Kitchen electrical work

[AL3XREID]

I am looking for pro advice on kitchen electrical installation.

Currently in the process of old kitchen being replaced, cancelled registered electrician that I had initially booked up after joiner handling the the job said he could get an electrician in sooner and get it signed off. Which I initially thought was perfect

but now having second thoughts, from what I have been told from other fully trained electricians with regards to work being carried out, regulations etc.

The job at hand was to fit as follows -



Fit small 2 way fuse box for kitchen sockets and cooker. ( Decided to go with this to keep costs down, as main consumer unit would need to replaced due to age.)
Alter cooker point so that it is sunk in wall and there is a connection point for the double oven.
Add sparker socket for hob Add tumble dryer switched fused spur and socket.
Add dishwasher fused spur and socket Testing and Certification.

I have added a picture of current work

 

[telectrix]

Potential issue with decorative accessories?

could be. then out comes the angle grinder.

 

[nicebutdim]

could be. then out comes the angle grinder.

I'd updated that post with an option that doesn't require the use of a grinder

 

[AL3XREID]

I don't know if its the angle of the photo, but those two newly installed boxes look on the wonk?

Update on works ongoing. Supposedly no need to fit two way fusebox, kitchen electrical appliances were safe enough to run off existing consumer board.

Not really happy with loose switch and socket that was left behind tumble as per picture. Also unsure about socket which has been attached to flooring under the new double oven.

Looking for advice please.

 

[DPG]

That loose socket on the corner is atrocious. Should be fixed to wall and the cable clipped to support it.

 

[AL3XREID]

That loose socket on the corner is atrocious. Should be fixed to wall and the cable clipped to support it.

I genuinely didn't know it was like that until I pulled out the tumble dryer. I have been in touch with the joiner who was dealing with the electrician who done the work, as I'm extremely annoyed about this.

Is the socket that has been attached to the floor ok, or should I be concerned about this also?

Thanks

 

[Red Tony]

When you say attached do you mean they've fixed them to the floor??
You also say this is work thus far, so could this be a temporary setup before sparky comes back to finish and make good?

If that is his idea of a complete installation then that's not acceptable at all. The back boxes should have been sat into the wall fixed and having them on the floor is dangerous if there were ever a water leak nearby and cables and enclosures will be succeptable to damage if left like this.

 

[Dartlec]

I genuinely didn't know it was like that until I pulled out the tumble dryer. I have been in touch with the joiner who was dealing with the electrician who done the work, as I'm extremely annoyed about this.

Is the socket that has been attached to the floor ok, or should I be concerned about this also?

Thanks

It's commonly seen with kitchen fitters, unfortunately - most built in appliances don't have room behind them for a plug these days, so they either end up in an adjoining cupboard, or underneath. The cable and back box should both be suitably fixed though.

The socket on the floor is not a huge problem imo if they are fixed - unless there is a likelihood of a flood - though the cables should be clipped so that the cables can't work loose or pull out. Those back boxes don't usually have cable clamps in them so rely on the cables being fixed to them as well as the box being mounted.

Do have to wonder why the decorative fronts were used where the socket will never be seen though - seems like a waste of money.

 

[AL3XREID]

When you say attached do you mean they've fixed them to the floor??
You also say this is work thus far, so could this be a temporary setup before sparky comes back to finish and make good?

If that is his idea of a complete installation then that's not acceptable at all. The back boxes should have been sat into the wall fixed and having them on the floor is dangerous if there were ever a water leak nearby and cables and enclosures will be succeptable to damage if left like this.

The reply i got back from the joiner that brought in the electrician, was that 'the sparky had fitted it right on the floor, due to issues with space for plug on the wall'?

I'm just glad I double checked everything over and have since been back in touch with the joiner who is dealing with the electrician, there both due back out tomorrow to hopefully fix everything how it should be.

Dartlec can I just confirm that the cable mount and socket is fine on floor if its mounted?.. Which it is.

Red Tony is this something you wouldn't do or something that definitely shouldn't be done?.. I understand what you are saying about flooding and it would be safer wall mounted, suppose i have to take everything into consideration.

Thanks all for your help, its a bit of an eye opener..

