gkenyon: 
Interesting nuance … do you always design every aspect of your electrical installations for the unexpected in the same way?

________

 

So, I'm not trying to be purposefully awkward, but the issue is that we have case law that leads us to the point that we need to account for the “next person off the Clapham Omnibus” and also that someone carrying out DIY has to exercise the same “skill and care" as a competent tradesperson doing the same job.

Graham, what is the case law please?

The law looks at foreseeability. I would suggest that plugging 2 x 13 A appliances into a 13 A socket is entirely foreseeable. The duty of care rests with the designer/installer/inspector, perhaps jointly and severally if not one and the same. If a house catches fire due to an overloaded double socket, causation seems be straightforward.

So there we have it - an electrician might be negligent in installing double sockets anywhere that two high-current appliances may be plugged in.

But we also have to consider the standard of care (Bolam). Would a reasonable body of competent electricians install double sockets?

If there is case-law on this specific point, it would be interesting to read it.

(Incidentally, I took the no. 49 Omnibus to Clapham 8 days ago. All of the passengers looked very ordinary.)

gkenyon: 
Interesting nuance … do you always design every aspect of your electrical installations for the unexpected in the same way?

________

 

So, I'm not trying to be purposefully awkward, but the issue is that we have case law that leads us to the point that we need to account for the “next person off the Clapham Omnibus” and also that someone carrying out DIY has to exercise the same “skill and care" as a competent tradesperson doing the same job.

Graham, what is the case law please?

The law looks at foreseeability. I would suggest that plugging 2 x 13 A appliances into a 13 A socket is entirely foreseeable. The duty of care rests with the designer/installer/inspector, perhaps jointly and severally if not one and the same. If a house catches fire due to an overloaded double socket, causation seems be straightforward.

So there we have it - an electrician might be negligent in installing double sockets anywhere that two high-current appliances may be plugged in.

But we also have to consider the standard of care (Bolam). Would a reasonable body of competent electricians install double sockets?

If there is case-law on this specific point, it would be interesting to read it.

(Incidentally, I took the no. 49 Omnibus to Clapham 8 days ago. All of the passengers looked very ordinary.)