I've been renting my house for the past 5 years and it was recently bought by a housing assosciation from private landlord. They decided it needed a full rewire and replaced the consumer unit. It was located above the front door but has now been put right at the bottom of the stairs at about shoulder height. I wasn't happy as I knew what was going to happen and just as I thought within 24 hours the first bumped head happened! I've asked if there is any regulations or reasons as to why they have put it there, and also asked for it to be moved up but am getting no joy whatsoever at getting any kind of answers and in the mean time everyone in the house has had a go at removing it from the wall with their head! Does anyone know if there are any regulations stating what height a consumer unit has to be at? My friend has just moved into a new build and there's is at ceiling height so im presuming that there isn't.
Replacement consumer unit
- Thread starter scarletd
- Start date
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That's crazy.
There are no specific regulations for height etc, but there are general ones about electrical equipment not being placed so as to be a hazard, and ones about it not being placed where it will get damaged itself, and ones about good workmanship, so all round they've managed to screw up in more than one way.
Tell them it's causing personal injury and is at risk of getting damaged.
If you really cannot get any joy then smack it with a piece of wood and then tell them that it's got damaged because of where it is.
There are no specific regulations for height etc, but there are general ones about electrical equipment not being placed so as to be a hazard, and ones about it not being placed where it will get damaged itself, and ones about good workmanship, so all round they've managed to screw up in more than one way.
Tell them it's causing personal injury and is at risk of getting damaged.
If you really cannot get any joy then smack it with a piece of wood and then tell them that it's got damaged because of where it is.
They may have been trying to comply with Part M of the building regs.
Accessibilty to switches and socket outlets, including, (because of their sensitive nature) RCDs and RCBOs.
From 'Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations' :
A way of satisfying the requirement is to install all switches, socket outlets and controls throughout the dwelling in accessible positions and at a height of between 450 mm and 1200 mm from the finished floor level.
There isn't a requirement to do this on a rewire, but maybe they thought they should with a new (17th) CU.
Accessibilty to switches and socket outlets, including, (because of their sensitive nature) RCDs and RCBOs.
From 'Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations' :
A way of satisfying the requirement is to install all switches, socket outlets and controls throughout the dwelling in accessible positions and at a height of between 450 mm and 1200 mm from the finished floor level.
There isn't a requirement to do this on a rewire, but maybe they thought they should with a new (17th) CU.
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Thanks everyone. Your all confirming what I already thought. I did a bit of research and found recommendations but nothing to say that it definatley had to be at that height. And if they had chosen elsewhere to put it, it wouldn't have been such a problem but at the bottom of the stairs in a very small hallway wasn't the best idea. Im going to chase it up again in the morning now (had already thought about taking a hammer to it after I bumped my head but thought that probably wasn't the best idea however it may well be a last resort!)
It may be that the housing association has very fixed ideas about the height of electrical fixtures, and don't take common sense into account.
It sounds like this consumer unit is also at a risk of being damaged by moving furniture up and down the stairs.
Hopefully moving it up will solve the problem.
If the structure of the building allows it, you may even be able to have a 'flushed in' recessed consumer unit.
But don't bank on it.
If you can send photographs, it will be much appreciated.
It sounds like this consumer unit is also at a risk of being damaged by moving furniture up and down the stairs.
Hopefully moving it up will solve the problem.
If the structure of the building allows it, you may even be able to have a 'flushed in' recessed consumer unit.
But don't bank on it.
If you can send photographs, it will be much appreciated.
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