Consumer Unit Height (Guidance or Punishment by Death)

[Rapidonset]

I live in a bungalow built in 2002/3. The top case of the CU sits 100mm below the kitchen ceiling inside a wall cupboard. Under said cupboard is a small fridge, thus getting to the CU requires low steps and removal of the Beans and Pasta to access the breakers etc.

There is no other place for the CU in the kitchen, so the replacement larger CU has to go back in the same place but 25mm higher to fit inside the cupboard, which will now be 75mm from the ceiling. There will also be a second CU feeding a planned HP and Solar setup. The reason for the replacement CU is the plastic case and no room for a new EV circuit.

Before I start hearing that infamous 'sucking in through the teeth' sound when obtaining quotes for the actual electrical work, I'd rather know for sure if I will be told I've been very naughty for not adhering to best practice, or will be dragged out of my bed and shot in the head for a major crime.

What say the sparky's.

 

[EFLImpudence]

You may fit the new CU where you say - but that does not mean you will not be told you cannot.

 

[Rapidonset]

I was hoping to establish the exact and definitive reg before I engaged someone to carry out the work. If it cannot be done then I will have the HP and Solar CU and EV installed elsewhere. The situation provided a good opportunity to renew the old and have it all colour matched inside a cupboard higher than the average person where it cannot be seen ( I will know the CUs match and sleep well of a night knowing my OCD has been abated).

 

[Risteard]

It should be readily accessible. I would insist that you face the firing squad.

 

[Rapidonset]

That's not cricket. I'm being shot because they built the kitchen around the CU when the house was built.

 

[Risteard]

That's not cricket. I'm being shot because they built the kitchen around the CU when the house was built.

A good firing squad can deal with multiple condemned.

 

[Notch7]

I was hoping to establish the exact and definitive reg before I engaged someone to carry out the work

It’s building regs doc M


For new builds: Consumer units must be mounted at a height between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level (for England, it’s diff for Wales and Scotland, obviously people are different heights there)

I don’t think there’s a rule for existing buildings, I think it’s just: “must be accessible”

 

[EFLImpudence]

It’s building regs doc M
For new builds: Consumer units must be mounted at a height between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level (for England, it’s diff for Wales and Scotland, obviously people are different heights there)

Approved Document M is not the regulations; merely guidance.

 

[ericmark]

Many consumer units are now in places we would not put them today, my own is also in the kitchen, I did move it a foot or so down the wall, as it was in the ceiling void, it was a garage and when made into a kitchen, not moved.

Often they were under the stairs, so if they did go on fire, it would make it hard to get out from upstairs, but little one can do about it, often even if the consumer unit moved, the DNO head and meter would still be in the old location, so rather pointless moving them.

When fuse boxes and meters were first installed, Harry Potter had not been written, and no one expected children to make dens under the stairs.

 

[JohnD]

I don't like to see CUs and switchboard up against the ceiling.

Not far from me, a (rather old) house had the distribution boards in a services cupboard up against the ceiling, so the cable entry holes went straight up into the void. When there was a fault, flames went straight up and ignited years worth of dust and rubbish, and the joists and the studs behind the L&P, right up to the roof space. The fire spread quickly in the void, out of sight and inaccessible to fire extinguishers. The building was pretty well destroyed.

 

[Murdochcat]

For existing installations a replacement CU can remain in the same place as the current unit

 

[pete01]

My own consumer unit is up against the ceiling it has stuffing glands in the top so any sparks wont be going anywhere.

Also its not very convenient but as I only touch it once every 5 years or so it doesn't bother me.

 

[Murdochcat]

The utter NONSENSE with Part M is that the height is perfect for young children to fiddle with.

The worst install was on the kitchen wall right by the kitchen table - the designers should be shot for such stupidity

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Many consumer units are now in places we would not put them today, my own is also in the kitchen, I did move it a foot or so down the wall, as it was in the ceiling void, it was a garage and when made into a kitchen, not moved.

When I replaced mine, with a much larger CU, which was under the stairs, in the cupboard, I was keen to avoid or at least minimise the number of cable joints which might be needed, and ensure all joints were inside the CU. The only way it would physically fit, was matching the 45-degree angle of the under stair, and tight up to the ceiling. It looks odd, but ignoring the strange angle - it looks a tidy job.

 

[JohnW2]

It’s building regs doc M .... For new builds: Consumer units must be mounted at a height between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level .... I don’t think there’s a rule for existing buildings, I think it’s just: “must be accessible”

As has been said, Approved Document M is merely 'guidance', not a 'regulation' or 'requirement'.

I have to say that, in terms of existing domestic buildings, in my experience 1350mm-1450mm would be fairly unusual - all of those I can think of (e.g. amongst the homes of 'friends and family') are either above or below that height.

It's also obviously the case that no one height will be appropriate for everyone - 1350mm - 1450mm is really too high (for 'anything' - probably 'at the limit of reach') for someone in a wheelchair (which one might expect Approved Doc M to consider).