We are finalising the plan for our kitchen refurb and looking at the positions of 13A sockets. We know roughly where we want them in relation to preparation and cooking areas. Other than a requirement to locate them 600mm or more from a sink are there any other regulatory constraints we should be aware of? We will be getting electricians in to do the work (Part P) but I would like to provide them with a reasonably well thought through plan.
I wouldn't bother. They will ask you where you wnt the sockets and then tell you if you can't.
I think there may be a minimum height above work surfaces.
Not especially - other than the practical limit of allowing room for cables etc. Part M of the building regs specifies switches and sockets should be between 400 and 1.2m IIRC, but that does not really apply to existing properties.
Is that 600mm from the bowl, or the edge of the draining board?
The reference I found just indicated 'from a sink' which does seem a bit vague.
robert was thinking very hard :
It ties in with the short flexes supplied on modern kettles. The idea is to prevent someone inadvertently sticking a kettle under the tap whilst still plugged in and live.
What requirement is that? Not one of the Requirements for Electrical Installations aka BS7671 aka The Regs, AFAIK. (If it is can you point me at the section?)
I'd put outlets every 300-400mm or so above worktops (you wouldn't believe how many you actually need, and they won't all be where you want them) and about 300 above the worktops so you can still get at them with appliances on the surfaces.
I had one with a long flex and was lazy, and almost dropped it into a bowl of water.
I made sure never to do it again.
tim
I did a search on kitchen and sockets and the sink/socket stuff was in one of several pages of text.
We have currently provided for 9 (hopefully) well placed sockets to serve the worktops in addition to the appliance outlets and we have identified possible uses for 5 of them so far. We have thought of incorporating a 'pop up' 3 gang unit from Wickes in the prep area worktop to cover future needs.
Ah, it was from that authoritative source: the interwebs then? ;-)
There are guidelines published in various places, however it does not appear as a regulators requirement in BS7671. There is the general requirement that all accessories used are appropriate for the chosen location however, so a conventional socket close to where it may be splashed could fail to meet that requirement.
I know you need a lot of sockets in a kitchen, but isn't 300 rather excessive?
One under each halogen downlighter? Sounds about right.
I thought the prohibited area was within 300mm of the edge of the sink, draining board or cooker. but maybe the new regs have increased that. In my kitchen I don't think there is anywhere that is less than
600mm from a cooker or sink!Robert
If you know what tiles you are having then you can take this into account when determing the height of the sockets above the work tops.
mark
Maybe Mrs YAPH has a very expensive taste in tiles, and it's cheaper to cover as much of the wall as possible with sockets
Owain
There is no prohibited area for sockets (see John Rumm's post).
People (including builders and electricians) are often confused by the regulations about zones in bathrooms - but the rules for kitchens are different.
I agree about the need for LOTS of sockets. We currently have:
- toaster
- coffee maker
- coffee grinder
- radio
- kettle
- under-shelf lighting
- cooker
- breadmaker
- dishwasher
- fridge and only five double sockets.
ISTR that the guidelines were 300mm from the edge of a sink. There was no set regulation though.
Adam
No. :-)
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