Must Kitchen Electric Isolation Switches be in the Kitchen?

Head_The_Ball

Our house was built in about 2004.

On the wall of the kitchen, at about waist height, is a panel with 6 isolation switches for Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Fridge, Extractor fan, Hob plus one unused blank. The oven has a separate isolation switch.

We are planning a complete refit of the kitchen and, for aesthetic reasons, would like to move the panel into the utility room, which is the other side of the wall. It looks a bit ugly sited on the kitchen wall.

The panel would only be moved the thickness of the wall, about 7 inches or so. It would still be easily accessible in the utility room.

Is this allowed under current regulations?

We haven't yet chosen the kitchen supplier and fitter. When we do all the electrical work will be done by a qualified electrician but it would be useful to know about the rules for isolation switches in advance.

Below is a plan view of the new kitchen.

Thanks.

Jonesya

The switches really ought to stay in the same room as the appliances they supply.

Have you considered smartening it up by getting them replaced with something more stylish or modern, chrome or nickel flat plate type fitting. These thing are normally made up from 'grid switches' and they come in various styles.

Head_The_Ball

"Really ought to" or must stay in the room?

We would prefer to move them and can see no reason why not if allowed under part P regulations or whatever.

They are not used on a regular basis and can be as easily used from the utility room as from the kitchen.

In an emergency I suppose it might take a few extra seconds to get to them but how likely is that? The wiring is modern with RCD protection at the consumer unit.

zax47

They are required as a point of isolation so that the appliance doesn't have to me removed in order to disconnect it (unplug it) for maintenance or in an emergency. In an emergency you can hardly pull your dishwasher out to unplug it, if it's already on fire....

I've had a quick look through my BS:7671 17th Edition regs and the On-site guide and can see nothing to suggest they MUST be in the immediate vicinity of the appliance. Generally they are where they are for convenience of wiring. Obviously they must be clearly labelled so that it's clear which switch isolates which appliance, I imagine yours will be nicely engraved.

IMO, your idea and the proposed location seems fine to me (as an electrician) and I can see no reason why your electrician wouldn't agree.

angel_of_dartford

The only issue I can think of concerns "usual routes" for the wiring - if the socket is under the worktop, then it can't be easily seen without removing the appliance, any one fixing into the wall above the worktop may be unaware of the wiring' s existence.

That said, you'd have to be a bit daft not to check 1st before drilling, but it does happen.

sparky260500

how about put the switches in a cupboard in the kitchen

brightontraveller

Does utility have other escape route other than through kitchen?
Logically they be easily accessible in room isolation's required or a room accessed prior to the room, One you that can only be accessed and exited from the room were isolation is required is pretty dumb e.g., a wheelchair bound person may well have difficulties entering and exiting new location? Also fire to an extent you try not to have means of isolation with only entry and exit through room that isolation's required in? (Granted isolation could also be via main CU) Personally wouldn’t put them were you propose,,, for reason mentioned above

If client wants something done good electrician considers dangerous regardless of regs They’d let some other fool do it ? Its ok to argue “its not against regs” in court but dumb is dumb regardless of regs ? Prefer to do a good safe job and sleep at night….
The answer is Electrically fine but check disability / building regs ?

zax47

brightontraveller wrote: »

Does utility have other escape route other than through kitchen?
Logically they be easily accessible in room isolation's required or a room accessed prior to the room, One you that can only be accessed and exited from the room were isolation is required is pretty dumb e.g., a wheelchair bound person may well have difficulties entering and exiting new location? Also fire to an extent you try not to have means of isolation with only entry and exit through room that isolation's required in? (Granted isolation could also be via main CU) Personally wouldn’t put them were you propose,,, for reason mentioned above

If client wants something done good electrician considers dangerous regardless of regs They’d let some other fool do it ? Its ok to argue “its not against regs” in court but dumb is dumb regardless of regs ? Prefer to do a good safe job and sleep at night….
The answer is Electrically fine but check disability / building regs ?

Converse to one of your points, I'd argue that if, say, the dishwasher was on fire then having the isolation switch above the worktop immediately above the appliance (as would be quite normal/usual to do) is a WORSE position than in an adjacent location where it can be accessed more safely. Swings & roundabouts, innit....

brightontraveller

zax47 wrote: »

Converse to one of your points, I'd argue that if, say, the dishwasher was on fire then having the isolation switch above the worktop immediately above the appliance (as would be quite normal/usual to do) is a WORSE position than in an adjacent location where it can be accessed more safely. Swings & roundabouts, innit....

I never mentioned isolation above the appliance but my answer would be?
If client wished above worktop isolation we always set to side above appliance, above worktops *much like a cooker so you don’t need to learn over appliance to isolate it? So scenario doesn’t arise? Either would be technically allowed just one method is dumber than other?
[FONT=&quot]But you tend to find the client wants what they want regardless and agrees with those that agree with them and ignore's those that don’t

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Just to add I wouldn’t have put the isolation panel were it is now either? Having just done 172 flats in a retirement village (nearly exactly same layout) but main isolation panel by entrance to kitchen so depends on designer etc [/FONT]