Pattress
A pattress is a plywood or timber board fixed within in a partition to which equipment can be secured, such as ceiling roses, power outlets, basins, wall cabinets and so on.
Confusingly, the term ‘pattress’ can also be used to refer to a container or box (correctly described as a pattress box) that is positioned behind power sockets, light switches and other electrical fittings, and contains wiring, switches and other circuitry. This may sometimes be secured to a timber or plywood pattress.
These boxes can also be referred to as a ‘wall box’ or 'installation box' or, when it is recessed into the wall, a ‘flush box’. If it is installed within timber or plasterboard walls, it can be referred to as a ‘cavity box’,‘plasterboard box’, or 'dry lining box'.
A pattress box can be designed to be either surface-mounted, or can be recessed into a wall or skirting board.
Surface mounted pattress box | Pattress box that will be recessed |
Pattress boxes are typically made from metal or plastic. PVC or urea-formaldehyde resin is often used for surface-mounted boxes, while thin galvanised metal is used for recessed boxes.
The generally have 'knockout' sections that can be removed as required to allow cables into the box.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
From mud bricks to smart concrete
A brief history of building materials.
Building automation and control systems market study
BSRIA 2024 North America BACS software & services.
Impact of digital technology on productivity in construction
New CIOB academy guidance for companies of all sizes.
Demolition and retrofit approaches in Planning Policy
MHCLG survey informing potential government updates.
Expert taskforce to spearhead new, new town generation
Sir Michael Lyons given 12 months for recommendations.
Government policy statement on new towns
A coded vision for a new generation of new towns.
AT Principal Designer exemplars published
Supporting clear and comprehensive demonstration of the skills required.
Homes England goes to TOWN for co-housing project
Marmalade Lane developer selected for Northstowe neighbourhood.
Cohousing and related approaches to solve housing issues
Different forms of community housing explained with examples.
Alternative and off-grid housing communities in the UK
From Hockerton Housing Project to Tinkers Bubble.
Skills gap highlighted to Minister for Industry
Key opportunity in mission for economic growth and net-zero.
Specifying XPS in masonry cavity walls below DPC level
Moisture requirements, DPCs and third party certification.
Types of rigid foam insulation
A brief description and some of the main construction types.
Metal composite material panel systems MCM and MCP
Sandwich finishes, forms, details, core and their impacts.
Cumbria's vernacular architecture
A history of building impeded by unsettled times.
CIOB and MMC Ireland announce strategic partnership
For better working conditions, and a more productive construction sector.
Comments