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Socket Outlets

Scott Seedell

Hi,

I'm sure this has cropped up before but how far should we go regarding minimum numbers of socket outlets on an EICR?

As far as I can see, there is nothing in BS7671 regarding this, though the OSG presents a table which seems to be based on recommendations from Electrical Safety First and the Electrical Installation Forum.

I'm not sure insufficient numbers would ever be a C2 (there's nothing potentially dangerous about it unless there's swathes of trailing leads everywhere) and seemingly as it isn't a contravention of anything in BS7671 then it would be a hard push to record this even as C3. 

Interestingly the OSG quotes a regulation number (553.1.7) next to their table (H7) which doesn't correlate to the table at all.

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  • 0

    In my view, an inadequate number of socket outlets is not contrary to any regulation and does not merit any code upon inspection. Provided that the installation does have a minimum of two double sockets in the kitchen and one double in each other room.

    This rather paltry provision is AFAIK a requirement under some regulation to render a home fit for habitation. Not in the IET regs though, possibly building regulations ? 

  • 0 in reply to broadgage

    I think you're right.

    I forgot to add that the reason this came about was a local authority carrying out an inspection on behalf of the tenants (we carried out an EICR on behalf of the landlords) and insufficient numbers of sockets was recorded on the Hazard Awareness Notice. I guess I should try to justify why we never mentioned it on the EICR. 

    There seems some definite crossover here between the local authority (probably looking at some building reg) and BS7671 (which doesn't seem to mention it all). I think it shold be clear (not helped by the OSG) that as testers we're looking for what is potentially dangerous or not to current regulations, rather than whether the home is fit for habitation. Afterall it's not like we'd know how many people are going to live there or what electrical equipment they're going to plug in.

    I guess in our defence, even if we had recorded it as a C3 then the landlord would still have had no obligation to rectify it. 

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  • 0 in reply to broadgage

    I think you're right.

    I forgot to add that the reason this came about was a local authority carrying out an inspection on behalf of the tenants (we carried out an EICR on behalf of the landlords) and insufficient numbers of sockets was recorded on the Hazard Awareness Notice. I guess I should try to justify why we never mentioned it on the EICR. 

    There seems some definite crossover here between the local authority (probably looking at some building reg) and BS7671 (which doesn't seem to mention it all). I think it shold be clear (not helped by the OSG) that as testers we're looking for what is potentially dangerous or not to current regulations, rather than whether the home is fit for habitation. Afterall it's not like we'd know how many people are going to live there or what electrical equipment they're going to plug in.

    I guess in our defence, even if we had recorded it as a C3 then the landlord would still have had no obligation to rectify it. 

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