Double Blanking Plate - Dark Brown

Blanking plates rarely get much thought, but the wrong one shows. This one is moulded in dark brown polycarbonate with a screwless face, so the front reads as a plain rectangle with nothing breaking the surface. It is a double, sized for a two gang position, and the profile is kept shallow so it sits quietly against the wall rather than standing off it as an object in its own right.

Its job is to close off a position that is no longer wanted, and it earns its place in homes where the wiring accessories are already brown: kitchens and hallways of that period, garages, workshops, home offices and hobby rooms. We would choose it where a redundant position falls in the middle of a run of brown plates and a white cover would jump out at you from the far side of the room. Landlords, letting agents and anyone tidying up after alterations tend to buy several in one go, which is exactly the sort of small part we like to keep on the shelf. It is intended for dry rooms indoors.

The moulding is a tough thermoplastic with the colour running right through it, so there is nothing to polish and nothing to touch in. Dust it when you dust the skirting board; a cloth wrung out in warm soapy water will lift kitchen grease from the face, and it is worth keeping solvents, scouring cream and bleach well away, since those will dull a brown finish quicker than anything else in the cupboard. It carries a ten year warranty. There is no screw head on the front to spoil the line, which is much of the appeal of a screwless plate: the tidiest result here is one nobody looks at twice, and against dark brown switches and sockets that is precisely what you get.

What size is the plate?

The face measures 146mm by 88mm, and the plate has a 25mm depth behind it, matching a standard double accessory footprint.

What is it made from?

It is moulded in polycarbonate, a hard-wearing thermoplastic. The dark brown colour is part of the moulding rather than a surface coating.

Will it match older brown switches and sockets?

It is a dark brown, so it sits comfortably with brown wiring accessories. Bear in mind that plates fitted years ago can lighten slightly with sunlight, so an exact match to a very old plate is not guaranteed.

How should I clean it?

A dry cloth for dust, or a cloth wrung out in warm soapy water for anything greasier. Avoid solvents, abrasive creams and bleach, which will mark the finish.

Can it be used outdoors or in a shower area?

No. It is rated for indoor use in dry rooms only.

Is there a warranty?

It carries a ten year warranty.