Revolutionising installation practice

By Frank Sayers, Product Line Team Leader – wiring accessories for Eaton  

One of the most significant developments in wiring accessories in recent years is the introduction of devices with clip-on cover plates. The aesthetic benefit of accessories with no visible fixing screws is a major selling-point, but the approach has many more practical advantages for wholesalers, contractors, developers and end-users.

The essential approach is quite simple – the interior of the wiring accessory, comprising a bare moulding with all the working elements, switches, sockets etc, is installed in a wall box like any other accessory using the normal fixing screws. A separate cover plate is then clipped into place to provide the visible face of the accessory. A variety of interchangeable plates, in different styles and finishes is available.

Cover plates may be plastic or metal. The plastic plates are cost effective and available in popular decorative colours and finishes (white, grey, metallic blue, metallic silver, metallic gold and black in Eaton’s COPA range) while the metal plates are offered in the finishes popular with many conventional metal plate accessories (stainless steel, highly polished, polished brass and satin bronze). The interiors can be white or black.

While the basic approach is to offer the products as modular systems, with cover plates and interiors sold separately, a manufacturer may offer its most popular styles as composite units. Eaton offers a white moulded accessory, comprising white interior and a white cover plate, with a single catalogue number.

This effectively results in three basic accessory ranges, each covering the complete spectrum of products including switches, socket-outlets and other power accessories, communications outlets etc:
• White interiors
• Black interiors
• Composite units (white plate and white interior)

Customer benefits
Clip-on plates satisfy the demand for concealed fixings. They also offer a wider choice of colours and finishes. Provided the wholesaler stocks a complete range of accessory interiors, the customer is less likely to be faced with the situation that one vital accessory in a range is out of stock. Furthermore, as fashions change, the manufacturer can respond more rapidly with new finishes to satisfy the latest trend.

Architects, interior designers and developers can benefit from greater flexibility. Residential and commercial developments can go ahead and the interiors can be installed. End-users can be offered a choice of finish at a later stage and this can be a particular advantage in the housing market where a developer can offer a choice of accessory styles within a development.

The end-user also benefits from the ability to carry out interior decoration work safely. Cover plates can be removed for decoration, without releasing the accessory from the wall. Painting can be carried out right up to the base moulding and if a different finish is required, the plate can be replaced without the cost and labour of fitting a completely new accessory.

Building Regulations Part M
Clip-on plate accessories make it easier to comply with the requirements of Building Regulations Part M and the Disability Discrimination Act. Part M states that: “Controls that contrast visually with their surroundings are more convenient for visually impaired people, as are light switches that are activated by a large push pad.” A 30-point difference in the light reflectance value (LRV) between the two surfaces is recommended.

The use of clip-on plates makes it easy to achieve a suitable visual contrast, even when it is not initially known what the décor will be. The interior of the accessories can be installed and then the cover plates can be selected to achieve the appropriate result. Eaton publishes an LRV table for its COPA accessories, the values range from 26 for matt black to 89 for white. So once the LRV of the surface is known, an appropriate plate can be selected.

Eaton’s COPA range also satisfies the recommendation for lighting switches activated by a large push pad. The range includes broad rocker switches with a rocker occupying the same space as three conventional rockers. But the Eaton offering goes even further – socket outlets are available with outboard rocker switches that are more easily identified and operated than traditional inboard switches. Meanwhile the choice of black or white interior mouldings makes it possible to achieve a colour contrast between the switches or sockets and the plates.

Benefits for the wholesaler
The obvious benefit for the wholesaler is simplified stockholding – rather than hold a complete range of accessories for each finish, the wholesaler only needs to stock a full range of interiors and a supply of cover plates in the appropriate finishes. This means that overall investment in stock can be lower, and the shelf space occupied by the interiors and covers is less than would be required for several ranges of traditional accessories. The wholesaler is more likely to be able to respond to demand for less common accessories in a particular style because one interior will cater for all styles.

This flexibility applies not only to the decorative finishes but also to legends. For example, a 13A fused connection unit does not have to be stocked with a variety of different legends – Central heating, extractor fan, washing machine, tumble dryer etc. – instead the same interior can be used for each application and only the cover plate has to be different. The same applies for 20A double-pole switches.

Another important benefit is the speed with which the wholesaler can respond to customers’ needs. Once a contractor knows what he needs, he can purchase the appropriate interiors but if the wholesaler does not have the plates in stock, these can be ordered without delaying the installation process.

Benefits for the installer
A major benefit for the installer is that the basic accessories can be installed, tested and then left safely in position to await addition of the cover plate at a later stage. Meanwhile other trades can work on site without damaging the plate. Painters can paint right up to the accessory without having to cut in and when the cover plate is clipped into place it will cover the painted surface.

Contractors have commented that the time required to fix the cover plates does not necessarily add to the total installation time. This is because they will often loosen off the conventional accessories so that painters can paint right up to, or even behind, the accessory. The time required to fit the clip-on plate accessory cover is no greater than that required to screw a traditional accessory back into position.

Cashflow is another important consideration for the contractor. He can purchase clip-on plate accessories in two stages. Interiors can be purchased for one or more projects and called off from stock as required; meanwhile the purchase of cover plates can be left until a late stage.

Another benefit for the contractor is security. Interiors are less likely to be stolen either from stores or after installation. For this reason it may be better to take delivery of the cover plates at a later stage and install them at the last possible moment.

A complete suite
Eaton always endeavours to offer a complete suite of accessories in any product range including not only the fast-moving switch and socket-outlet configurations but also items such as three-pole fan isolator switches, 5A and 15A round-pin socket-outlets and 230/110V shaver sockets. These are all offered in the COPA range together with matching broad and half-broad switches, telephone and TV/FM/satellite outlets.

The latest addition to the range is dimming controls that are equally suited to applications in homes and commercial premises. It is based on Eaton’s successful Studio 3 commercial lighting controls and includes single-channel and four-channel dimmers with separate dimmer packs suitable for a wide range of light sources including linear and compact fluorescent, tungsten halogen and LED lamps. The controllers allow different lighting scenes to be pre-programmed; these can then be selected at the press of a button. Remote control by means of hand-held infra-red controllers is also available.

Clip-on plate accessories offer a flexible solution to the need for decorative wiring accessories in homes, hotels, offices, public buildings, places of worship and many other environments. The modular approach means that wholesalers can meet a wide range of needs with a relatively small number of products.