Consumer unit heights and building regs

[robd]

Morning all,

Just wired the 1st house on a new site, consumer unit wired to location marked on plan which was in kitchen unit at high level.

Building inspector comes in and okays everything but the consumer unit height, says they have to be at 1350-1450mm, was a new one on me and we ended up pulling in a few new legs in to allow for dropping it down abit. Funnily enough 1400 would've been half in and half out of the kitchen unit so it couldn't go at his stated height anyway.

Just wondered if anyone has a better knowledge of the building regs than me and could enlighten me, I know I asked the NIC in the past (for what it's worth) and they said no requirements other than accessible.

Cheers

 

[shanky887614]

New dwellings
1.4
Wall-mounted socket-outlets, switches and consumer units in new dwellings should be easy to
reach, in accordance with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of buildings).
NOTE:
Approved Document M recommends that in new dwellings only, switches and socket-
outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished
floor level. Approved Document M does not recommend a height for new consumer units.
However, one way of complying with Part M in new dwellings is to mount consumer units so that
the switches are between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level. At this height, the consumer unit
is out of reach of young children yet accessible to other people when standing or sitting.

?

put it level with the top of the door like every other new build.

in my eyes its not functional, the circuits should not be switched back on till fault has been found and fixed.

there is no max hight for spotlights or batterns?

surely you swap the lamps more often than touch th ccu in your own home.


many people now have lived in there house for 5-10 years and dont know where the ccu is because they havent needed to use iit

 

[Octopus]

New dwellings
1.4
Wall-mounted socket-outlets, switches and consumer units in new dwellings should be easy to
reach, in accordance with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of buildings).
NOTE:
Approved Document M recommends that in new dwellings only, switches and socket-
outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished
floor level. Approved Document M does not recommend a height for new consumer units.
However, one way of complying with Part M in new dwellings is to mount consumer units so that
the switches are between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level. At this height, the consumer unit
is out of reach of young children yet accessible to other people when standing or sitting.

Where is this copied from?

 

[Simlec]

Where is this copied from?

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_P_2013.pdf

 

[shanky887614]

the ccu can be at whatever height you want. personally as long as someone 6' can easily reach it.

put it above a door if you like and its still accessible

 

[richy3333]

Comes down to the way you ask the question imo.
"I've not heard that one before mate, where does it come from?" is more likely to be well received than
"That's complete and utter BS you bloody clown. You haven't got a clue so show me where you get that from and I'll believe you"

Ah, calling em clock suckers was clearly impolite

 

[Richo77]

I'm not a fan of putting them too low so kids can play with them. Also a mate of mine had his badly damaged in his new house with furniture removal men. While carrying his sofa into his house his CU was smashed and badly damaged! It needed replacing and I ended up having to sort it for him. Bloody mates rates!!

 

[Plonker 3]

I'm not a fan of putting them too low so kids can play with them. Also a mate of mine had his badly damaged in his new house with furniture removal men. While carrying his sofa into his house his CU was smashed and badly damaged! It needed replacing and I ended up having to sort it for him. Luckily the removal mens insurance covered the cost of it.

i think you made a typo in your reply.

 

[Octopus]

Don't we all just love these ambigious regs!

NOTE:
Approved Document M recommends that in new dwellings only, switches and socket-
outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished
floor level. Approved Document M does not recommend a height for new consumer units.
However, one way of complying with Part M in new dwellings is to mount consumer units so that
the switches are between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level. At this height, the consumer unit
is out of reach of young children yet accessible to other people when standing or sitting

 

[shanky887614]

Don't we all just love these ambigious regs!

NOTE:
Approved Document M recommends that in new dwellings only, switches and socket-
outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished
floor level. Approved Document M does not recommend a height for new consumer units.
However, one way of complying with Part M in new dwellings is to mount consumer units so that
the switches are between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level. At this height, the consumer unit
is out of reach of young children yet accessible to other people when standing or sitting

go for a bs88 board so there are no switches so they cant fail it lol

 

[Plonker 3]

go for a bs88 board so there are no switches so they cant fail it lol

Why dont they have isolators fitted to them

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Where is this copied from?

Somewhere in manhester wherever that is..lol

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Don't we all just love these ambigious regs!

NOTE:
Approved Document M recommends that in new dwellings only, switches and socket-
outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished
floor level. Approved Document M does not recommend a height for new consumer units.
However, one way of complying with Part M in new dwellings is to mount consumer units so that
the switches are between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level. At this height, the consumer unit
is out of reach of young children yet accessible to other people when standing or sitting

sitting on what? a stepladder?

 

[happysteve]

sitting on what? a stepladder?

A wheelchair.

 

[telectrix]

why do you think MCBs are up for on?. it's so a walking stick can reset.

 

[Badged01]

Anyone ever had a successful arguement with building control that Part M only applies to new builds that are to be unoccupied on completion? (e.g. you dont know who is going to purchase the property so you have to assume it could be by say a wheelchair user and hence follow the Part M dimension guidlines. )

If doing an installation for a current owner then you re-wire to his spec for socket/switch heights, location of consumer unit etc ..... and Part M doesnt apply?

Not got the answer and never debated it before so be interesting to hear any views from anyone who has had the debate with an inspector .......