Consumer Unit above gas cooker? Any regs?

[Gemma799]

Hello, I was just wondering whether it is acceptable to have a consumer unit above a gas cooker with wires hanging down 900mm above the cooker?
We are in a Housing Association rented property and have just had a new kitchen fitted. Originally the inspectors said the unit would have to be moved but the electrician has just left us with this. The inspector didn't put it in writing and may backtrack. I have queried it but wondered if there any regs I could quote with regard to the wires. It's the same space as the previous unit.

The old unit is still above the new one, should they have taken it away? Its a lovely kitchen but an eyesore of a consumer unit

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

 

[Risteard]

No.

 

[Gemma799]

Do you mean there are no regs?

 

[SUNRAY]

So it's a brand new CU I guess.
The person employed to fit it put it directly about the cooker space I guess.
Should have called in a professional.

Shielding head from flack.

 

[Taylortwocities]

He means no!
That position is not allowed for a simple switch, let alone a consumer unit.

There’s a whole heap of regulations and common sense reasons that it MUST NOT BE ABOVE A COOKER OF ANY SORT.

Is that clear enough?

 

[SUNRAY]

Has he been paid yet?

 

[Gemma799]

So it's a brand new CU I guess.
The person employed to fit it put it directly about the cooker space I guess.
Should have called in a professional.

Shielding head from flack.

Yes, brand new in same place as old one.
We are tenants, we didn't choose or want this, Housing Association did it but I wanted to know if I had a point to complain.

 

[Gemma799]

He means no!
That position is not allowed for a simple switch, let alone a consumer unit.

There’s a whole heap of regulations and common sense reasons that it MUST NOT BE ABOVE A COOKER OF ANY SORT.

Is that clear enough?

Thanks, but you don't need to shout. I'm asking for help, not an argument. I'm not an electrician that is why I'm asking.

 

[Gemma799]

Has he been paid yet?

Not by us, we didn't want it here in the first place.

 

[flameport]

Where is the electricity meter?

 

[Gemma799]

Where is the electricity meter?

It's outside.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Thanks, but you don't need to shout. I'm asking for help, not an argument. I'm not an electrician that is why I'm asking.

Apologies, just trying to emphasise.

 

[Gemma799]

Does anyone know the regs I can refer to please or is there a website or info online I can look at? Thanks.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Heres a few
There is a particular regulation that may prohibit the installation of a socket (or anything) above the hob and thats the gas regulations, these require that there is no combustable materials within a certain zone, also the manufactuers will state the same. An electrician you need to take into account how an installation may be affected by other regulations( Building regs,Gas regs etc)

http://www.nhbc.co.uk/Builders/Prod...uidanceDocuments/81/filedownload,65380,en.pdf

BS7671 (THE WIRING REGULATIONS)

132.5.1 The design of the installation shall take account of the environmental conditions to which it will be subjected. - The consumer unit would be constantly subjected to heat and steam. It is not designed for that.

512.2 External Influences. There are about 4 sections to this. They all reinforce what is outlined in 132.5.1

Just about the whole of 522 which details Ambient temperature, external heat sources, presence of water or high humidity, presence of corrosive or polluting substances (it mentions grease.

Part P of the Building Regulations states that there should be no outlets or accessories (cooker hoods excluded!) above any type of hob, nor within 300mm of the edge of the hob.

That should do you for starters.

You need to get that inspector back!

 

[ericmark]

Electrical regulations and fire prevention is aimed around stopping an electrical item causing a fire, not fire damage to an electrical item.

With an electric cooker there are no real regulations on how close items can be, with the induction hob I use if you can get to the pans, that is enough room, items need to be within ½ inch of the hob to allow it to turn on and heat them.

So the regulations stopping the fitting of the consumer unit would be gas regulations not electric, common sense says you should not mount some thing above a heat source, on another forum I found

MK technical tell me the operating temperature of their mcb/rcd is -5°C to 40°C

I would guess other makes are around the same.

I have found this

but it would seem your consumer unit is likely higher than 750 mm above the hob, so I can't actually find a regulation electric wise may be better to ask on plumbers section who are more into gas regulations.