Is there a rule?
Turkey’s rules on indoor electrical installations do not set a fixed height for sockets and switches. In practice, the most referenced source is the general technical specification for electrical installations in public buildings by Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change: switches go 110 cm above the floor, sockets normally at 40 cm and wall lights at 190 cm. Germany’s DIN 18015-3 defines installation zones and gives 30 and 105 cm as the preferred heights.
| Item | Ministry specification | DIN 18015-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Switch | 110 cm | 105 cm (zone 100–130) |
| Socket | 40 cm | 30 cm (zone 15–45) |
| Worktop socket | — | 115 cm |
| Wall light | 190 cm | — |
Heights are usually measured from the finished floor to the centre of the box. Keeping the same height throughout a home matters: when all the switches are at the same level, you can find them even in the dark.
Tips by room
- Beside doors. Put the switch on the latch side of the door, not behind the opening door leaf.
- Bedroom. Put sockets and switches on both sides of the bed, at a height just above the bedside tables.
- Living room. On the TV wall, put the sockets and data outlet at a height where the furniture hides them.
- Kitchen. Several sockets along the worktop; don’t put them right next to the hob or sink.
Electrical zones in the bathroom
In the bathroom, the position of sockets and lighting depends on the distance from water. The HD 60364-7-701 standard, widely used in Europe, divides the bathroom into zones:
- Zone 0: the inside of the bath or shower tray.
- Zone 1: above zone 0, up to 2.25 m above the floor. For a trayless shower, a 1.20 m radius from the water outlet.
- Zone 2: the strip extending 60 cm beyond zone 1.
Only devices with a suitable protection rating may be used in these zones; ordinary sockets stay outside them. The standard requires 30 mA residual current protection for bathroom circuits. In your own home, leave the installation to a licensed electrician or engineer.
Electrics in Nodaform
In Nodaform’s MEP layer (Plus and higher) you place socket, switch and lighting symbols on the plan. Sockets default to 30 cm and switches to 110 cm; you can change the mounting height of each symbol. On the Pro plan, the distance between sockets and water in wet areas is also checked, and you get a services sheet.
The plans and dimensions in this post are layout ideas. A building permit, structural design or construction project requires a design by, and approval from, a licensed architect and engineer; ask your municipality about the details of the regulations.