by ericmark »
Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:28 am
I am aware of no rules giving any distance from window, or sink, or other items however it was in early editions of wiring regulations, and in some manufacturers recommendations distances are quoted to other items.
The electric hob is not just one appliance, but a range from a simple hot plate to halogen to induction each needs different considerations.
I have wondered about a tea cosy for pans on an induction hob in theroy there is no reason why one should not be used. However with other types they would clearly be a fire risk.
With gas of course there are strict rules drafts from doors and windows could fan a flame or blow it out and there is a problem removing combustion products in the main water so gas hobs need to have vented cooker hoods and strict clearance to flammable items. I am sure if gas was invented today it would be banned on health and safety issues.
There seems to be a problem with ceramic hobs where with the early versions cleaning was a problem with anything split baking onto the hob so there was a move to touch controls to make it easy clean. However with induction split stuff does not bake on and touch controls are too slow to operate so it's back to knobs as one can turn a knob faster than giving multi-touches to a touch control so with a knob no need to lift pan off the hob just turn it off but with touch controls it takes too long to turn it off so you have to lift pan.
Some touch controls are also affected with water spillage and also often need reading from above so can't be used by anyone in a wheel chair because they can't see them.
So I can also see how with touch controls anything blown in through a window may affect controls and how light from the window may make them hard to read.
So there may be some manufacturer who has given instructions for their product but there is nothing in BS7671 wiring regulations to stop you. In the main the regulations refer to avoiding hazards without giving a set distance.
At one time there was a rule about sockets being set distance from a sink but where a waste disposable unit if fitted having a socket under the sink makes sense as long as unlikely to get wet so now it just says they should not be fitted where water splashes are likely.
The only reference I can find in BS 7671 of 300 mm is the distance of a socket above water level in a marina.
