Historically, from the start of UK homes being installed with electricity up until the 1950’s, each room typically had only one or two socket outlets. Even well into the early 1990’s, many homes had only a couple of twin sockets at best. And the image below is more and more commonplace as our modern day demands are putting stress on our existing electrical installations.
The main reason for this kind of activity is that we have far more household appliances than ever before. We’ve had fridges, washing machines and tumble driers for decades, and possibly a TV or 2. Now there are TV’s in every room, satellite boxes, games consoles, mobile phone chargers. In my own office I have over 25 things plugged in!!! Luckily when I refurbished the house 15 years ago, I took the step of installing a dedicated ring to the office and dado trunking. I dread to think what those people who see it fit to decorate their houses with 50,000,0000 Christmas lights bodge together every year. Not to mention running flexes under the carpet and then walking all over them, the problem is on the increase.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out then, that trouble can quickly arise in terms of safety and in particular fire risk. In a 5 year period, there were approximately 13,500 fires in homes that were attributed to an electrical source of ignition, with approximately 30 deaths per year attributed to electrical causes.
Since 1st January 2005, electrical installation work carried out in homes in England and Wales have become subject to the revised Part P of the Building Regulations. This requires - among many other things - that: 'Reasonable provision shall be made in the design, installation and testing of electrical installations in order to protect persons from fire or injury'. It also requires that: 'Sufficient information shall be provided so that persons wishing to operate, maintain or alter an electrical installation can do so with reasonable safety'.
Electrical contractors and installers should know that these requirements apply to ALL electrical installation work carried out in such dwelling, and that failure to comply is a criminal offence.
In England and Wales, there is a recommended minimum number for what would normally be considered adequate provision of socket outlets in the home. It should be noted that in Scotland, the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 place statutory requirements for the provision of socket outlets. These requirements will be exceeded in practice, but it is important to recognise that they represent the legal minimum in Scotland.
I can safely say, that is a frequently forgotten item in a periodic inspection report, as to the ‘adequacy of suitable accessories’. The attitude I have encountered from inspection engineers is, “There isn’t an item in the Schedules of Inspection for it, so why should I bother?” The new EICR has also seen this very modern day relevant inspection omitted from the Schedules of Inspection. Watch this space…..