Scott Seedell said:

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

Why? Doesn't the Regulation relate to adjacency of socket-outlets to equipment and adequate provision for someone to plug in appliances brought into a room?

Perhaps because that reg makes no mention of the total number of socket outlets that Table H7 in the OSG recommends? That reg mentions mobile equipment and the length of flex used. So by the logic of that reg then if there's no mobile equipment likely to be used in the room then there's no requirement to have any sockets at all.

Scott Seedell said:

So by the logic of that reg then if there's no mobile equipment likely to be used in the room then there's no requirement to have any sockets at all.

Quite possibly. That might apply to a bathroom? But not a sitting room, dining room or kitchen, and probably not a bedroom?

Part 2 gives a definition for mobile equipment (electrical equipment which is moved while in operation or which can easily be moved from one place or another while connected to the supply). So for all other equipment (clearly not many appliances will fall into this bracket) - this reg doesn't apply. Crucially though, it mentions nothing about the total numbers of sockets required, which the OSG provides a table for.

Part 2 gives a definition for mobile equipment (electrical equipment which is moved while in operation or which can easily be moved from one place or another while connected to the supply). So for all other equipment (clearly not many appliances will fall into this bracket) - this reg doesn't apply. Crucially though, it mentions nothing about the total numbers of sockets required, which the OSG provides a table for.

Scott Seedell said:

Crucially though, it mentions nothing about the total numbers of sockets required, which the OSG provides a table for.

Why is it crucial for BS 7671 to mandate a minimum provision for socket-outlets?

Scott Seedell said:

(clearly not many appliances will fall into this bracket

I think many mains-powered appliances in homes could well be considered to fall under that definition  ("can easily be moved while connected to the supply") along with many in offices and workplaces?

• Table lamp
• Standard lamp
• Television (unless on a  wall bracket ...  I think all of ours at home are on wall brackets that allow movement, except the freestanding TV downstairs mind. With the movable brackets, I guess it depends on how you interpret "from one place to another" as to whether they come under the definition)
• Wall wart charger/power pack
• mixer
• vacuum cleaner
• coffee grinder
• slow cooker
• iron
• hair dryer/curlers etc.
• steam mop
• carpet shampooer
• air fryer
• mixrowave (except built-in)
• power washer
• dekstop computer
• monitor (see note about bracket above)
• guitar amplifier
• extension lead ("equipment" doesn't have to be "current-using")
• shredder
• printer
• etc.

Hence, the statement on the rooms it's likely to apply in in the previous post?

Can 'easily' be moved whilst connected to the supply - how many people do you know that could easily move a microwave, fridge, washing machine, TV or printer while it's plugged in? Clearly not everything under this bracket falls as 'portable' which I'm surmising is why they changed the definition for it. Clearly many things are designed to be plugged in and left where they are, a socket is still a useful connection for this type of equipment, if it draws less than 13A of course.

Anyway we digress...

gkenyon said:

Why is it crucial for BS 7671 to mandate a minimum provision for socket-outlets?

So we should ignore the table in the OSG because it isn't crucial? As per my original post I'm asking how far we should reasonably be expected to go on an EICR regarding socket outlet numbers. It's a perfectly reasonable question, especially as the OSG has plucked some figures from somewhere and it can't correlate it to any reasonable regulation from BS7671 which mentions minimum numbers of socket outlets. 

Scott Seedell said:

Can 'easily' be moved whilst connected to the supply - how many people do you know that could easily move a microwave, fridge, washing machine, TV or printer while it's plugged in?

I didn't list washing machine or fridge on my list.Those are generally stationary (unless being repaired or moved infrequently for cleaning).

The things that are on my list ... everyone in my house. I accept TV and one or two other things, depends how big in general. Printers aren't all that big. Mine is a business desk one with multiplexer unit, so yes not all that light, but many inkjets and some lasers are very light.

I'm not sure what your point is, or why you believe this Regulation is problematic?

Scott Seedell said:

So we should ignore the table in the OSG because it isn't crucial? As per my original post I'm asking how far we should reasonably be expected to go on an EICR regarding socket outlet numbers.

The OSG is guidance, in this case for designers. I'm not sure how that relates directly to inspection and testing, since older installations might have been installed before we have the plethora of gadgets (e.g. TV and a single general purpose outlet would have been OK even as late as 1970s (and generally, 2 sockets per bedroom and sitting room, one in the hall and landing, and a small number in the kitchen is what many new build semis in the 1970s had).

As to whether it's safe to continue with the original installed numbers is really only dependent on whether there's an apparent safety issue, and is generally a matter for the convenience (or lack of it) for the homeowner. Rented is another question ...