In buildings, the regulations from the DIN 18015-3 standard apply to the laying of power cables. The areas in which cables are laid and the power supply is guaranteed are called installation zones. If drilling is carried out outside these zones, amateur craftsmen can usually be sure that no power cable will be damaged. If a wire does get hit during drilling, there is no danger because the fuse will pop right out of the socket. But repairing or replacing a damaged cable can be quite labor intensive.
The installation zones have clearly defined areas where they run. These are located at a distance of 10 centimeters vertically next to windows, doors, as well as the corners of the room. In total, the vertical zones are 20 centimeters wide. Other installation zones are located horizontally above the floor and under the ceiling. These have a width of 30 centimeters and start at a distance of 15 centimeters from the ceiling or floor.
In the kitchen and in workrooms there is another installation zone specified in DIN 18015-3. This also runs horizontally and measures a distance of 100 centimeters from the floor. The width is also 30 centimeters. Other additional protection zones apply to the bathroom. These are laid down in the VDE 0100 Part 701 standard and define where no sockets or light switches may be located. If you want to be on the safe side when drilling, you can use a measuring device to locate power lines. Here, however, it should be noted that - depending on the type of device - other materials located in the walls, such as plastic or wood, can also be indicated in addition to metal.
Source: Immowelt AG
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