Kitchen appliance sockets and safe zones - right or wrong?

[AlphaBanana]

Hi all,

I think I'm posting this in the right place - apologies if not. I'm wondering if I could ask for a bit of help here.

I'm renovating a house for myself to live in, and I've spoken to an electrician this week to have it fully rewired. There appears to be a problem though with my planned utility room layout.

The attached picture (top half) shows the layout I planned after reading up as much as I could on forums like this one. Although perhaps not ideal to have sockets below the sink, I understand the regulations allow it, and there's nowhere else to make the sockets accessible. I've fitted the trucking and back boxes, as the electrician told me I could save a bit by doing the general chasing out etc throughout the house.

This electrician refused to do it this way because, he insists, the regulations demand:

(1) that the socket for a washing machine or tumble dryer must have an isolating switch above the worktop, and cannot be in a cupboard because it's not accessible;
(2) the presence of a cupboard in front of the sockets changes the normal safe zone rules, such that the vertical yellow line is no longer a safe zone because the socket isn't immediately visible.

Everything I can find online, without exception, says his first point is wrong, and I can't find anything at all regarding his second point. Also, a friend's recently professionally-refitted kitchen has each appliance plugged into a socket in the cupboard next to it. But I'm in no way qualified to be certain, and when I tried questioning, he just dug his heels in.

The bottom half shows what he tells me is necessary. Each isolating switch must be above its appliance, and >300mm from the sink, and therefore the socket must be hidden behind the appliance. I don't want them there, mainly because they're completely inaccessible, partly because it would probably push the appliance out slightly.

Is this one of those grey areas? Or is one of us just plain wrong? I'd greatly appreciate any help.

 

[Baker1988]

Because I've read that a double socket still has max 13A rating but these 2 appliances together could go over that, and therefore it's safer to use 2 singles. Even if it's only a theoretical problem or if there's disagreement over it, erring on the safe side seemed logical.

13A per point not 13A combined so technically 1 double will still be the same as 2 singles as there is 2 points to plug into that been said your paying so it ultimately up to you want get as your paying for it (as long as its safe and within regs which it is)

 

[Deleted account]

Wow, lots of replies - big thank you to all for your advice. Seems all pretty much agree this electrician is wrong, apart from Paignton Pete - there had to be one

To Paignton Pete: I understand what you mean, but I'm not fussed about part M, so bearing that in mind, could I ask you something? If I was offering you this job, you'd explained all this to me, strongly recommending your way for easier access, and I still wanted it done my preferred way, would you refuse to do it?

At the end of he day you are the customer so I would do what you requested, yes.

And I prefer your electricians design to a point, but I do think he is wrong about not being able to do it your way.

There is a difference between what you are permitted to do and what you choose to do. Your electrician has chosen not to do it but he is permitted to do it.

Cheers pete

 

[AlphaBanana]

Thank you Pete, that's a huge help. All confirms he's wrong to tell me that way isn't legal.

I'd really rather not have the fuss and wasted time of having to find someone else, so if he still says no, then I'll see if he'd be happy to do it by adding his isolating switches next to the double sockets above the worktop, while keeping the appliance sockets in the cupboard (hiding the sockets is the part where I won't compromise). The safe zone thing for the cabling is just an annoyance becuse I've already run the trunking, but not worth fussing over, I can easily run more.

Big thanks again to everyone on this thread.