moos Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Has anyone managed to instal fewer than the required electric sockets during a newbuild and still get past consuel? It seems that you are required by law to have at least 3 sockets in the bedroom, and a oven feed and electric hob feed in the kitchen whether you want them or not. The reasoning seems to be that you may not want them, but the next occupant might. Any suggestions about how to legally have a minimal rather than maximal electrical system?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Any suggestions about how to legally have a minimal rather than maximal electrical system?! There is only one possible answer. By rigidly sticking to the requirements in the book. Even if you could cut corners it really would be spoiling the ship for relatively few Euros. The cost of installing plenty of sockets is as nothing compared to the aggro of having too few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 If the kitchen is very small, for example a kitchenette in a bedsit (one of those things with a sink and 2 electric rings) they will probably ignore the requirement for cooker, hob, washing machine and dishwasher feeds on the basis that there is no room to fit them.I was allowed not to comply with the washing machine and dishwasher circuits as there was no room for them.You will perversely have to comply with the 4 (or could be 5) electrical sockets over the worktop even though they cannot be over the sink or hotplate, again they will accept a sensible solution.Don,t forget that a double socket counts as a single but two singles with a small seperation (you can buy backboxes for this purpose) count as two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Anglia Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 If you put the correct dedicated washer, dishwasher etc feeds in a buanderie, do you STILL have to have feeds for them in the kitchen, too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 That was kind of the situation that I was in but didn't want to complicate the posting.For reasons of space I put the feed for the washing machine in the bathroom, the inspector was quite happy and did not want a feed in the kitchen to satisfy the normes.I found him very pragmatic, and gave me lots of advice for the future.I have several studios to do, they will have small kitchens but bigger than the combined sink cooker ones, I don't intend to put in a feed for a washing machine as there will not be room, the tenants will probably only be occupying the studios during the week and there is a laverie nearby.I am reasonably confident that the inspector I had last time would use his discretion but of course it may be another so for the first studio I will at least pass a cable to be held in reserve.Another requirement that he wasn't bothered with (it is a small flat with open plan kitchen) was to have a telephone point in the kitchen with the obligatory power point beside it as per the normes, as I said I found the inspactor very pragmatic and more keen to find solutions than to find problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 [quote user="J.R."]You will perversely have to comply with the 4 (or could be 5) electrical sockets over the worktop even though they cannot be over the sink or hotplate, again they will accept a sensible solution.[/quote]The minimum requirement for a cuisine is 4 sockets of which 2 must be above the plan de travail. You don't need (minimally) a supply for both a w/m & a d/w (unless you are going to fit both) - just 1 20A specialised circuit (plus a 32A supply for a cooker, plus another 20A supply if you are fitting a seperate oven. These 2 supplies can be terminated in boxes, rather than sockets...)It doesn't get any better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moos Posted February 23, 2007 Author Share Posted February 23, 2007 Thanks for the expertise, everybody. I guess there is a logic in the regs. It's just that they seem a little perverse when on one hand we're being exhorted to moderate our power consumtion, be more economical, and then find obstructions and disincentives. Rainwater saving is a an example: (I realise I'm digressing here, but anyway) : You get crédit sur l'impôt, but only if you have a system installed by a professional . I'm not knocking the water tank professionals, but it discourages you from sinking a (much cheaper) concrete fosse septique and using that to collect your rainwater for garden watering etc. Most rural houses in France have a home-made concrete collection cistern. Plain and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collywobble Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 Moos, I don't know the French logic for the number of sockets, but the USA NEC (National Electric Code) has a very simple reason for one every 12' (I think?).Many house fires start through people using old/frayed/crappy extenstion cords or overloading adapters etc, in rooms that don't have a sufficient number sockets.Makes sense to me.Please don't take the following as condesending, but I have previously done a self build (and many renovations) and thought 'what can we reduce and save money on?' Looking back, trying to saving a few hundred quid here and there by cutting back was a hint that we didn't have enough in reserve for contingencies. We had various over spends and on occasion had to ask trades not to do work till after pay day. It was very stressful and I wouldn't want anyone to go through that.All the best with your project.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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