Recirculating Cooker Hood Question

steve99

Hi,

We have a recirculating cooker hood fitted about 90cms above a 5 ring gas hob. It was installed about 12 years ago.

We are thinking about having a new kitchen fitted and have been told that we need a new hood as the existing one does not conform to current regulations.

To fit a vented extractor hood is nigh-on impossible given where the hood is situated and we are happy with the existing one - albeit it doesn't do a lot.

We are not changing the design of the kitchen or having any extension built.

Are we OK to keep what we have ?

TIA

Steve

andrew-b

Unless the rules changed in the last few years (i'm unaware of it) recirculation hood is fine (we have one that was installed a few years ago now) - though a vented one is preferable. If it were a new build then it may well be a requirement (not 100% sure whether it would have to be vented in that case)..however building regs don't apply retrospectively and so there is no need to change your existing hood to a vented one. Open the window

majjie

It's possible that the regulations - that it doesn't comply with - are to do with the wall units either side ... if you have any ... rather than the cooker hood itself.

Twelve years ago it was common to put wall units right up to the side of an extractor that was the same width as a gas hob. These days you have to leave a 50mm gap either side of a gas hob before having any wall units fitted.

Depends what style of cooker hood you have, whether this would be a problem, or not.

Of course, if you don't have wall units either side ... then just ignore me!

Alias_Omega

steve99 wrote: »

We are thinking about having a new kitchen fitted and have been told that we need a new hood as the existing one does not conform to current regulations.

Who told you that it did not conform.

I bet it was the kitchen guy, giving the quote?


If you bought an item out of B&Q it would come with the charcoal filters to go within the hood.

steve99

majjie wrote: »

It's possible that the regulations - that it doesn't comply with - are to do with the wall units either side ... if you have any ... rather than the cooker hood itself.

Twelve years ago it was common to put wall units right up to the side of an extractor that was the same width as a gas hob. These days you have to leave a 50mm gap either side of a gas hob before having any wall units fitted.

Depends what style of cooker hood you have, whether this would be a problem, or not.

Of course, if you don't have wall units either side ... then just ignore me!

The hob is built into the work surface and wall units are fitted adjacent to the cooker hood.

Are you saying that nowdays every fitter will insisit on leaving the gap ?

The guy giving the quote was the one who told my wife about this. I will call him today to clarify exactly what he thinks the regs are.

Steve

majjie

steve99 wrote: »

Are you saying that nowdays every fitter will insisit on leaving the gap ?

Pretty much - yes.

If you have a Gas Safe Registered plumber to fit the hob (which, of course, you will) - then he can insist that it's not safe, if there isn't that gap - and refuse to connect the hob.

No kitchen fitter - or kitchen designer - (who knows what they're talking about) is going to take that risk.

steve99

Spoke with the kitchen design company. Keeping the existing recirculating hood is OK but his concern is with the hob. He is saying that the wall mounted units require 5cms clearance either side irespective of how high the units are above the hob.

This does appear to be true based on what you have said.

Steve

majjie

steve99 wrote: »

This does appear to be true based on what you have said.
Steve

So you didn't believe me huh?

Only joking

steve99

I didn't believe the designer until you confirmed it.

:T

majjie

Actually he's wrong about it being irrespective of the height. If you had them fitted 760mm, or so, above the top of the hob - then you could forget about the spaces - but it might be a tad inconvenient to use them

steve99

Interesting - can you tell me where I can find a copy of these regulations ?