Range cooker couldn't be fitted as cooker wall socket over hob - is this right? Information, help and advice on many gas related subjects from gas fires to domestic appliances

[petethefeet]

Just had a new range (100cm wide) duel fuel cooker delivered to replace a standard size gas one. Fitter arrived but said he couldn't fit it because the cooker wall socket would be over the hob. Said current regulations mean the wall socket needs to be moved. Is this right?

[thedoctor]

There are no specific regulations to say a socket or switch cannot be fitted over a hob but we agree with the fitter in so much as the fitting of a heated unit in such a position would be totally against any common sense.

The ElectricalSafety Councils Technical manual states:-

[i]The means of interrupting the supply on load should be readily accessible but the device should not be positioned where, in order to access it, a person would have to reach over the cooking appliances. Consideration should also be given as to whether the position of the device enables it to remain readily accessible in the event of a cooking fire[/i].

In a publication called the Electricians guide to the building regulations (page 61; Fugure 5.2 it shows a distance of 300mm between hob edge and socket. While this is not "law" it's pretty much common sense that should you need to turn this switch off in a hurry while burners are going an pots are cooking you are putting yourself at totally uneccesary risk.