Do double insulated light switches & sockets exist & do I need them?

Do double insulated light switches & sockets exist & do I need them?

One double insulated lighting question that we are asked time and time again is where can I get double insulated sockets & switches from. Our customers will often come to us for class 2 lights that don’t require an earth and the choice of double insulated light is now very good, but it stands to reason that if they don’t have an earth connection in their lighting circuit then they probably wouldn’t have an earth in their ring main circuit. Logic says that if you need a specially designed light fitting to protect you from electrical danger, if you don’t have an earth, then you would probably need a special designed light switch as well. Unfortunately it isn’t quite as simple as that.

Metal sockets are very desirable in modern homes but what if you dont have an earth connection?

First for the bad news! You wont find class 2 double insulated sockets or switches anywhere. They simply don’t exist. We have sold double insulated lighting for over 20 years and we have never ever come across a single manufacturer who makes any. Now for the good news! The reason there isn’t a single manufacturer who makes class 2 sockets & switches is because officially there isn’t a need for them. Electricians are guided by the latest edition of the electrical reg’s. These regulations spell out exactly what they need to do to be safe and official. The latest reg’s (and all the previous editions) spell out that in instances where a lighting circuit doesn’t have an earth, a class 2 double insulated light must be used. None of the previous editions however ever mention about the requirement for a class 2 double insulated socket or light switch, should an earth not be present. Those electricians who closely study the reg’s will be aware of this. Why would a manufacturer spend considerable time & money developing a new type of product if there is no legal requirement to fit one?

Current electrical reg's guide electricians but there is never mention of double insulated sockets & switches

Back to the bad news! Just because there isn’t a legal requirement for a class 2 double insulated light switch or socket, doesn’t mean one would be a good idea. After all class 2 lights are designed to protect the interior wiring from touching the lights metalwork should a wire come loose. If a wire comes loose behind a metal socket and touches the metalwork then the switch would become live! Probably so would the metal back box that the socket is screwed in to. We hear that some people are advised to fit plastic sockets and switches, which is a pain when you're desperate for those chrome sockets you had wanted to finish your kitchen off! Trouble is those plastic switches are still held in to place with metal screws which protrude to the front of the plastic plate and are just as likely to become live as well.

In all the years we have provided double insulated lights to customers we have never come across a situation where a person has been hurt by a socket where it has become live from a fault. We also know that there are plenty of people out there without an earth happily using metal sockets & switches as well as light fititngs. That doesn’t mean however that an accident cant happen at some point and that we would condone such an approach. With a lack of official guidance and a suitable product available on the market maybe the best advice would be to employ a knowlegable trustworthy electrician and follow their guidance and opinion on the subject. If metal switches and sockets are used at least they will fit them properly and securely for you. Failing that if you are doing the job yourself (swapping like for like) at least ensure that you properly tighten the wires in to the socket to ensure no issues will occur in the future.

For more advice or to view a complete range of double insulated lights visit the Lightahome website or give us a call on 024 7671 7043.