Help with building regs for kitchen

dotty74

Hi

We are planning our new kitchen and I'm sure I read in the building regs a while ago that there has to be a specified distance between the cooker and fridge and between the cooker and sink.

Does anyone know which regulation this would be in, as I've tried looking through them but can't find this info anywhere? Or, did I just dream this??!

CKdesigner

Hi, I like it! I think you did dream it!

You may be getting confused with the 'working triangle' which is the relationship between sink, hob and fridge.

dotty74

No, I wasn't thinking of the triangle. It just seems like common sense to me that you shouldn't have a cooker next to a fridge or a sink and I'm sure I read it somewhere...perhaps I did dream it though?!

TomsMom

We've just had a house renovated, including a new kitchen. Building Control Officer made a few visits as Building Regs were involved with the works.

Nothing at all was mentioned to do with Building Regs for anything in the kitchen. As CKD says, I think you're thinking of the working triange. And it's important not to have your fridge right next to your cooker.

TomsMom

Oops, sorry Dotty. I was writing my message as you posted yours, you obviously know about the cooker/fridge thing and the working triangle.

dotty74

Thanks TomsMom, that's helpful. We definitely want space between the 3, but might not be able to have much between the fridge and cooker, as suddenly our available space is looking a lot smaller than we thought! I just wanted to check we're not doing anything dodgy!

Doozergirl

I'm sure there are regs with regard to the positioning of electrical sockets near to the sink, I think they can't be within 30cm of the sink but that's not really applicable to your question.

Building regs would only apply if you were converting a room to a kitchen or building a new kitchen anyway although common sense tells you not to stick a plug socket right next to the sink

dotty74

Ah ha - I think that's what I was thinking of! Thanks, at least I know I'm not going completely mad now!

andyhop

There is DDA rules to abide to

In front of a cooker there has to be a 1m x 1.5m space

Speak to you local building control, some will bend the rules....Edinburgh council dont!

oystercatcher

Well my fridge is next to my cooker. I had it installed like that knowing it's not ideal but it's the only way to fit them in . The company was reputable so I'm sure if there was a law against it they would have said.

Meepster

There are no official guidelines for this, HOWEVER...

Most councils will see a distance of 600mm between a hob and a sink as the minimum standard. Also, they see a distance of 300mm between sink and sockets, 150mm between hob and tall housing/wall as the minimums.

Of course, if your kitchen isn't part of a new build, extension or room conversion, these are completely irrelevant, as the revised building regs don't apply...