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Post by Gone on Oct 26, 2020 7:37:45 GMT
I seem to remember that light switches are a bit lower and sockets a bit higher because of disability discrimination. Likewise elevators now have a set of low level floor buttons as well as the normal, high up set. Doesn’t really inconvenience the majority, so why not? I dunno. I guess sockets placed high up on the wall look pig ugly but to be fair, that in itself isn't a good reason not to do it. Having to chase 2 foot up a wall in 20 million homes when the chances of anyone in a wheelchair buying your house is virtually doesn't seem to make great sense though. Might be better to do more specific, better, wheelchair friendly adjustments in places where wheelchair users are likely to live, rather than taking this broad brush approach. You are not required to modify an existing house, just new builds. Also the builders tend to fit the wires and socket back boxes before plastering so no additional work, but agree it does look odd having high sockets
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Post by Clinton Cool on Oct 26, 2020 9:43:19 GMT
I dunno. I guess sockets placed high up on the wall look pig ugly but to be fair, that in itself isn't a good reason not to do it. Having to chase 2 foot up a wall in 20 million homes when the chances of anyone in a wheelchair buying your house is virtually doesn't seem to make great sense though. Might be better to do more specific, better, wheelchair friendly adjustments in places where wheelchair users are likely to live, rather than taking this broad brush approach. You are not required to modify an existing house, just new builds. Also the builders tend to fit the wires and socket back boxes before plastering so no additional work, but agree it does look odd having high sockets I didn't know that. I assume all new builds have to have wheelchair access ramps and stairlifts? Otherwise there would be no point in putting sockets higher up, as wheelchair users wouldn't be able to live in these houses.
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Post by peterboat on Oct 26, 2020 11:42:16 GMT
It makes perfect sense to me to run wires under the floor, where possible. Saves on chasing out plaster. Mind you, with sockets having to be higher up these days (in case of a flood?) the difference is probably marginal. All the wires in Jaynes house are under the floor, that area is 4 foot deep and all the central heating pipes are there to, they and the underfloor is insulated so no issues at all and very easy to do work on
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Post by dyertribe on Oct 26, 2020 13:09:48 GMT
Just remembered when I moved into a previous house doing the very same job, fitting a mantelpiece. Right in the centre was an old rotten rubber insulated wire, live, a clock feed, from days of yore when such things were common. Very nearly sent a bolster chisel into it hacking off plaster to reveal the old stone lintel underneath. One Bank Holiday ‘Im Indoors decided to put up the shelves we had bought for either side of the range cooker. He checked that there were no cables around and all went well until he drilled for the second shelf and all the power in the house stopped. Turns out the electrical connection and switch for the cooker had been hidden in the cupboard and the 32amp cable came down the wall exactly where he had drilled. Fortunately he drilled through the earth cable and lived to tell the tale but as the power was blown in the entire house we had to call an emergency electrician on a bank holiday Sunday.. That was the most expensive shelf I never had in my kitchen!
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