Safe zones

[Tuttle]

I've got a customer that wants a supply to an electric cooker installed with the cooker switch fitted under the work surface accessible through a cupboard. The obvious way to route the cable is horizontally across the kitchen wall to the cooker switch. I think that this is allowed as this is in the safe zone formed by the switch but I'm not sure that it is really in the spirit of things as the switch is not immediately obvious unless you look inside cupboards (it would be obvious if the kitchen were ripped out though, which is probably the most likely time that anyone would start drilling at that level).

Interest to find out what others think about cooker switches in cupboards (mounted on the wall not the cupboard) and routing cables in safe zones formed by accessories hidden in cupboards.

 

[Engineer54]

When it come to Kitchens And electrical points positioning, the complete nutters of this world seem to come out of the woodwork.

These idiots can't see past the nice new tiles and the kitchen cabinet installation. Functionality of this nice new kitchen seems to be the last thing on there minds, until of course when they come to use anything in this minimalistic kitchen. Then they tend to see the folly of picture book/magazine kitchens, They don't function too well at all and almost everything they would like to do, is either a real pain to gain access, or just can't be done!!

 

[telectrix]

bang it in a length of galv. 20mm conduit. bush condiut onto K/O box with cpc fly lead to box.job done.

 

[Engineer54]

I've got a customer that wants a supply to an electric cooker installed with the cooker switch fitted under the work surface accessible through a cupboard. The obvious way to route the cable is horizontally across the kitchen wall to the cooker switch. I think that this is allowed as this is in the safe zone formed by the switch but I'm not sure that it is really in the spirit of things as the switch is not immediately obvious unless you look inside cupboards (it would be obvious if the kitchen were ripped out though, which is probably the most likely time that anyone would start drilling at that level).

Interest to find out what others think about cooker switches in cupboards (mounted on the wall not the cupboard) and routing cables in safe zones formed by accessories hidden in cupboards.

They still wouldn't be able to see it, as the cupboard will be full of everything else they didn't want to be seen!! lol!! To get access you need to pull everything out of the cupboard. Can't really call that accessable, ...not by any stretch of the imagination!!

Electrical accessories hidden in cupboards is a nonsense, and to a point dangerous, in that appliance leads from sockets need to pass through a cabinet doors, causing trip and snagging hazards in use....

 

[Deleted member 9648]

They still wouldn't be able to see it, as the cupboard will be full of everything else they didn't want to be seen!! lol!! To get access you need to pull everything out of the cupboard. Can't really call that accessable, ...not by any stretch of the imagination!!

Electrical accessories hidden in cupboards is a nonsense, and to a point dangerous, in that appliance leads from sockets need to pass through a cabinet doors, causing trip and snagging hazards in use....

The appliance leads come through the back of the cabinets,not the front...so this is not an issue....sockets for general use are mounted above worktop height.

I have no issues with appliance isolators situated in adjacent cupboards if the client does not want a bank of switches on view. On a kitchen install I am on at the moment the appliances are located on a feature rustic brick wall,there are 4 twin sockets flushed into this brickwork for general use....and the cabinets contain built in oven,steam oven,3 warming drawers,and microwave. That would be 6 isolators on the brickwork plus 4 twin sockets, which would look totally naff,so all isolators are in a bank in an adjacent unit.....before it's pointed out,a remote grid system of isolators was suggested,but rejected by the client. As far as I'm concerned,they are spending the best part of 100k on this kitchen,as long as it complies with the regs they can have them wherever they want.

 

[Engineer54]

I was referring to worktop mounted appliances (not built in appliances), where these idiots don't want to see ANY socket outlets.

Your quite right though, it is to a point up to these idiots, but i'm still convinced that accessible should mean accessible, ....readily accessible and not buried at the back of a packed out cabinet, that needs emptying before it is accessible...

 

[dingledong]

but be honest with your self do you know any body that uses the cooker switch ? i know one person . i'd do it but put a notice on the fuse board saying where the isolater was

 

[telectrix]

FFS, a kitchen is for cooking meals. it's not a showroom. galv. conduit, surface mounted give somewhere to hang the washing and lynch the cat/dog when it's done a woopsie on the carpet.

 

[Engineer54]

but be honest with your self do you know any body that uses the cooker switch ? i know one person . i'd do it but put a notice on the fuse board saying where the isolater was

That's not really the point is it, Accessible should mean just that!! Not the whims of some arty farty, that thinks a kitchen is a fashion accessory or a showroom for friends and family to admire...

 

[Richard]

but be honest with your self do you know any body that uses the cooker switch ?

Uhh me!!!!

 

[mattmoo1974]

FReak!