 

[James]

dogs dinner,
the socket with the conduit poking out of the side.
no gland on the conduit, looks like it is just shoved in the hole?
no clips to secure conduit to wall.
I would not be happy with that.

if it were me, the sockets would be in adjacent cupboards so you can access them
screwed to floor is not a great idea, gives the best chance of getting wet when the washing m/c goes wrong.

they all go wrong in the end and end up soaking the floor below them, its just how many years they last before doing so.

 

[AL3XREID]

dogs dinner,
the socket with the conduit poking out of the side.
no gland on the conduit, looks like it is just shoved in the hole?
no clips to secure conduit to wall.
I would not be happy with that.

if it were me, the sockets would be in adjacent cupboards so you can access them
screwed to floor is not a great idea, gives the best chance of getting wet when the washing m/c goes wrong.

they all go wrong in the end and end up soaking the floor below them, its just how many years they last before doing so.

dogs dinner,
the socket with the conduit poking out of the side.
no gland on the conduit, looks like it is just shoved in the hole?
no clips to secure conduit to wall.
I would not be happy with that.

if it were me, the sockets would be in adjacent cupboards so you can access them
screwed to floor is not a great idea, gives the best chance of getting wet when the washing m/c goes wrong.

they all go wrong in the end and end up soaking the floor below them, its just how many years they last before doing so.

 

[Dartlec]

The reply i got back from the joiner that brought in the electrician, was that 'the sparky had fitted it right on the floor, due to issues with space for plug on the wall'?

I'm just glad I double checked everything over and have since been back in touch with the joiner who is dealing with the electrician, there both due back out tomorrow to hopefully fix everything how it should be.

Dartlec can I just confirm that the cable mount and socket is fine on floor if its mounted?.. Which it is.

Red Tony is this something you wouldn't do or something that definitely shouldn't be done?.. I understand what you are saying about flooding and it would be safer wall mounted, suppose i have to take everything into consideration.

Thanks all for your help, its a bit of an eye opener..

As far as I know it's not a problem in terms of being compliant with the Wiring Regulations specifically, though there is an argument that it's not suitable for the location as regards the potential for leaks, etc.

I prefer to put the socket in an adjoining cupboard. With most appliances these days there is rarely space behind them for a socket/plug.

If I was doing it from scratch, I'd have a Fused Connection unit above the worktop on the wall, with a cable outlet below in the wall for the appliance. But then you sometimes run into manufacturers who get funny if you cut the plug off their shiny new appliance.

At the very least, if the sockets were going on the floor, putting them directly under a 'wet' appliance is maybe not the best idea....

My point was generally that wherever the socket goes, it should be mounted properly as should the cable to it.

 

[jakew009]

The whole job looks like a complete disaster, if this is what’s visible I dread to think about what’s hidden and you can’t see.

I’d get your original electrician in to redo the lot and knock his bill off the joiners bill.

 

[AL3XREID]

So the conduit should be attached to a gland for sealant. The thing is this is right behind my washing machine.

I'm beginning to wish I had got another electrician in myself now, as I'm guessing this is all bog standard stuff he should know and be doing for safety.

 

[AL3XREID]

Stupidly enough the joiner has already been paid, for all work. I payed him in installments with completion of each part (as far as I knew!)...He sorted out the electrician out of his own pocket which was then added into overall cost, no doubt a little extra for him.

He has kept to his word up to this point and has kept me in the loop, as far as I know. Any issues I have been able to contact him straight away.

Regardless I do still wished I got an electrician in myself to save this hassle.

 

[Dartlec]

So the conduit should be attached to a gland for sealant. The thing is this is right behind my washing machine.

I'm beginning to wish I had got another electrician in myself now, as I'm guessing this is all bog standard stuff he should know and be doing for safety.

It's hard to tell from the picture whether the flexible conduit is glanded correctly to the back box or not. If the flexible conduit was fixed to the wall properly then it might well be suitable - though indicative of a "kitchen fitter" job rather than a well planned electrical installation.

Electrical installation often gets overlooked in kitchen installs unfortunately, and once units are in then the options for running cabling are limited. I've seen some very expensive kitchens with much worse electrical installation where it isn't immediately visible.

The main thing will be to ensure you get a certificate for the work (Probably a Minor Works Certificate), as that will at least show that the work was tested as safe.