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Is it safe to sleep close to an electrical socket?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Been asked to move a power socket in a clients bedroom as the wife is concerned about the health effects of sleeping right next to the socket. To be honest I've not come across this before so it threw me a bit.


The socket is right behind the headboard (on the wife's side) and has a trailing extension lead plugged into it powering a clock, a table lamp and a phone charger. I think the previous owners must have had the house rewired at some point and used that room as a 'twin' and not a double as the sockets are in really odd places around the room.


She's concerned that there is an electromagnetic field right close to her head (about 5 or 6 inches away) for around 8 hours during the night and how that may affect her health.


Not that I'm going to talk her out of it ? but should I recommend a tin foil hat?
Parents
  • Farmboy:

    Talking of socket position, this one was installed a few days ago. Is this a good position?
    63d1eb130091d98878f390c9f8173a63-original-1.jpg






    According to the customer, the electrician advised them that ...the regulations have been updated and it’s now a recommended distance of 300mm.


    I'd like to know where this 300mm dimension has come from. I can see nothing in BS 7671, nor in the OSG or GN's. There's also nothing I can see in the building regulations (BR's) for my country (Scotland). Therefore, I wonder whether it's in the BR's of one or more of the other three home countries (perhaps it's in the electricians guide to the BR's, which is based on English BR's, and he's decided to apply it here) or he's referring to guidance recommending that sockets should be no closer than 300mm to a sink/basin, and just applied that to this scenario.


    F


Reply
  • Farmboy:

    Talking of socket position, this one was installed a few days ago. Is this a good position?
    63d1eb130091d98878f390c9f8173a63-original-1.jpg






    According to the customer, the electrician advised them that ...the regulations have been updated and it’s now a recommended distance of 300mm.


    I'd like to know where this 300mm dimension has come from. I can see nothing in BS 7671, nor in the OSG or GN's. There's also nothing I can see in the building regulations (BR's) for my country (Scotland). Therefore, I wonder whether it's in the BR's of one or more of the other three home countries (perhaps it's in the electricians guide to the BR's, which is based on English BR's, and he's decided to apply it here) or he's referring to guidance recommending that sockets should be no closer than 300mm to a sink/basin, and just applied that to this scenario.


    F


Children
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