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Rewire light switch heights

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  • 07-04-2017 12:42pm
    #1
    readymix111
    Registered Users Posts: 45 ✭


    Hi all, doing a rewire of an old house, the light switches are high, whats the regulation on this, can i get away with keeping them at this height or do i have to drop them to 1200mm? The walls arent that thick and switches are back to back so chasing new ones out would be a nightmare.


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    #2
    meercat
    Registered Users Posts: 4,745 ✭✭✭meercat


    readymix111 wrote: »
    Hi all, doing a rewire of an old house, the light switches are high, whats the regulation on this, can i get away with keeping them at this height or do i have to drop them to 1200mm? The walls arent that thick and switches are back to back so chasing new ones out would be a nightmare.

    You need to conform to the current regulations I'm afraid (think you probably new that anyway)
    Don't put the new switches back to back(offset them)


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    #3
    Electricman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29 ✭Electricman


    readymix111 wrote: »
    Hi all, doing a rewire of an old house, the light switches are high, whats the regulation on this, can i get away with keeping them at this height or do i have to drop them to 1200mm? The walls arent that thick and switches are back to back so chasing new ones out would be a nightmare.

    Have a look at Annex 63B of the wiring rules. It's at the back of the book, (just after the sample certificates). This Annex outlines the basic principles which should be applied when carrying out electrical work. A rewire involves adding new circuits and is therefore is new work.

    Annex 63B clearly states "New work must comply with current rules"
    The current rules (530.6) require that in a domestic dwelling, switches for lighting equipment must be installed between 400mm and 1200mm.
    Therefore it is clear that light switches in a rewire situation must be at the 4th edition heights.
    I can also tell you from personal experience that if you get a RECI inspection at the rewire, the inspector will insist that all light switches are installed between 400mm and 1200mm and will make you move them down if they are installed at the original old heights.


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    #4
    readymix111
    Registered Users Posts: 45 ✭readymix111


    Cheers thanks for that, i dont usually do domestic so im trying to read up on all the new regs. The fuseboard will need to be dropped too, 2.2m from floor to top of board, whats the best way to hide the cables coming from ceiling apart from chasing and burying them. Would pvc trunking be the norm?


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    #5
    2011
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 12,595 Mod ✭✭✭✭2011


    Yes, trunking may be used.


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    #6
    Electricman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29 ✭Electricman


    Trunking is fine and the max height is actually 2.25,


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