What is a Pattress Box?
A pattress box is a surface mounted wall box that is used to house the wiring and connections for an electrical accessory, such as a light switch or plug socket. It is a plastic surface mounted wall box, but can also be covered in a metal finish to match with electrical accessories.
What are Pattress Boxes Used For?
Pattress boxes are used for connecting electrical accessories to the cabling in a house. They are typically used when it is not possible or preferable to use a back box fitted within a wall, such as a metal or plastic back box.
Is Pattress box the same as back box?
No, a back box is mounted within a wall, so that the front of the back box is flush or set back from the level of the plaster. A pattress box is fitted to the surface of the wall, so all the sides of the pattress box are exposed.
How Do You Fix the Cables to a Back Box?
With our decorative metal pattress boxes it is advisable to feed the cables through the back of the plastic pattress box, leaving the fours sides untouched.
If this is not possible, it is possible to carefully drill a hole in the metal and plastic back box, and fit a rubber grommet. In this case it is possible to fit the cabling into conduit that can butt up against the back box.
PLEASE NOTE: Our pattress boxes are made of a metal surround. These are supplied with an earth connection that must be fitted to an earth cable.
What Size Pattress Box Do I Need?
Pattress boxes are available in two standard widths. These correspond to the width of a single or double electrical plate, and need to be chosen accordingly.
There are two depths of back box available in our range. 32mm and 44mm deep. The depth you need with depend on:
Electrical accessory being fitted; A single light switch needs a lot less room than a dimmer or USB socket. The recommended depth for each electrical accessory in each range is available on our site.
Amount of cabling within the pattress box; The number of cables, thickness of the cables and the length of them also need to be considered. You need to ensure there is enough room within the back box for all the cabling without cramming them in.
Available Back Boxes
We have a wide variety of metal back boxes available, in a number of different finishes. These back boxes are mode of mild steel and are plated and lacquered to finish. Please click through to see specifications of individual back boxes below.
Antique Brass Single Pattress Box
Antique Brass Double Pattress Box
Antique Brass Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Antique Brass Double Pattress Box (44mm)
Brushed Steel Single Pattress Box
Brushed Steel Double Pattress box
Brushed Steel Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Brushed Steel Double Pattress Box (44mm)
Matt Black Single Pattress box
Matt Black Double Pattress box
Flat Black Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Matt Black Double Pattress box
Bright Copper Single Pattress Box
Bright Copper Double Pattress Box
Bright Copper Single 44mm Pattress Box
Bright Copper Double 44mm Pattress Box
Tarnished Copper Single Pattress Box
Tarnished Copper Double Pattress Box
Tarnished Copper Single 44mm Pattress Box
Tarnished Copper Double Pattress Box (44mm)
Antique Copper Single Pattress Box
Antique Copper Double Pattress Box
Antique Copper Single 44m Pattress Box
Antique Copper Double 44mm Pattress Box
Pewter Single Pattress Box
Pewter Double Pattress Box
Pewter Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Pewter Double Pattress Box (44mm)
White Single Pattress Box
White Double Pattress Box
White Single Pattress Box (44mm)
White Double Pattress Box (44mm)
Light Grey Single Pattress Box
Light Grey Double Pattress Box
Light Grey Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Light Grey Double Pattress Box (44mm)
Dark Grey Single Pattress Box
Dark Grey Double Pattress Box
Dark Grey Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Dark Grey Double Pattress Box (44mm)
Black Bronze Single Pattress Box
Black Bronze Double Pattress Box
Black Bronze Single Pattress Box (44mm)
Black Bronze Double Pattress Box (44mm)
