Proximity to kitchen sink

[Paul Barker]

How close can a thermostatic control for a wall heater be to a kitchen sink?

I am proposing 400mm horizontally from the bowl but 1 meter above.

 

[Nijinski001]

Paul

As far as I am aware there is nothing in the regs regarding thermostats, however there is something about sockets. As the stat works from mains 240v power as well I would work ona similar basis.

The regs RECOMMEND (not stipulate) that a socket is not sited within 300mm of a sink. This seems arbitary as most people except the smallest of toddlers could reach 300mm with their hands still immersed in water.

The kitchen is not regarded as a special location.

There you go. Sensible ODPM building regs again!!!

 

[Paul Barker]

Thanks, I thought it was 300mm from my part p course but couldn't be sure. They had a kettle at the training centre very close to the sink, we all thought we had got them, but they anounced that it was OK. The popular belief is that you shouldn't be able to put one hand in water and touch the socket with the other, but aparently this is a misconception even though sensible.

Thanks for confirming that.

Paul

 

[ltfc]

Can any one tell me which reg recomends 300mm as the minimum distance?

 

[sijaysee]

there is no reg which mentions the 300mm thing. there is a bit about it in the green book entitled "electricians guide to the building regulations" issued by the IEE

 

[securespark]

The popular belief is that you shouldn't be able to put one hand in water and touch the socket with the other, but aparently this is a misconception even though sensible.

There used to be a rule of thumb years ago (showing my age now!), about arm's reach in a bathroom, and that is loosely what the zones are based on now, but there has never been such a rule in a kitchen. Heck, the regs don't require bonding at kit sinks any more. Paul Cook (from the IEE) actually goes so far as to say that in some case, supp bonding in a kitchen can do more harm than good.

The main reason for the "lax"attitude for kitchens is that there is greatly reduced body resistance in a bathroom (naked, whole body wet, no shoes) which (generally) does not happen in a kitchen (except when I'm feeling fruity!!)

 

[Nijinski001]

(naked, whole body wet, no shoes)

Should that read "naked, whole body wet, high heeled boots, Sou Wester, wet fish in right hand"

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Don't tell him we've sneaked a webcam in there you fool!!