

In rooms with a large area, care should be taken not only about the most user-friendly level of placement of switches, but also about ensuring the maximum convenience of lighting control. For these purposes, various wiring diagrams. You can choose one of them based on the individual characteristics of the room.

Electrical installation security

The lack of clear requirements causes a lot of controversy over how to properly lay out sockets and switches in residential premises. The installation of these devices should provide a high level of electrical safety during the operation of electrical appliances. That is, there are still certain requirements for it, but they are not directly related to ease of use.

The main danger that is associated with the use of the considered elements of electrical wiring is their availability. That is, the quality that ensures the ease of use of these devices adversely affects electrical safety. This becomes especially relevant in apartments where young children live.

In such cases, it is recommended that you carefully select electrical outlets and observe all necessary conditions when connecting them.

To ensure the maximum level of electrical safety during the operation of outlets, the following rules should be followed:

• Use high security products from external mechanical influences, as well as dust and moisture. This is especially important in rooms with high humidity, such as a bathroom or a combined bathroom.

• Connection of separate groups of sockets and switches should be done using differential automata or RCD. Such automation is triggered in the event of a current leakage through a damaged insulation. This makes it impossible to injure people with electric shock if they touch the non-grounded cases of electrical appliances.

• Use a ground wire. This requirement can be met when replacing old wiring. If the repair work in the apartment does not provide for such large-scale changes, but is limited only by the change locations of sockets and switches, it makes no sense to purchase expensive models with additional grounding contact. It should also be noted that the connection of powerful electrical appliances, such as a washing machine, boiler or hob, without fail provides for the use of a separate outlet. For it, you need to draw a dedicated line to the distribution panel, connected through its own circuit breaker.
• The location of the outlets in the kitchen has a feature associated with a large number of electrical appliances in this room, as well as fairly stringent operating conditions. Therefore, to ensure a convenient and at the same time reliable power supply, it is recommended to use a sufficient number of connectors. At the same time, they are usually located at a level of 15 cm from the surface of the countertop.

• The minimum distance at which plug-in sockets or switches from pipes of the gas pipeline system can be is 50 cm.
• When using such devices in bathrooms, it is recommended that they be connected through an isolation transformer or an RCD with a rated current of up to 30 mA. In addition, sockets or switches cannot be placed closer than 60 cm from the doorway of showers, the edges of the bathtub or sink.

Choosing a location method

In order to choose the most suitable way of arranging wiring accessories in the room, it makes sense to be guided by such recommendations:

1. Decide on the number and capacity of consumers, the power of which will be provided from outlets in each room.
2. Draw up a layout of furniture, taking into account the size of its elements. In this case, it is necessary to determine the connection points of stationary consumers of electricity. Sockets for them are better placed so that the wires are not visible.
3. Designate the location of the optimal location of sockets and switches on the diagram. In this case, telephone and television outlets should also be considered.

In conclusion, it must be said that the most acceptable option for installing sockets and switches is determined directly by the owners of the apartment based on their personal preferences. For example, the location of the switch at a level of 160 cm from the floor is convenient from the point of view of placing pieces of furniture that do not block the device during various movements. The high placement of outlets allows you to avoid inconvenience when turning on and off portable electrical appliances. As for the European standard when installing such devices, its advantages are increased ease of use.

Thus, if all the necessary conditions are met to ensure the safe operation of outlets and switches, the only condition governing their location is convenience operation.