Internal services

8.1

Also See:

BRE report 'Thermal insulation: avoiding risks'

8.1.7Electrical services and installations

Electrical installations shall be provided in accordance with relevant regulations, codes and standards. The installation shall ensure safe and satisfactory operation and be protected from chemical attack.

Electrical services and installations should:

comply with BS 7671 ‘Requirements for electrical installations’

comply with BS 6004 ‘Electric cables. PVC insulated and PVC sheathed cables for voltages up to and including 300/500 V, for electric power and lighting’.

have fittings and components located in accordance with relevant building regulations

be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations

ensure cables are not placed under, against or within thermal insulation, unless they have been appropriately sized and derated

ensure PVC covered cables are not in contact with polystyrene insulation.

Rooms should be provided with the minimum number of 13A outlets listed in Table 6 (dual outlets count as two).

Table 6: Minimum number of outlets

Room	Outlets	Notes
Kitchen/utility	8	Where homes have separate areas, the kitchen should have a minimum of four outlets and the utility room four. Where appliances are provided, a minimum of three outlets should be free for general use.
Living or family room	8	A minimum of two outlets near the TV aerial outlet.
Bedrooms	6 (4)	A minimum of six outlets for the main bedroom and a minimum of four outlets for other bedrooms.
Dining room	4
Landing	2
Hall	2

Cables without special protection, such as an earthed metal conduit, should be positioned:

vertically or horizontally from the outlet or switch being served

within the shaded zone in the diagram, or

a minimum of 50mm from the surface of a wall, or a minimum of 50mm from the top or bottom of a timber joist, or batten in a floor or ceiling.

Where the position of switches or sockets can be determined from the reverse side of the wall or partition, the zone on one side of the wall or partition applies to the reverse side.

Lighting outlets

Lighting outlets should be provided:

in each room, hall, landing and staircases

with two-way switching at each floor level in a staircase

in the common areas of homes and controlled by either manual switching or automatic light-sensitive controls.

Cooking spaces

Cooking spaces should:

have a minimum 30A supply which is suitably switched and terminated

have a 13A socket outlet where there is a gas supply

where provided, have cooker panels located to the side of the cooker space.

Electrical supply to gas appliances

Where a gas appliance requires an electrical supply, a suitable fixed spur or socket outlet should be provided.

Aerials are not required; however, one of the following should be provided:

a concealed, coaxial cable from the roof void to a terminal outlet in the main living room

a conduit and draw wire or suitable alternative.