A grid switch system lets you build one faceplate containing exactly the switches a room needs — labelled rockers for kitchen appliances, a dimmer next to a fan isolator, a key switch beside a 20A water heater switch. Here's how BG's grid system works and how to specify one without guesswork.
The three parts of a grid assembly
- Front plate — sized by module count (1 to 12+ gang) in the same finishes as BG's decorative ranges, so a grid plate matches the sockets beside it.
- Grid frame (yoke) — the metal chassis that screws to the back box and holds the modules.
- Modules — the individual switches that clip in: 20A double pole, 10A light switches (1/2-way and intermediate), dimmers, fused modules, key switches, blanks and printed appliance rockers (“OVEN”, “HOB”, “DISHWASHER”…).
Watch: grid assembly in practice
A 4-gang BG kitchen grid switch assembled and installed, start to finish.
Where grid systems shine
- Kitchens: one tidy bank of labelled appliance switches above the worktop instead of six scattered plates — the classic use, and the reason building control likes accessible isolation.
- Hotels & HMOs: corridor lighting banks, key-switch-controlled circuits, and cleaner walls with fewer plates — popular in our hotel refurb projects (see the hotel refurb guide).
- Utility & plant rooms: mixed 20A and fused modules in one enclosure.
Specifying: the five questions
- How many modules? Count every appliance/circuit, then add one spare position (a blank costs pennies; a bigger plate later costs a re-plaster).
- Which module types? Appliances with motors/heaters need 20A DP modules; lighting uses 10A modules; anything needing local fusing (e.g. extractor hood) a fused module.
- Which finish? Match your socket range — grid plates come in Nexus Metal and moulded finishes. See the grid range.
- What back box? Larger assemblies need 35mm+ depth and the correct plate-size box — our back box guide has dimensions.
- Labelled or plain rockers? Printed rockers make kitchen banks self-documenting and are an easy upsell on rentals.
The fast way: build it online
Our Custom Grid Kit Builder assembles the whole kit — plate, frame and modules — in one flow and adds it to your cart as a complete set, eliminating the classic mistake of ordering modules without a matching frame. Prefer picking parts manually? Browse appliance switches, grid dimmers and key switches, or read the full grid buying guide.
FAQs
Can I mix switch types in one grid plate?
Yes — that's the point. Any mix of 20A DP, 10A light, dimmer, fused and key modules can share one frame, provided each circuit is wired and protected appropriately.
Are grid switches hard to install?
Wiring is conventional; the assembly order (frame first, modules clipped in, plate last) is the only new part. The deeper consideration is back box size for larger plates.
Can I change a module later?
Yes — isolate, unclip the front plate, swap the module and refit. That modularity is why hotels standardise on grid.