Oven fused switch location

[catman]

I assume this has probably been discussed before but I just wanted to clarify a few things. I'm doing a light renovation on my kitchen and have read many things over the past week or so regarding the ideal position for the oven fused switch to be located. I understand that's it shouldn't be behind the hob but I wondered if it's actually a legal requirement for it not to be located there or whether it's just bad practice for it to be placed in that location. I'm on a tight schedule to finish the renovation and had factored in moving the switch but if it's not a requirement I'm half tempted to just leave it where it is. I'm looking to sell the house by the end of the year and didn't want it to be flagged up on the inspection.

Many thanks, Chris.

 

[EFLImpudence]

It is not a requirement of the regulations to have a switch at all, therefore there are no rules as to where one should be located other than general safety and common sense.

Also, nothing to do with legal or not.

 

[Murdochcat]

Whilst it’s not ideal placed and I wouldn’t put one there, it appears not to have any heat damage so I would leave it where it is unless you are re-tiling then I would probably look to relocate it

 

[Taylortwocities]

That's a gas hob. The FCU on the wall is (I guess) providing the fused supply for the ignition spark?

A fuse does need to be in the supply to the hob. A switch is not necessary, so you could just put in a fused connection unit like this.

But I agree, it should not be there in the first place. Better to move it away from being above the hob.

 

[SUNRAY]

That's a gas hob. The FCU on the wall is (I guess) providing the fused supply for the ignition spark?

A fuse does need to be in the supply to the hob. A switch is not necessary, so you could just put in a fused connection unit like this.

But I agree, it should not be there in the first place. Better to move it away from being above the hob.

It looks like there is an electric oven below the hob.

 

[ebee]

Well thatis a really stupid place to have tgat switch.
It is an invite to persons to reach over and switch it if tgey think they need to.
Might be in an urgent situation such as fire, spillage etc and any panic might induce them to switch off and scald themselves.
I would prefer to see it removed rather tgan in that location.
I would rather switches are present than switches not present but well out of any "dangerzone" so to avoid people reaching over
Hot burners and pans and well out of any splash zone.
One way of achieving this might be to ensure it is at least one foot/300mm to the right or left of the hob/oven etc..

The socket next to it is too near too..
You cant always get the full one foot/300 mm but to aim at those dimensions at least is advisable.

So,, in short, either move the FCU and socket or reaarange the kitchen hob position

 

[SUNRAY]

Well thatis a really stupid place to have tgat switch.

Stupid or not it was very typical to install the cooker switch directly above the cooker and even more typical was to have the T&E hanging directly from it to the cooker. Historically I've seen many where the kettle stands on top of the eye level grill so the cable reaches the socket.

As poor as it is (and no I wouldn't want it there) I'm sure the last thing OP wishes to do is rip out the tiling to botch in electrical accessories outside of safe zones.

 

[Taylortwocities]

@catman please confirm what that switch actually controls.

You said this is a brief renovation, and you’ll be moving in the near future.

I guess your renovation includes re tiling? If so move the switch. That’s the right thing.
Or you could leave it and hope your buyer doesn’t pick up on its location. (Many surveyors miss out on minor details like this.). But they could ask for a reduction to cover the cost of doing it properly. Your decision.
Rock and hard place?

 

[SUNRAY]

.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Or - You can say the price already allows for that.

As said, it is nothing to do with the law.


If you are selling, why bother doing anything?

 

[ericmark]

My mother house, the switch was there simply to provide a connection point, the consumer unit was in same room, so to turn off in an emergency better to use the consumer unit placed next to door to outside.

Local isolator is only required for rotating equipment over a set size, however not sure about gas rules and regulations, with my induction hob the whole idea is heat goes into the pan not the kitchen, so to reach across the hob is no problem, and there is no naked flame. With gas there are rules as to how close cupboards can be, it clearly needs an extractor for the burn fuel gases, and the moisture produced when burning gas, one has to face it gas hobs are dangerous, they have non of the safety features built in to the modern induction hob.

I think gas central heating is great, but for cooking, it is so slow, it was the one thing about camping, trying to cook on a gas appliance, could be worse I suppose, could be a BBQ.

But to put is simple no electrical rules, but there may be gas rules?