Location of a gas cooker in kitchen - regulations?

osian

We're trying to plan out a new kitchen.

Currently our gas cooker is located in the corner of the kitchen as this is where the cooker point and gas pipe is.

We went to B&Q this week for a kitchen plan and the man was talking us through our options and we said we'd like to keep the cooker in its current location. He got a bit upset and said that we needed to move it to the other side of the kitchen as we needed 300mm of worktop either side and not near a wall etc. We agreed to let him plan out the kitchen with the cooker on the other side.

Anyway we spoke to an electrician tonight and he said that it would be extremely difficult to move the cooker electric point due to the layout of the kitchen/house.

I just want to know is it illegal to keep the cooker in its current position, I've had a look online and I can only see recommendations for new builds. The guy in B&Q said we wouldn't be able to claim on house insurance if we had a cooker fire, yet this question has never been asked by any insurance companies of ours.

Be grateful if anyone knows the deal on this - thanks.

babywillow

We had our kitchen planned by B and Q also and they said we had to change our cooker postion to. It had the combi boiler slightly to the left and a window to the right, we have had the house rented out for last 3 yrs and no one has said this was an issue. Anyway kitchen now fitted and cooker moved - have a gas man friend who charged £60 to move gas pipe and install new hob!

osian

Babywillow, thanks - did you have to install a new electric cooker point as well too?

babywillow

Yes, we have an electrician who lives to doors up! and he put a new socket in for us - under the worktop so we have cut a hole in the back of the cupboard so we can reach.

osian

Thanks babywillow. Glad you could get it sorted.

osian

Alternatively, does anyone know if a gas cooker needs a special cooker electrical socket? The guy in B&Q said we could just use the normal circuit socket (240v) but I'm not sure I believe him???!!!

Jaynne

osian wrote: »

Alternatively, does anyone know if a gas cooker needs a special cooker electrical socket? The guy in B&Q said we could just use the normal circuit socket (240v) but I'm not sure I believe him???!!!

Every domestic socket will be 240V a gas cooker will only need a normal socket but there are also plenty of single ovens that can run off a normal socket - look for ones that come with a 13A plug and will be described as not needing an electrician install.

osian

Thanks Jaynne - that's really informative.

keystone

Jaynne wrote: »

Every domestic socket will be 240V a gas cooker will only need a normal socket but there are also plenty of single ovens that can run off a normal socket - look for ones that come with a 13A plug and will be described as not needing an electrician install.

A gas cooker is not an electric oven. A gas cooker may only need volts for the ignition system which should be run off an FCU not a 13A plug. Seeing as we are going rather off topic I'll add that an electric cooker can't run off a 13A socket either and neither can an induction hob.

Cheers

gas4you

What is going above the cooker where it is now?

You need a minimum of 760mm above the hob burners to anything combustible, unless manufacturers instructions state otherwise, eg extractor hoods etc.

A gas cooker can go against a wall ok. Any electric socket for the gas cooker to be plugged into needs to be within 1.5m of the gas appliance.

jc808

Kitchen_DesignR wrote: »

Even if you connect an existing oven to the original socket.
You need a Part P registered electrician and the connection has to meet Part P.
This may require a new ring main being installed.

u sure about that?