What should be the height of the switch from the floor to the European standard?

While engaged in construction or repair, many homeowners are wondering how correctly and at what height from the floor to install switches or sockets. After all, this largely depends not only on the convenience of their use, but also on the safety of operation.

In order to deal with this issue, we will consider the rules for their placement, which existed in the recent past, and new European standards that came from civilized Europe.

Norms for the installation of electrical assemblies

To date, there are no strict regulations or rules regulating the location and number of outlets and switches. "Eurostandard" is just a convention, because here only convenience in use plus safety technology is of primary importance. The only documents that address this issue are: a summary of the rules for the design of public and residential premises (SP 31-110-2003) and the rules for the installation of electrical installations (EEE), therefore installation of wiring should be based on these recommendations. From the first follow these rules of installation:

• It is desirable that the installation height of the switch from the floor is up to 1 m, and it is located on the side of the door handle.
• Sockets can be placed in any places and at the same distance from the floor.

Extract from the PUE

The PUE discusses some safety rules that must be observed when placing.

• It is recommended to place the switches on the side of the door handle. The height of the switch from the floor is 1 m.
• It is allowed to place them under the ceiling, with the control of the light that turns on the light, which hits the recommended level.
• The distance from the switch and outlet to gas pipes and heating, as well as batteries - a minimum of 0.5 m.
• In the kitchen, each power point should be at least 0.5 m from the gas pipeline, at least 0.8 m before washing, and high enough from the floor.
• Electric units in bathrooms can be installed from sanitary equipment and floor at a distance of 0.6 m.

Installation in a residential building electrical nodes

There are 2 ways to locate switches and sockets in apartments and houses. These are old, many familiar Soviet standards, and so-called European standards. Let's consider each of them in detail.

Old Traditions

In the Soviet era, in living quarters, it was decided to install switches at the shoulder level of a person or under the ceiling. Sockets in the wall were installed on the basis of convenience and safety. As a rule, they were mounted at a distance from the floor of approximately 90-100 cm.

Ceiling switches worked as follows. To control the light, a cord was attached to the spring-loaded mechanical lever hidden inside the housing. At its first tension, the light caught fire, and at the other - the gas.

The height of the switch from the floor was 160-180 cm. This distance at that time was considered the most suitable and optimal for controlling light. And today, especially for the elderly, this is the most convenient option. The switch will not block low furniture, for example, thumbs, and it will be located at eye level. Besides, little children will not reach him. Many are accustomed to this arrangement of switching devices and consider it to be the norm.

The specified height of outlets and switches from the floor has its advantages and disadvantages:

• Plus - it is convenient to use the socket, since you do not need to bend over it, and the switch does not interfere with the placement of furniture and is at eye level;
• Minus - the power cords hang from the devices, and to turn on the light you need to raise your hand.

Eurostandard

The height of the switch from the floor to the European standard is 90 cm, the sockets are 30 cm. However, as such, standardization has never really existed, and in our life this concept came along with the concept of European-quality repair, replacing the "Soviet standard". Of course, he has his own advantages and disadvantages:

• Plus - the sockets are not "conspicuous" and do not interfere with anything, and the switches are located at the level of the lowered hand - they can be turned on without any effort, and even without looking. The height of the switch from the floor is 90 cm.
• Minus - in order to insert a plug into the socket, it will be necessary to tilt, and the switch should not be obstructed by anything.

Recommendations for the arrangement of switches and sockets

The height of the sockets and switches according to the "Soviet" standards, in terms of convenience, is widely recognized by many as doubtful. The notorious European standard was given much more preferences today. And there are many reasons for this. For example, a block of outlets is not so conspicuous as a lot of sockets with cords and "tees". The height of the switch from the floor of 90 cm (at the level of the lowered human hand) is also very convenient, since it can be quickly found even in the dark.

Sockets and switches that do not have protection against leakage current "on the ground" (Difavatus, RCD), installed in bathrooms and toilets is highly discouraged. The same applies to the outlet for the washing machine.

How do I perform the installation?

Before proceeding with the direct installation of the switch or socket, the contour must be circled on the wall. In concrete, the hole is made with a perforator with a diamond bit. The receptacle may be square or round. In the prepared holes insert special installation boxes. To fix them, use a building plaster, plaster or gypsum glue. The box is attached with the help of sliding paws or screws, then a plastic case is put on it.

Installation in a wall of plasterboard is somewhat different, and the toolkit is different. All the holes in the plasterboard sheets, where the cable will be made, are made in advance. To fix the switches and sockets use special paws. They will keep them on the sheet.

Open wiring is extremely rare and, as a rule, fixed temporarily (for example, during repairs), because the wires spoil the interior. Agree, look at the wall, where everything is aesthetically pleasing and neat, much more pleasant.

Some recommendations for installation

If the wiring and connection of the socket and the switch are to be carried out independently without involving a specialist, the above recommendations and certain rules should be adhered to, which will allow all work to be carried out without any problems and, most importantly, safely.

• First of all, it is necessary to decide on the placement of electrical appliances and furniture in the room. To do this, it is recommended to draw up a scheme, and preferably at such a scale that it is possible to note all the equipment that requires connection to electricity, as well as furniture.
• Then, designate the location of the switches and sockets, calculate the required number for each room.
• Sockets for equipment (computer, refrigerator, etc.) should be better positioned so that they always have free access, but at the same time they were hidden behind these electrical appliances.
• Sockets over the bedside tables, writing desk, chest of drawers, etc., are best placed at a height of 15-20 cm from the furniture.
• Do not install switches or sockets above or below the sink.
• The wiring diagram should be selected in such a way as to avoid overloading in the network.

Summarize

So, there are no clear standards regarding the height of outlets and switches from the floor (euro or Soviet standards). But there are many recommendations that need to be followed, primarily for security reasons.