Wiring Accessories
Approved Document M – Access to and use of buildings
Scolmore Group addresses some of the minimum recommendations detailed within Approved Document M1 and M2 (ADM1 and ADM2) for electrical accessories within premises.
S
chedule 1 Part M of the Building Regulations requires that, amongst other things, reasonable provision is made for people to gain access to and use the building and its facilities. Part M is split into two Parts - M1 and M2. Part M Volume 1 (M1) covers dwellings and Volume 2 (M2) covers buildings other than dwellings.
Dwellings: M1
Reasonable provision should be made for most people, including wheelchair users, to access and use the facilities in a ‘visitable’ new dwelling. To this end, insofar as electrical services are concerned, services and controls should comply with clause 1.18. This clause details where switches, socket- outlets and the like should be installed. Diagram 1.5 (Fig 1) of clause 1.18 sets the range within which services and controls should be installed as between 450mm and 1,200mm. However, the consumer unit should be positioned at a height where the switches are between 1,350mm – 1,450mm above floor level.
Accessories require no special consideration, such as colour, larger switch mechanisms and the like. Where a dwelling is ‘accessible and adaptable’ and a wider range of occupants are likely to access the dwelling, such as the elderly, those with reduced mobility and some wheelchair users, additional thought should be given to clause 2.30 of ADM1.
In addition to the general requirements detailed for visitable new dwellings, switches and socket-
outlets and other controls should be a minimum of 300mm (measured horizontally) from an inside corner. As with visitable new dwellings, there are no special requirements for accessories. Where a dwelling is designed for wheelchair users, there are further considerations to make regarding height, position and the nature of accessories.
Consumer units are to be positioned as for visitable dwellings; however, switches, socket- outlets and controls are to be mounted with their centre line 700mm – 1,000mm above floor level and, to aid access, a minimum of 700mm (measured horizontally) from an inside corner.
Isolators used in kitchens should be installed within the same height range.
Light switches are to have individual plates unless wide rocker or full plate accessories are provided. Where twin socket-outlets are installed, their switches should be on the outside of the accessory. Furthermore, provision should be made for the principal bedroom to have bedhead controls in the future, to include two-way lighting controls, telephone, socket-outlets and the like.
Buildings other than dwellings: M2 For buildings other than dwellings, the same requirements for access to, and provision of, services exist as for dwellings. Clause 4.25 highlights the key factors affecting the use of switches, socket- outlets and the like as, ease of operation, visibility, height and freedom from obstruction.
Colour contrast Fig 1 Visitable new dwelling
Clause 4.28 recognises that, ‘Controls that contrast visually with their surroundings are more convenient for visually impaired people, as are light switches activated by a large push pad’. Adequate visual contrast exists when the light reflectance value (LRV) between two surfaces is greater than 30 points. However, where the illuminance on a surface is greater than 200 lux, a difference in LRV of 20 points is considered reasonable.
28 | electrical wholesalerMay 2024
ewnews.co.uk
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