Cooker Control Switch Location

Mother in Law has recently had a grant supported rewire.

They have resited the cooker switch in its original location - directly above the old cooker which had a high level grill.

This cooker has now failed and needs to be replaced. It is only 50cm wide and I can find no high leevl grill cookers at reassonable prices so it will need a flush level one.

This will leave exposed a surface mounted cable from the current switch to the cooker virtually in the centr of the new cooker. This doesnt appear to safe or sensible. To further complicate matters the cooker can only go in its current postion - that is in the corner of the kitchen.

I would appreciate any comments about current situation and best way to resolve it, if necessary.

The requirements will state that cable should be safely installed and protected against environment conditions and external influences, so having an exposed cable close to a heat source that can potentially damage the cable would be consider dangerous, not only that, but to have to reach over a hot appliance to isolate it also not a safe situation.

I suggest the cable is re-routed and the isolator is relocated in a position where it is less dangerous to operate.

GasmanH said:

Mother in Law has recently had a grant supported rewire.

They have resited the cooker switch in its original location - directly above the old cooker which had a high level grill.

Click to expand...

"Devices for emergency switching" and it states "A device for emergency switching shall be so placed and durably marked so as to be readily identifiable and convenient for the intended use." it also says "The means of operation shall be readily accessible at places where a danger might occur and, where appropriate, at any additional remote position from which that danger can be removed."

But look at any gas cooker and only way to isolate in an emergency is main stop cock and those rules for electric are vague and not sure if your situation breaks the rules or not.

With an induction hob the heat from the cooker is minimal with a radiant ring however very different so what are you fitting?

The curent cooker is a solid plate 4 "ring" oven with high level grill. I'm not sure of its power rating but I think it is on 6mm2 cable with 32amp MCB.

The cable runs in surface mounted mini-trunking.

MIL is in her 80's and I do not think would cope with a change to "new-fangled" induction hob - and I'm not sure whether the current circuit would support one even if she was.


As you face the front of the cooker it is in the right hand corner of a small kitchen. The current feed comes along the wall/ceiling junction along the right hand wall, into the corner , then about 18 inches along the wall the cooker backs onto before dropping vertically to the cooker control switch that as about 2ft 6 in above the work top.

Am I right in my understanding that the current switch should be moved away from above the cooker? And am I also right in thinking that the best solution as a longer cable (or appropriately extended cable) to allow the control switch to be moved to the left of the cooker on the wall behind.

Many thanks again

Ideally the isolator should be to side of the appliance and accessible, rather than having to reach over a potentially hot appliance, if there is a need to isolate it.