Non-UK & Non-EU Socket Outlets used in the UK

Hi All,

This is my first post so excuse me if I do something wrong.

I've been asked to make some special plates for a hotel that contain multinational sockets.
I have always presumed using EU sockets was acceptable under the harmonized standard but the standard specifically says 

511. NOTE 2: The use of foreign national standards not based on an IEC Standard, and/or not compatible with the safety provisions
of BS 7671, is not recommended.

The job I've been asked for is to add Type I  AS 3112 (Australian) & a Type N SANS 164 (South African) mains socket along with other connections and switches.

Although the items carry approval of their native country, can they be used or is the entire safety obligation on the specifier and installer?

On the flip side of this question, can I do a similar job in France where they want small BS516 round pin plugs?

  • Hi, back on the PC, the chat didn't work well on a mobile.

    I was working from my memory (always a problem) so got some of the bits wrong.

    it is the 

    shall preferably be of a type complying with BS 1363.

    term I was hoping allowed me to supply.

    So I've started to slip from the original question about Australian sockets to all other sockets.

    I've just seen you next answer popup and I always use shuttered versions of the sockets.

    As you can imagine, these will be used for things like hair driers and the like, PC Chargers etc for the overseas traveller to use.

    There will normally be a mix of sockets on one plate. I make them to the customers' requirements rather then specify. I also don't install them.

    The more I read, the more I think I need specific licence [The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1987 (legislation.gov.uk). reg 7.7]?

    I can see no other wiggle room in this regulation unless it is for a very specific use i.e shaver

  • What seems to be rather absurd is that adaptors (foreign to UK, but not the other way about) are included. They may be inserted into a BS 1363 socket whether the foreign socket part is shuttered or not.

  • Outside the scope of BS 7671.

    Whilst I'd agree, I'd we didn't make provision for visitors somehow, that's an issue. BUT we have something here not found in most installations globally ... the ring final circuit.

    At least requiring UK outlets on those ensures there's a suitable OCPD

  • Aren't these covered by BS 1363-3 & BS 8546?
    I haven't read the BS8546 one. 
    IMO if you squint, it maybe outside BS 7671 as gkenyon says, but it is plugged into a BS 1363  so is aligned to BS 7671.
    Imo a well consider installation of foreign type sockets is safer then adaptors especially with the 'I'm not responsible' sellers like Ebay, Amazon etc. I prefer to call them eFences!

  • well we need to realise that the competition is this disreputable object.

    No fuse, and also available in version with insulation on the earth pin.
    Many people do not seem to realise that If you buy on-line, and something is posted to you from abroad you are the importer. This in turn gives the full legal responsibility for electrical safety, and every other standard for that matter,  to 'the importer'  who may just be ordinary folk and inadequately qualified to undertake that role.

    So yes we really do need to support visitors to the UK in a more responsible way. Hotels airports etc need to provide something that avoids the death-adaptors if all possible.

    Permanently mounted sockets of the appropriate form of any kind, are a huge improvement.  Personally  in the past I have installed, in my own house, shucko sockets in a twin  back box. where the other half of of the box was a fused spur with switch and neon, sidestepping the question of the 30A fusewire, I suggest that installing any unfused connector in that way is sensible. The shutters thing is more interesting and was not applicable at the time I did this, however if a shuttered variant exists it makes sense to use it,

    Edit, but I meant to say, and made a hash of the typing, that personally I think even an un-shuttered socket, installed with a  proper fuse, or better an RCBO, and reliably earthed, is a huge improvement over the plug in adapters of doubtful current rating and earthing.

    That said,  the IEC 60906-1 supersocket the domestic socket to unite them all (that oddly only seems to be used for real by ZA and Brazil), is not shuttered but instead relies on small recessed holes, and the one folk trail into tents and leave in a puddle on the groundsheet is usually one of the blue ones, also un-shuttered,  -so are the regs out of touch with the small reality of the risk, and accidentally encouraging something far worse?

    Mike

  • well we need to realise that the competition is this disreputable object.

    Or other variants ... that are available with the 'CE' mark on them, from countries in the EU (and no different when the UK was in that 'club').

  • I'll take your death adaptor and counter you with an approved? extension..

    PDU UNIVERSAL INDIA OUTLET STRIP, (internationalconfig.com)

    For the ZA socket, I got them to send me the outlets and I just made a feature in the panel that they could fit onsite.
    But that was for a Saudi install. They follow the rules until the rules are no longer convenient.

    These types of outlets are what other bigger names in the business offer. but I refuse to sell or incorporate the multinational socket. All the big hotel names want them though!

    This is why I need to know if I can use the EU or Australian sockets in the UK

  • All the big hotel names want them though!

    I bet they do - they are far safer than folk using their own plug in adaptors of unverified performance.

    In another world, I have been involved with products that need to be used in situations where the infrastructure may be damaged, either by natural disaster or by hostile man-made events.
    The approach to these matters for such 'power of opportunity' kit would make a maiden blush - convertors to plugs and sockets of every colour,  flying earth leads, things that look like car  jump leads for tapping overhead lines,  adaptors for M6 wing nuts, vampire clamps to screw into the side of cables..  if you can think it, it has probably been done somewhere. It is quite a challenge to design kit to survive, and ideally work without a hiccup, when the voltage arriving may be 200 -440 and of unknown polarity or relation to earth.  But there are not as many accidents as would make it worth doing any other way.

    Mke

  • Outside the scope of BS 7671.

    My apologies, my last was ambiguous. They are included in The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (rather than BS 7671).

    In response to Peter69, BS 8546 covers "travel adaptors", which are excluded from the 1994 Regulations in Sch 1.

  • So yes we really do need to support visitors to the UK in a more responsible way. Hotels airports etc need to provide something that avoids the death-adaptors if all possible.

    Permanently mounted sockets of the appropriate form of any kind, are a huge improvement. 

    Yes indeed, the unshuttered fixed sockets would be better than unshuttered adaptors. There is no reason why the hotels which cater for international travellers should not make adaptors available, though they might disappear. Alternatively of course, the hotels could sell approved adaptors themselves.