Electric cooker isolating switch location question

[Z3I]

Hi guys, I've had a new kitchen built, and have had new ring and cooker points fitted by an Elecsa registered electrician. The cooker and hob isolating switches have been installed on the wall about 12" from floor height, and intended to be accessable by opening a drawer in the new kitchen, and reaching to the rear of the unit to access the switch.

The electrical installation is all signed off, but as the kitchen is about to be installed, I'm worried about the position as Ive just read that the isolating switches must be above worktop level.

Installing an electric cooker | DIY Tips, Projects & Advice UK | lets-do-diy.com

Is my current installation acceptable?? Rather hope so!

Cheers!

 

[Guest123]

Hi guys, I've had a new kitchen built, and have had new ring and cooker points fitted by an Elecsa registered electrician. The cooker and hob isolating switches have been installed on the wall about 12" from floor height, and intended to be accessable by opening a drawer in the new kitchen, and reaching to the rear of the unit to access the switch.

The electrical installation is all signed off, but as the kitchen is about to be installed, I'm worried about the position as Ive just read that the isolating switches must be above worktop level.

Installing an electric cooker | DIY Tips, Projects & Advice UK | lets-do-diy.com

Is my current installation acceptable?? Rather hope so!

Cheers!

Can you just clarify that the cooker control unit is 12" (12 inches) from FFL????

 

[Engineer54]

That position is NOT what i would call accessable, not by any stretch of the imagination. More like a ''plumb crazy'' position!! And NO it's NOT acceptable!!!
Who instructed the electrician to place the cooker units behind a kitchen draw unit ???

Above the worktop within the fabric of the building, same height as your socket outlets, and within 2 metres of the cooker appliance(s) is the most sensible place to position cooker control units.

 

[Z3I]

Units are 13" from the floor to the lowest point of the isolation switch box. Heres a pic.

 

[Guest123]

Thats stretching the boundaries of accessibility is that!!

What the hell possesed him to put them there? Is there wall space available above the worktops then?

 

[telectrix]

as inspector clusseau would say " incroyable"

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Might as well not bother with any local isolation.
Probably be easier to use the MCB in the CU.

 

[Z3I]

Thanks guys for your replies. I'm not at the point of no return, theres still the worktop to go in, and your comments have convinced me to have the units removed (few days lost work there!) and get the points relocated alongside other points above the worktop, around 1m away. Could be worse I suppose!

 

[Des 56]

I'm worried about the position as Ive just read that the isolating switches must be above worktop level.

Then what you have read has given incorrect information,there is no position above a worktop where "must" comes into it.there is a 300mm guidance for proximity of accessorie to the cooker

The isolation switches should be accessable, they would conform in the best way by installing as per engineer 54 post
Accessability and proximity of the cooker isolator should be followed

What is accessability,there is no written definition,it is a different animal to different people,however, there is guidance for the people who use kitchen cupboards and try to justify that use by saying a kitchen is part of the fabric of the building,towards the front and high up has been mentioned

I dont buy into kitchen cupboards being the building fabric but thats a personal opinion,which upsets kitchen fitters much more than electricians,

The position of your isolation is not where I would normally dream of putting one,but did you make issue with "over the worktop switches" yourself because they could be seen as unsightly and restrict the sparks design

 

[oxocube]

A practical test for anyone that thinks local isolation is not necessary, and that the ops isolators are accessible.

Sit on the cooker and turn on the hob, and then get someone else who is unfamiliar with the installation to find the isolation point and turn off.

 

[Deleted member 19807]

as already said very poor position, I would also question if the switches are of the correct current rating, they don't look like any cooker isolation switch i have ever installed.

I think i would e-mail the picture to Elecsa and ask if they consider it acceptable.

 

[TPES]

Z3l who arranged this electrician? Was this done by getting quotes yourself for the electrical work in your kitchen? And then you made a choice?

 

[telectrix]

once had a real head scratcher in a kitchen. client had 2 fan heaters mounted in the plinths, not working. after an hour of searching, found an electronic central heating programmer mounted behind the cutlery drawer, feeding the heaters. the termilals on the programmer were goosed.