How to Fit the MK Dimensions Range: Step-By-Step

Emma Segelov, Head of Marketing for MK Electric, talks us through the MK Dimensions installation process, while explaining why it should be the ‘go-to’ solution for contractors.

Last year, MK Electric launched its MK Dimensions range, specifically designed to meet the needs of busy contractors. With benefits including cost savings, ease and speed of specification and fit, this product could make all the difference in saving contractors unnecessary hassle when working on-site.

When the team at MK Electric began work to design the MK Dimensions range, it was with the needs of our customers in mind. Research had been undertaken amongst contractors, specifiers and end users, to identify what they saw as their key challenges when it came to decorative wiring devices, and this formed the basis of the new range.

Beyond the benefits provided to contractors and end users, the drivers for MK Dimensions also related to the wider context of the construction industry. For example, the productivity gap was recently highlighted in a research report from Mace, revealing that a twenty year ‘productivity flatline’ was causing the UK to miss out on more than £100bn of economic activity.[i] Meanwhile, on-site waste is a similarly significant concern. It’s estimated that 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction industry, whilst 13% of products delivered to construction sites are sent directly to landfill without being used.[ii]

With these considerations in mind, both from the perspective of our customers and the UK construction industry at large, MK Dimensions was engineered to provide a simple to install product which can reduce waste, increase productivity, and offer design flexibility to end clients.

So let’s see just how easy it is to fit MK Dimensions, and the benefits the range can provide:

STEP ONE: A TWO-PART SOLUTION

MK Dimensions comes as a two-part product solution – a functional module and clip-on frontplate. Importantly, it offers the two individual components as separate parts, with individual part numbers. This means that whilst the functional module can be ordered from a distributor and installed when required, the frontplate can be ordered separately, and crucially, installed much later – even just before client handover – eliminating the risk of frontplate loss or damage.

STEP TWO: EASE OF INSTALLATION

Wire the functional module to the wall and secure with supplied screws. Time-saving features such as backed out and captive screws, and in-line and upward facing funnel entrance to terminals, save a significant amount of time per double socket outlet installation compared to alternatives without these features. This can amount to considerable time and labour savings across larger sites, increasing productivity.

STEP THREE: RECYCLABLE COVER

Fit the recyclable cover provided over the functional module. This cover ensures the product meets British Standards before the frontplate is attached, meaning it can be used during the build phase to power on-site essentials such as phones, power tools, and cleaning products like vacuums.

STEP FOUR: PROTECTION FROM DAMAGE

The recyclable cover also protects the functional module from common on-site damage such as paint splatter, plaster abrasions, knocks and scrapes. In the past, this damage could occur to the frontplate, which would then need to be replaced, resulting in waste and additional cost.

STEP FIVE: FIT THE FRONTPLATE

Clip on the frontplate. As this is a separate part, it can be ordered in the final stages of a build, when it is ready to fit. This means contractors don’t need to worry about parts being mislaid or damaged while they are in storage. Furthermore, any late changes in frontplate finish, for example if the client decides upon a different colour scheme later in the build, can be accommodated without incurring additional cost.

STEP SIX: SIMPLE TO UPDATE

The frontplate is tool removable – so, if at a future date the building undergoes a revamp, they can easily be interchanged with minimal disruption. Available in nine different finishes including the latest addition, matt black, this range of finishes allows scalability within a development, enabling entire developments to have one common design aesthetic.