[Anonymous]

Hiya,

Our builder has just told us that his electrician has told him that by law we have to have a minimum number of sockets in each room…I think he might have said 5 but I wasn´t really listening at that point as I was so bemused by the concept!! Anyone know anything about this or is it just Asturias?

On a slightly related note – does anyone know of anyone who could make us a custom made light fitting? We have a very tall thin gap going down the centre of our stairwell that we would quite like to fit a 3 layered light to but can´t find anything ready made, it would involved lights at 3,5 and 6 metre drops.

I often feel I need another catgory in the forum of “Brought a house, just settling here, now have 100s of questions..please help!” so apologises yet again to those who think this is not what the site is about. (Mark can we have a new area 😀 ?)

Thanks

Heather

[Anonymous]

Here you are Heather, as requested.

I’m not sure about the 5-socket rule. Sounds very unlikely.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Heather,

I’ve called the ‘expert’ (you know who) he will check first thing tomorrow…

I’ve heard the same thing in a trial I am dealing with just now (among other things someone is complaining his house has less sockets than required) but we think it’s not 5 but 3 and not in every room… just in those with TV and in the kitchen… anyway tomorrow will have the right answer

Cesar

[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks Mark…now I feel important!

Cesar, thanks..but please don´t goto too much trouble about the sockets (I´m not about to start a law suite!), I was just very bemused that such a law exists!

Does the “expert” know if there is anywhere on the internet that you can find the Spanish building regs? They would make interesting reading for everyone, those buying a new build and those of us renovating properties.

Thanks again

Heather

[Anonymous]

Heather,

That’s just my specialty as a construction and plannig lawyer…

I’m afraid there are thousands of building regulations some of them very technical and directed to professionals…

Main one is the LOE or ‘Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación’ (something like The General Building Act) you may find it (Obviously in Spanish) here. http://civil.udg.es/normacivil/estatal/contract/loedif.htm

But if you want to study and investigate (it’s hard I warn you), every ‘Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos’ would have an almost complete listing of these regulations (you have to bear in mind that as any other legal-technical subject this changes everyday)

In the Asturian Colegio you can find it here: http://www.coaa.es/arquitectos/apartados/apartado.asp?te=89

Just download the files and you’ll get the different lists with the BOE reference (the official bulletin where laws and regulations are published) that can be consulted freely here http://www.boe.es

Cesar

[Anonymous]

Not a trouble at all as I needed the data it for a Plaintiff I’m dealing with:

Regulation BT-25 Reglamento Tecnoeléctrico RD 842/2002:

Private homes:

Every room needs at least 1 light source with a switch if smaller than 10 square meters, 2 if more than 10 meters
1 socket every 6 square meters with a minimum of 3 (not 5)

In any case, electric heating or air conditioning devices must have his own extra socket

Cesar

[Anonymous]

Thanks Cesar,

My husband is now wandering around deciding which rooms are over 10 m2 and asking how/where we can/would put 2 lights in the kitchen!

But enough of light switches!

Have a good weekend,
Heather

[Anonymous]

Do the regulations apply to old properties if so is there a time limit to correct any shortages when purchasing a property

[Anonymous]

I have no idea about the legal side of things, but to reassure you, our house is 200 yrs old and had exactly 3 “sockets” in the whole house when we brought it! This is giving the widest possible meaning to the word sockets as they were on long cables and dangled in mid air!

No doubt Cesar would correct me but common sense says that new laws should only apply to new building work..

Personally, I’d want my house rewired if its that old anyway..

Heather

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that heatherpsk thats one thing less to worry about with an older property although I am not brave enough to take on a 200 year old propertyand yes I have seen these suspended sockets quite a few times also sewage that goes nowhere and that was in a fairly modern home anyway folks keep up the good helping hands as I only have 4 months to go for my new life in Spain and need all the help I can get. regards Howard

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I’ve been trying to find a relevant thread and this came nearest! We have recently completed on an apartment and are concerned about the position of wiring for wall lights. In one room the wires are just 10cm from a window frame and in another the distance is 20cm. Apart from the fact that this is going to look a little bizarre when the wall lights are fitted – does anyone out there know if there are building regulations which stipulate minimum distances for wiring etc.?
Any help would be much appreciate – thanks
sammy

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I’ve been trying to find a relevant thread and this came nearest! We have recently completed on an apartment and are concerned about the position of wiring for wall lights. In one room the wires are just 10cm from a window frame and in another the distance is 20cm. Apart from the fact that this is going to look a little bizarre when the wall lights are fitted – does anyone out there know if there are building regulations which stipulate minimum distances for wiring etc.?
Any help would be much appreciate – thanks
sammy

[Author]

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