Please help. Sockets on wooden skirting.

[Kev3440]

Hi. I'm a currently selling my home, a Victorian Terrace house from the early 1900's.

The buyers have just had a survey completed which has highlighted a plug socket mounted on wooden skirting as a fire hazard.

We have been living here since 2013 and have had no issues, this was installed before our purchase of the house. I am keen to understand the regs and my options.

It is a double socket mounted on a plastic back box. It is not so close to the floor that the flex from a plug is severely bent.

I would be really grateful for some advice. I believe it's only because this is a '3' on the homebuyers survey. Can someone tell me when the regs came in and if they relate to installations prior.

Thanks all.

 

[Leesparkykent]

It's not a C3 as there is no regulation preventing sockets being installed as such.

 

[ruston]

Did he put a regulation number in the report?
Many sockets even to the current regs are fitted in kitchen units . Many houses have sockets mounted on combustable surfaces.
In my opinion they have been over zealous.

 

[telectrix]

it could be regarded as a C3 as "improvement recommended", but giving it any code is a bit OTT. as long as the flex is not bent to the point of potential damage, nowt wrong with it. you could ask the surveyor to quote a BS7671 regulation that warrants a code. bet he can't.

 

[LankyWill]

Sounds like the eicr bloke was being pedantic, ask for clarification on the issue and see what crap they come out with.

 

[Kev3440]

Thanks. When I referred to a '3' I meant on the homebuyers survey. What part of the current regs relate to sockets?? The survey says they are a fire risk? Does the fact that they are mounted on a plastic back box help or reduce the risk??

 

[Kev3440]

It was the surveyor and not anyone qualified in electrical installation.

 

[telectrix]

it's not a fire risk any more than a consumer unit mounted on a wood board. surveyor is an arse.

 

[ruston]

You need to challenge it and get clarity and regulation numbers to back it up .
He will in all likelihood have no electrical training.

 

[westward10]

Any electrical system poses a fire risk.

 

[ruston]

it's not a fire risk any more than a consumer unit mounted on a wood board. surveyor is an arse.

Or in a log cabin ...

 

[Kev3440]

Thanks guys for your help so far. Can anyone point me in the direction of the current regs??

 

[ruston]

It is him that needs to prove that it is wrong , it is his report.

 

[Octopus]

ONLY a Electrical Installation Condition Report can accurately comment on such matters - did they have one?

If its been highlighted by a "general" surveyor I would be very surprised.

 

[Kev3440]

The buyers are querying it and want it rectified.....?

 

[Octopus]

Can you ask your buyers for a copy of the report or at best which BS 7671 regulation it refers to?

 

[westward10]

Where are you based someone on here may provide a professional second opinion.

 

[Kev3440]

Norwich

 

[Flanders]

I would ask your solicitors to question tbe report and ask for some documentation to back up his finding , a c3 for an electrical report meens that an improvement can be made but the installation is in a satisfactory condition , i have no clue what a 3 meens in his report , but as others have said there is no electrical regulation that says that you can not mount a socket on a wooden skirting .

 

[Ian1981]

I guess mounting an electric meter and cut out in a meter cabinet is also a fire hazard