Consumer unit height

[40 watt spark]

I've got a bit of a disagreement on my hands.........

I've been asked to help out on a new build project (4 bed detatched), the spark running the job has detailed that the CU will be mounted 6" below the ceiling height in the internal garage.......

I thought that CU's in new builds are supposed to be mounted at 1.2m (Part M 4.30 sec C) ......or do I start back pedelling and nodding agreement now

 

[RF Lighting]

AFAIK, it is maximum of 1200mm to the top of the CU.

How would a wheelchair user reset a tripped MCB if it were installed at ceiling height?

 

[GaryMo]

Approved document M - Access to and use of buildings

Page 69 - no mention of consumer units.

 

[RF Lighting]

Do you class an MCB (or the main switch for that matter) in a consumer unit as a wall mounted switch?

 

[GaryMo]

Would you class a garage as a habitable room?

 

[RF Lighting]

Checkmate

 

[GaryMo]

I see where you're coming from though.
One thing that always sticks in my mind when topics of this nature arise is many new houses have consumer units located at ceiling height in the hallway with all switches and sockets being between 450mm and 1200mm.

 

[ricicle]

AFAIK, it is maximum of 1200mm to the top of the CU.

How would a wheelchair user reset a tripped MCB if it were installed at ceiling height?

How would they change the lamp in the ceiling light if that had caused the MCB/RCD to operate

 

[40 watt spark]

Bugger Close but no cigar then

so if I follow correctly if it was installed in the hallway etc then the 1.2m would be right ?

 

[GaryMo]

b*****r Close but no cigar then

so if I follow correctly if it was installed in the hallway etc then the 1.2m would be right ?

As I said, many new houses have CU's installed in the hallway at high level.

 

[BS3036]

Yes, round here, over kitchen back door is common on smallish new builds.

 

[FingRinal]

As far as I am aware, unless a dwelling is specifically designed for disabled people, there is no need for strict compliance...

 

[oldman2]

This is what Hager have to say on it. See page 4.

http://download.hager.com/hagergrou...rmation/ConsumerUnitGuideToThe17thEdition.pdf

 

[GaryMo]

That's Hager who have nothing at all to do with building regulations.
You need to take information directly from Part M.

 

[RF Lighting]

Surely the only person who could give a definitive answer to this would be the OPs BCO man, seeing as he will be the man signing the job off as compliant with all buildings regs?