Whether it is a brand new building or a refurbishment, it‘s important to plan the electrical installations to the individual habits and requirements of the respective occupants. Asking some simple questions at the beginning avoids any overloading of circuits with multiple high-performance electrical appliances, or an increased use of connector strips.
Things to think about
Here are a few things to think about to allow architects, builders or electrical contractors to plan and implement the correct electrical infrastructure:
- In which room do I use which electrical appliances?
- Where should light sources be installed (both fixed and via sockets)?
- Where are the TV, computer or telephone connections required?
- Where should switches or control modules be installed for Smart Home functionalities?
- Where are mobile devices usually charged and should special sockets with USB ports be installed?
- How do I want to control the outdoor lighting?
You can then decide:
- The number of circuits
- The number of sockets
- The number of lamp connections
- The number of TV and communication connections
- Preparation of electrical installations for Smart Home functions, such as multi-room audio systems, electric roller shutter control, alarm system
Use a ground plan to effectively plan electrical installations
The planning is carried out on the basis of a construction plan or floor plan of the house or apartment that is as accurate as possible – either in the original or on the computer with corresponding group plan software.
Pay particular attention to doors and their opening direction, windows and stairs, and steps and fireplaces.
It is also ideal to place the most important furnishings in the floor plan as they will be placed in the rooms. Once all this information has been obtained, the respective connections in the rooms can be drawn in as required.
Planning your kitchen
The first room that is planned is usually the kitchen, due to the long delivery times for many of its features.
Cooking islands, for example with an open plan kitchen adjacent to the living room, place very specific requirements on lighting planning, and connections for ovens, microwave, extractor fans or freezer and refrigerator. Electrical planning is often carried out in a dimensioned plan when ordering a new kitchen, in order to ensure the correct implementation.
Remember to consider your numerous other electric kitchen utensils, such as toasters, coffee machines, steamers, blenders etc. Depending on the size of the kitchen, 6 to 15 sockets can easily be installed.
You may also want to take a telephone connection or, for example, a flush-mounted radio, into account in the electrical plan of the kitchen.
Planning bedrooms and children’s rooms
In the bedroom, the first thing to consider is the lighting around the bed. If you want to save space, you can also design luminaires as wall lights.
You’ll also be likely to need further sockets next to and around the bed, such as for a telephone or charging cable.
Planning is particularly important for children’s rooms: children grow up fast, and you need to think about their needs as they grow older as well as right now.
For babies, for example, a heat lamp might be required, whereas when the little ones start school they may need a desk with appropriate connections for a desk lamp and computer.
And for teenagers, a telephone and internet connection, hi-fi system and television will need their place in the room.
Living room planning
In the living room, particular attention needs paying to electrical installations. Be flexible and generous with sockets, firstly factoring in electrical connections for TV and telephone.
If you know where your devices are to be placed, you can also plan for loudspeaker, Internet and antenna connections, avoiding loosely laid cables further down the line.
Bathroom planning
Bathrooms are increasingly becoming areas for rest, relaxation and wellness, as well as a practicality; therefore, the requirements for electrical installations have also changed.
Before, you only had to plan the ceiling lamp and sockets for shavers and hair dryers.
Today there are a lot of appliances in the bathroom to be considered in the electrical installation as well as the number and arrangement of sockets: electric toothbrushes, steam dryers, shower radios, jacuzzis or heated toilet seats.
Importantly, due to the high humidity in bathrooms, special installation regulations exist, so be sure to check this while planning.
Smart Home functionalities
Many features, such as electric blinds, control of individual lights and dimmers, motion detectors with cameras, multi-room audio systems, door-to-door communications, heating control or even kitchen appliances, can often be centrally managed from the smartphone via Smart Home systems (such as Homematic IP).
Systems like this have the advantage that they can be installed not only hardwired in houses and flats, but can also be flexibly integrated as an intermediate plug solution and taken with you during a house move.
It is important for all Smart Home installations to be intuitive and easy to use, both from your smartphone and on the individual switching components.
It is also an advantage if it is an open and therefore expandable system; who knows which electrical functionalities will come into our homes in the coming years?
Photo credits: Fotolia Marcus Hofmann
