Sockets under desks

[davesparks]

I’m working on a small office job at the moment and have to install a few twin sockets underneath a couple of desks, the desks are back to back with each other so no wall to fit the sockets to.
I’d just like to know what other people’s opinions on the best way to do this are, I’m not keen on fitting standard surface sockets to the underside of the desks as I think the weight of the plugs could pull them loose over time.
My current thinking is something along the lines of dome lids fixed to the underside of the desk with metal clad sockets bushed onto them so they sit the right way up. The sockets are in groups of four so there will be two twins back to back with another two twins, so I think this should make a fairly solid arrangement.

I’m open to any suggestions on this one.

 

[Pete999]

I’m working on a small office job at the moment and have to install a few twin sockets underneath a couple of desks, the desks are back to back with each other so no wall to fit the sockets to.
I’d just like to know what other people’s opinions on the best way to do this are, I’m not keen on fitting standard surface sockets to the underside of the desks as I think the weight of the plugs could pull them loose over time.
My current thinking is something along the lines of dome lids fixed to the underside of the desk with metal clad sockets bushed onto them so they sit the right way up. The sockets are in groups of four so there will be two twins back to back with another two twins, so I think this should make a fairly solid arrangement.

I’m open to any suggestions on this one.

Floor Box Products - Armorduct Systems - https://www.armorductsystems.co.uk/product-types/floor-boxes/?gclid=CjwKCAiAqvXTBRBuEiwAE54dcEKzDEo9msJ1CBWQyt9EnxhxREG9bcP8IC-Q5AqTU6rV2jGoSGBNYRoCBbQQAvD_BwE

 

[Andy-1960]

Probably not a the cheapest solution, but depends on the client I guess.
Power pole?
Prestige Poles and Posts - https://www.mkelectric.com/en-GB/Products/CM/PD/PrestigePolesandPosts/Pages/default.aspx

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

What about these? you can fix to the desk themselves and use the required flex to connect up to the circuit. Also allows for easy moving of desks in the future by simply plugging into another socket. its basically glorified extension leads but quite common in a lot of open plan offices these days. they also have integrated rcds and rcbos.. you can link the different units together with joining cables.
Under Desk RCD Protected Power units - http://www.officepowerproducts.com/under-desk-rcd-protected-power-units-84-c.asp

 

[Dave OCD]

If the desks have solid backs I'd mount standard surface mounted sockets Dave.

 

[LeeH]

Dado?

 

[davesparks]

What about these? you can fix to the desk themselves and use the required flex to connect up to the circuit. Also allows for easy moving of desks in the future by simply plugging into another socket. its basically glorified extension leads but quite common in a lot of open plan offices these days. they also have integrated rcds and rcbos.. you can link the different units together with joining cables.
Under Desk RCD Protected Power units - http://www.officepowerproducts.com/under-desk-rcd-protected-power-units-84-c.asp

I can’t see how they would fix any differently to fitting surface boxes under the desks.

This office won’t be changing again in a long time.

 

[davesparks]

If the desks have solid backs I'd mount standard surface mounted sockets Dave.

I haven’t seen the desks yet but as far as I know they’ll be fully open underneath. If they do have solid backs then yes I’ll be doing that.

 

[davesparks]

Floor Box Products - Armorduct Systems - https://www.armorductsystems.co.uk/product-types/floor-boxes/?gclid=CjwKCAiAqvXTBRBuEiwAE54dcEKzDEo9msJ1CBWQyt9EnxhxREG9bcP8IC-Q5AqTU6rV2jGoSGBNYRoCBbQQAvD_BwE

I can’t see them being any better fixed to the underside of desks than surface sockets.

The floor is concrete/screed and the carpet isn’t being removed so no chance of putting anything in the floor.

 

[Rosco]

I’d go for dado under each desk, also gives the provision for data points 1M per desk 3 desks to a length plus boxes?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

If the carpet is not being lifted and you can’t sink anything in the floor, how are the desks being supplied?

 

[Dave OCD]

Probably in a lorry or large van.

 

[davesparks]

If the carpet is not being lifted and you can’t sink anything in the floor, how are the desks being supplied?

From the wall, they are being arranged like a peninsula unit in a kitchen, so the ends of two desks are against the wall and the next two are next to them.

This is only a small managers office in a theatre, only 6 desks in the whole room, not a large commercial office.

 

[Dave OCD]

Another option if the desks are backless could be some planed timber 100 x 25mm or similar fixed vertically using angled brackets then fix the sockets to that.

 

[davesparks]

I’d go for dado under each desk, also gives the provision for data points 1M per desk 3 desks to a length plus boxes?

I’m back to the same issue of how to mount it vertically if the desks have no backs below them,

 

[LeeH]

Would they accept the angled dado on the top of the desk? 2 lengths back to back.

Marshall Tufflex - http://www.marshall-tufflex.com/shop/product.php?xProd=499&jssCart=91a556c2dc66541d8c33eb8a5e8b13eb

 

[Leesparkykent]

Most desks in offices get fitted with modesty panel cable tray and power racks. An on desk extension lead is then plugged in to the power rack and passed through the desks cable port. All the computer stuff is plugged in under the desk and the small on desk extension lead is for more personal use like charging phones etc. I think you are overthinking it.

 

[davesparks]

Would they accept the angled dado on the top of the desk? 2 lengths back to back.

Marshall Tufflex - http://www.marshall-tufflex.com/shop/product.php?xProd=499&jssCart=91a556c2dc66541d8c33eb8a5e8b13eb

I’m already fitting pedestal boxes with sockets + usb on top of the desks

 

[davesparks]

Most desks in offices get fitted with modesty panel cable tray and power racks. An on desk extension lead is then plugged in to the power rack and passed through the desks cable port. All the computer stuff is plugged in under the desk and the small on desk extension lead is for more personal use like charging phones etc. I think you are overthinking it.

I didn’t make it clear this isn’t a big commercial office, or normal office desks.
It’s a small office in a theatre, I haven’t seen the actual desks yet but there’s little chance they’ll be standard office desks. In the second office all of the furniture is going to be antiques.

The spec I have been given is for sockets above and below the desks, I’ve got the above covered already with pedestal boxes. It’s just the mounting of sockets below the desks that i’m looking for thoughts on.

As I said earlier if the desks arrive and they have a vertical surface I can fit surface sockets to then that’s what will be happening.

 

[Richard Burns]

I might think of fixing skirting trunking up the inside of one of the rear desk legs and mount sockets sideways up the trunking.
I was thinking screwing it to the underside of the desk but no space the fit large plugs and not a secure fix.
Or even, depending on loading, screwing a multi socket extension to the leg.
perhaps a PDU between front and rear legs, depending on dimensions and number of sockets required.