Metal clad socket for a garage
Updated: October 2026
A metal clad socket in a garage makes sense when tools, timber and stored equipment could strike a plastic pattress. The steel enclosure is tougher, but it does not make the fitting waterproof or add an RCD to the circuit. For a dry workshop wall, the [surface mounted socket comparison](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/surface-mounted-socket) includes three metal-clad singles: the Knightsbridge MR9000, a grey SHPELEC double and a black EVOGES double. If the garage is damp, exposed to rain, or the load is continuous and heavy, the product choice gives way to an installation assessment.
A metal clad socket in a garage makes sense when tools, timber and stored equipment could strike a plastic pattress.
A metal clad socket in a garage makes sense when tools, timber and stored equipment could strike a plastic pattress. The steel enclosure is tougher, but it does not make the fitting waterproof or add an RCD to the circuit. For a dry workshop wall, the surface mounted socket comparison includes three metal-clad singles: the Knightsbridge MR9000, a grey SHPELEC double and a black EVOGES double. If the garage is damp, exposed to rain, or the load is continuous and heavy, the product choice gives way to an installation assessment.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Standard claim | IP rating | Double pole | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  SHPELEC SHPELEC metal clad 2-gang | BS 1363 | Not stated | Not stated | 8.5 | about £7.39 | View offer |
 Knightsbridge Knightsbridge MR9000 | BS 1363 | IP20 on the maker sheet | Yes | 9.3 | about £5.99 | View offer | |
| Alternative |  EVOGES EVOGES black metal clad 2-gang | BS 1363 | Not stated | Yes | 6.9 | about £11.99 | View offer |
On this page
When a garage wants metal clad
Surface mounting on blockwork avoids chasing a recess and works with visible cable or trunking. In a working garage the enclosure may be brushed by ladders, timber or tool cases. A steel box tolerates those knocks better than a light plastic pattress.
A white pattress can still serve in a dry corner where it will not be struck. If the socket is beside a bench or a storage route, steel is the more defensible enclosure. Cable should enter through the intended knockout, and the metal back box must be earthed. Punching a knockout carelessly can bend a box, an issue noted in MR9000 feedback. The wider material decision is in the surface mounted socket buying guide.
IP20 is not an outdoor socket
The Knightsbridge datasheet gives the MR9000 an IP20 rating. That provides no water protection, so the model belongs in a dry interior. The other metal-clad listings do not state an IP rating. Missing information is unknown, not permission for rain or condensation.
Electrical2go draws the line: metal clad suits dry hard-service interiors, while wet or outdoor positions need appropriately IP-rated equipment. An inner wall beside a dry bench may suit IP20 metal clad. An outer wall that runs with condensation may not.
Powder coating does not change that boundary. The EVOGES copy mentions sheds and outbuildings but prints no IP rating, and the grey SHPELEC has no stated weather protection. If you are still deciding whether the box should project, surface socket or flush socket compares the mounting choices.
The circuit still needs RCD thinking
None of these metal-clad sockets has an RCD in the plate. Double pole disconnects live and neutral. It is not residual-current protection. The IET’s account of BS 7671 Regulation 411.3.3 describes 30 mA RCD protection for socket-outlets up to 32 A, with a narrow exception that does not cover outlets for outdoor mobile equipment.
Buying a metal socket cannot create that protection. Identify how the circuit is protected, whether the earthing is sound and whether the cable is suitable.
Two MR9000 reviews describe switch trouble with roughly 2.4–2.5 kW steady loads, including one serious fire allegation. That is not a failure rate. It is a reason to have continuous loads, including granny EV charging, assessed. The fitting sequence is in how to fit a surface mounted socket.
Which listing fits a dry workshop
The MR9000 was captured at £5.99 with 4.5 stars from 475 reviews, and both double-pole switching and BS 1363 are stated. The amazon included-components field names instructions, while trade listings say the back box is supplied. Confirm the pack if you do not already have the enclosure.
The grey SHPELEC costs £7.39 and has 4.6 from 201 reviews. It states BS 1363, but the listing prints a second ASIN, the components field says socket only, and reviews mention missing or short screws. The black EVOGES states double-pole switching, BS 1363, a steel box and fixing screws, at £11.99. No customer reviews were in the file. Buy it for a dry interior where black steel is wanted, not because the copy mentions an outbuilding.
Common questions
Is metal clad the right socket for a garage?
It is a strong choice for a dry garage where a surface socket may be knocked by tools or stored items. Steel improves mechanical protection, but the box must be earthed correctly. For damp or exposed positions, select equipment with a suitable stated IP rating instead.
Can I use the same metal clad socket outside?
Not on the evidence here. The MR9000 is IP20, which offers no water protection, and the other two retained metal-clad listings state no IP rating. Outdoor equipment needs an appropriate rating for its real exposure and a correctly designed installation.
Does a metal clad socket include RCD protection?
Not unless the exact product explicitly says so. None of these three listings states that an RCD is built in. Double-pole switching is different from residual-current protection. The circuit’s RCD arrangement must be confirmed separately.
What IP rating is the Knightsbridge MR9000?
The Knightsbridge manufacturer datasheet states IP20. That is a dry-indoor boundary, not evidence for rain, splashing or persistent condensation. Its metal construction protects against knocks, not water.
Can the MR9000 run a 2.4 kW charger all day?
Do not make that decision from the 13 A faceplate rating. Two reviews report switch trouble under roughly 2.4–2.5 kW steady loads, and the garage circuit itself also needs assessment. Have an electrician evaluate continuous charging, protective devices, cable and connections.
Are the cable knockouts already open?
They are normally closed sections intended to be removed where the cable enters. The MR9000 datasheet lists 20 mm knockouts. Open only the required entry with the box supported, protect the cable from sharp metal and earth the enclosure.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources on BS 1363, socket boxes, and Part P. Listings checked in October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
- BSI, BS 1363-2:2023 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- The IET, socket-outlet protectors (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- BEAMA box bulletin (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Approved Document P (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- GOV.WALES electrics (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- IET, Scotland and Northern Ireland (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First, bathrooms (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Electrical2go, metal clad (retrieved 17 October 2026)