Flatplate Screwless

Screwless flat-plate sockets fit using a two-part plate, so no screws are visible on the finished face. Specifically, a base or fixing frame screws to the back box and carries the wiring terminals, then a clip-on cover plate snaps over it to hide the fixings. They install into a standard UK back box, and a 35mm deep box is recommended for metal screwless plates and dimmers so the cabling has room to fold back safely. Because the cover simply clips on, the plate sits flush and even, in contrast to a screwed plate where the corner screws must be aligned. The terminals and wiring follow the same BS 1363 and BS EN 60669-1 practice as standard accessories.

Screwless plates do cost a little more than standard screwed plates, mainly because of the two-part construction and the more refined finish. The extra outlay buys a cleaner, more premium look with no visible fixing screws, which is why screwless is popular in kitchens, living rooms and feature walls. However, BG offers screwless in both the value-oriented Nexus Screwless range and the premium Evolve range, so you can pick a price point to suit the project. Specifically, where budget is tight you can fit screwless in feature rooms and standard screwed plates elsewhere, since both meet the same BS 1363 and BS EN 60669-1 standards and wire up identically.

You can mix screwless and standard screwed accessories across a property, but for the best result keep all visible accessories in one range and finish within a single room. The reason is purely cosmetic: a screwless plate has a clean clip-on face, whereas a screwed plate shows two corner screws, so side by side the difference is noticeable. Specifically, a common approach is to fit screwless in the rooms people see most — kitchens, living rooms and hallways — and use standard screwed plates in utility or storage areas to save cost. Because both types meet BS 1363 and BS EN 60669-1 and share the same back boxes, mixing them is purely a styling decision rather than a technical one.