Special Location: Hobs/Cookers?

[Jamie]

What page(s) in the big green book would I look at, for specific zones/regs for Hob's/Cookers for switches & socket distances from the appliance? Looked through the special location chapter but can't see much to do with kitchens at all if im honest, nothing under Hobs/Cookers/Kitchen/zone page in OSG...that's just for shower/baths etc


Thanks

 

[Marvo]

The 'zones' in the regs refer to locations that are considered more hazardous to the user. Bathrooms fall into the zone regs because anywhere where people are likely to be wet and without footwear they're far more likely to get killed if the receive an electric shock. Hobs and stoves etc won't normally fall under these zone regs because it's unlikely you're ever going to install one near a shower, bath or swimming pool. There's no special zone in a kitchen because a sink or handbasin is unlikely to be used by someone who's wet and in bare feet so it isn't considered sufficiently hazardous to be included as a special zone.

That said you might encounter a washing machine that's in a bathroom and might be inside a zone.

 

[Simonslimline]

The electricians guide to the building regs mentions on this i believe. A kitchen is not classed as a special location anymore by the way.

 

[Jamie]

The 'zones' in the regs refer to locations that are considered more hazardous to the user. Bathrooms fall into the zone regs because anywhere where people are likely to be wet and without footwear they're far more likely to get killed if the receive an electric shock. Hobs and stoves etc won't normally fall under these zone regs because it's unlikely you're ever going to install one near a shower, bath or swimming pool. There's no special zone in a kitchen because a sink or handbasin is unlikely to be used by someone who's wet and in bare feet so it isn't considered sufficiently hazardous to be included as a special zone.

That said you might encounter a washing machine that's in a bathroom and might be inside a zone.

So, there is nothing to say I can/can not put a socket/switch (230v) right above a Hob (not that I would)?

About the above bit I put in bold, The same question but for the taps/draining board?

 

[Marvo]

I'm not in the UK so I'm hesitant to get into the specifics of your regs but I think there's a clause somewhere that says the location of electrical points must be suitable. ie if you install an isolator close enough to a stove that it will end up dripping in condensation then the isolator would need to be IP65 or better so it would be suitable for the location. if it was close enough to get hot during cooking then it would need to be temperature rated accordingly. Similarly if you install a socket right above a sink where it will be splashed then it should also be IP65. However if you install a socket for a waste disposal for example directly under a sink it can be a normal socket because under normal circumstances there shouldn't be water splashing around under the sink.

 

[Jamie]

Right, exactly what I am thinking. I'll have to keep searching! I'll have a look into that book simon cheers

 

[Silly Sausage]

To add to Marvo's good post, if you think about these things for a few seconds and use a bit of Common Sense, it's obvious really!
2nd Simon's suggestion, get the building regs guide.

 

[Jamie]

How is it obvious? I know it should not be close, If that is what you mean.... but I am asking for a measurement. So I know if I can/cannot have something next to a Hob or not. What I think is a safe distance and what the regs say could be two different things, and then mean me going back to a job to fix it once it's been finished. hence my question to get it right.

As I say above I will try and get a look at that book.

 

[trev]

I don't think it is in the BGB mate, there's a recommendation in approved document P of 300mm away but that's not always possible. If you have a really small kitchen then sometimes things have to be closer.