Socket near sink, to blank or not to blank!

[steve-ef]

I've got a socket which is a bit too close to the sink, its above the drainer and it sits closer than the 300mm mentioned on other threads on this forum (long time lurker first time poster!).

What's the best way to remedy this, is a blanking plate considered an appropriate fix?
The area is tiled so I'd rather not have to re-tile it all (as I don't have tiles to match the current ones)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cid]

I don't think you need to do anything.

 

[Top Cat]

Blanking is fine, just don't use chock block connectors get some 32 Amp maintenance free connectors.

 

[steve-ef]

I don't think you need to do anything.

local council says different!
they've inspected the property and said its unsafe there and needs to be moved.

 

[westward10]

Can you show a pic of it.

 

[steve-ef]

Can you show a pic of it.

not a great pic but you can see sink and plug!

 

[westward10]

I wouldn't say it is unsafe. Not ideal and prone to water splashes but not a huge issue. How are the council involved is it a council property.

 

[Spoon]

Remove all 'Safety Socket Covers' from every socket. Check to see that they haven't damaged the sockets.
Lots of organisations have banned these, as they can be dangerous.

 

[Midwest]

What is the measurement horizontally, from edge of socket to edge of sink. Note I said sink (or middle bowl), not draining board.

 

[steve-ef]

I wouldn't say it is unsafe. Not ideal and prone to water splashes but not a huge issue. How are the council involved is it a council property.

its a rental, tennant complained about something else and council have gone through the house with a fine tooth comb!
We are going through the list of stuff to do and this is on it!

 

[steve-ef]

Remove all 'Safety Socket Covers' from every socket. Check to see that they haven't damaged the sockets.
Lots of organisations have banned these, as they can be dangerous.

I didn't know that, what damage does it cause?
what should I look for?

 

[westward10]

I personally don't believe it is unsafe.

 

[Spoon]

I didn't know that, what damage does it cause?
what should I look for?

There is a thread on here somewhere.

NHS issues safety alert on socket covers requiring removal from NHS premises! - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/nhs-issues-safety-alert-on-socket-covers-requiring-removal-from-nhs-premises.111253/

More organisations have followed suit, like OFSTED...

 

[Midwest]

Have you a yellow blue (equivalent of) Electricians guide to Building Regs? Believe there's some guidance in there, with some pretty pics (as some will say), including measurements, to which I've alluded to.

 

[steve-ef]

Hi All,
Just wanted to say thank you for the responses and sharing your knowledge and thoughts, you've helped put my mind at rest!

 

[Charlie_]

Due to the height of the socket I think it is totally fine up there looking down at everyone.. as long as it isn’t exceeding the maximum installation altitude of 2000m

 

[Midwest]

Thats not funny. This is a serious query.

 

[Charlie_]

I’m being very serious - don’t exceed the maximum installation altitude of 2000m

 

[magnoliafan89]

I had a simular situation with work. Normally i blank them off as they class them as c2. But the one property i was asked by my boss is there many sockets in the kitchen...no?...well then just class this one as a c3...
All depends if the user wants to be stupid and poke their wet finger in

 

[Silly Sausage]

its a rental, tennant complained about something else and council have gone through the house with a fine tooth comb!
We are going through the list of stuff to do and this is on it!

Councils complain that they're short of funding, they could save themselves a shed load by losing jobworths like that.

 

[michaelw6]

Think you may get away with it but id rather stay on the edge of better to be safe than sorry. Blank it, with some maintenance free connectors.
Nobody can plug something in to it, drop it in the sink and you would have to prove why you left it while being dragged through courts.
Ive had issues with tennants before they always seem to win. especialy when it comes to safety, when you could of made it safer! (with the council getting involved...umm...)

 

[Risteard]

Due to the height of the socket I think it is totally fine up there looking down at everyone.. as long as it isn’t exceeding the maximum installation altitude of 2000m

It's probably best to keep socket-outlets below 6,500 feet alright.

 

[Spoon]

It's probably best to keep socket-outlets below 6,500 feet alright.

Is that cause of the volt drop????

 

[Risteard]

Is that cause of the volt drop????

There's that, but accessibility may also be an issue.

 

[FatAlan]

Annoy the tenant and put a smaller sink and drainer in without that small bowl. Reckon there's 300mm between the socket and the main bowl.

 

[Bobster]

It's probably best to keep socket-outlets below 6,500 feet alright.

Funny you should mention this. I've had to redesign what VSDs I am using on a job in Albuquerque as the city is around 6000ft above sea level. (Higher than Ben Nevis anyway)

Many manufactures have de rating factors on components once you get over around 2000ft above sea level.

Not that this is ever really applicable in the UK.

 

[rolyberkin]

I have a toaster from a major manufacturer which has a lead on it of 90cm. So if the socket was over 300mm away from the sink say 400mm, would this make it any safer? #justsaying!

 

[Charlie_]

I don’t think that measurement is there to prevent stuff being chucked in the sink but to prevent the accessory from being excessively splashed with water

 

[stevethesparks]

Oldish thread I know.
Going by the electricians guide to the building regs - what with the adjacent hob, you're never going to get a socket on that wall.
I generally stick to the 300mm guidance for hobs and sinks, but in this instance as per the image, there's not a lot else could be done. A kitchen needs to be functional and practical.

 

[bill01803]

From the guide

 

[telectrix]

blank it or turn sink through 90 degrees so it's under window. benefit of more worktop space FOC,

 

[Intoelectrics]

From the guide
View attachment 52980

My issue with this is that the guides states that no socket shall be installed above an electric or gas hob yet there is no mention of above a sink. Obviously no one designing an install would put a socket above either but what if a socket was over 300mm above the sink. Technically it would then be 300mm away from the sink edge. I realise the diagram show adjacent to, but I'm just imagining the scenario being played out in a court of law with some fancy lawyer picking up on the lack of defined detail.

 

[Zerax]

A mate of mine with a rental property had a tenant who called him out 3 times because the lamp in out outside light failed. On the first two occasions he explained that lamp breakage was the tenants responsibility... on the the 3rd occasion he just took the light off. No more call outs.

 

[Jurassic Sparks]

Through crimp the cables, tape them over and fit a 2G blank plate
simples

 

[Lister1987]

Remove all 'Safety Socket Covers' from every socket. Check to see that they haven't damaged the sockets.
Lots of organisations have banned these, as they can be dangerous.

There is a thread on here somewhere.

NHS issues safety alert on socket covers requiring removal from NHS premises! - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/nhs-issues-safety-alert-on-socket-covers-requiring-removal-from-nhs-premises.111253/

More organisations have followed suit, like OFSTED...

I honestly don't get why these aren't just banned outright, complete legislative ban i.e. criminal to supply or use. They're a PITFA, I get the argument for them but the sockets should be intrinsically safe as per standard.