Mounting height of switches

Old standard and new fashion trends.
Equipping a new house, or changing the wiring in an old apartment, the owners ask themselves: “At what height should sockets and switches be?” The older generation may prefer the old-fashioned location of the switches, at shoulder level, and the height of the outlets is not lower than the level of the belt.

Young people, who are subject to the trends of fashionable concepts, will be guided by the European standard when solving this issue. It is worth mentioning right away that the so-called "European standard" does not exist in the official rules governing the connection and location of these electrical devices indoors, there are only a few restrictions on their placement, regarding fire and electrical safety.

PUE requirements (rules for electrical installations)

According to clause 7.1.48 of these rules and GOST R 50571.11, it is allowed in bathrooms if there is an isolation transformer or a residual current device (RCD) with a current setting of not more than 30mA.

Zones of different electrical safety

At the same time, there is a division of the bathroom into electrical safety zones with respect to the source of splashing (shower, bath, washbasin). Socket outlets with a protective cover may only be installed in the third zone, which is at least 60 cm away from the source of splashes.

location of electrical outlets and other network elements

For the kitchen, the same rules apply (no closer than 60 cm to the washbasin), and paragraph 7.1.50 applies, which requires that the location of switches and sockets be no closer than 0.5 m to the gas pipeline.

location of sockets in the kitchen

Own standard

Since there are no other rules, you need to install sockets and switches in your house or apartment in accordance with the restrictions described above, but according to your own “European standard”.

In this context, this word means only the concept of their installation with maximum convenience, comfort, ergonomics and safety for the user, and it is these criteria, and not a fixed height, that defines the so-called "European standard".

For example, builders in the post-Soviet space believe that, according to this standard, sockets must be installed at a height of 30 cm from the floor almost without fail. But, in fact, this is not the case - the height and location of the outlet is determined separately, depending on the intended type of connected electrical appliances.

Location of sockets in the bedroom

For example, in the kitchen it is absolutely illogical to hide sockets under the table, where it would be more convenient to install them at a certain height above the countertop. To connect floor lighting systems, the location of the outlet is as close as possible to the floor, but not closer than 10 cm.

In each case, when choosing a height, one should be guided not by generally accepted dimensions, but by optimal functionality.

Ease of use

So, having dealt with the social paradigm of the word "European standard", we accept that the installation height of sockets should contribute to the convenience of their use and correspond to the length of the power cord for each specific consumer of electrical energy.

That is, for frequent connection of the vacuum cleaner, it will be convenient to locate the outlet near the floor. To work with an iron, the length of its cord is of fundamental importance, so it is better that it is connected at the level of the ironing board. And the location of the outlet under the ceiling may be the only way to connect an air conditioner or fan without using extension cords.

Location of various electrical elements in the corridor

Location Options Selection Criteria

Thus, taking into account the fact that the PUE rules do not impose any additional requirements and restrictions on the placement of sockets and switches in the living rooms of apartments and houses, the height and installation location of each device should be calculated from:

• Location of furniture - there should always be free access to switches and sockets;
• Furniture designs - lately, hidden installation of sockets is gaining more and more popularity. In this case, you need to know the necessary dimensions to the millimeter so that the slot in the back wall of the cabinet or kitchen set exactly matches the position of the outlet on the wall;
• The presence and location of household appliances and all equipment - you should always avoid the use of extension cords and tees, installing the required number of outlets.

If it is impossible to determine in advance the quantity and nature, one is installed on each wall, or every 1.8 m at a height of 20-40 cm.

Approximate location of sockets and switch

Mounting height of switches

According to the recommendation of the PUE, clause 7.1.51, the switches are installed on the wall no closer than 10 cm to the doorway from the side of the door lock at a height of about a meter. It is also allowed to install switches under the ceiling that are controlled by a cord.

This height of 100 cm is comfortable for all family members. But in the premises of children's institutions (schools, kindergartens, nurseries), the installation height should be 180cm. To turn on the lighting on the balcony, in the toilet or bathroom, the switch must be located outside these rooms.

If someone likes the old Soviet standard, then the regulations do not prohibit installing a switch at eye level.

Outcome

Thus, following the above rules, you can calculate the number, location and height of sockets and switches based on the needs and considerations of your own comfort. Ergonomics and accessibility are a good sign of safety - the ability to quickly pull out the power cord can save it from fire, and the electrical appliance itself from breakage.