Is it legal to have electric cables and heating pipes on the floor under kitchen cabinets

Lulu58

We are having a new kitchen fitted.

Some of the cables for appliances and sockets have partly been chased into the walls. Once the cables get past the level where the new worktop will be they are left hanging behind the cabinets and run around the floor to the other side of the kitchen to power sockets, spurs etc.

We have also had a new radiator fitted. The plumber used flexible piping so that he did not have to remove the kitchen cabinets. These also trail on the floor. He asked us to ensure they were clipped to the wall when we had the kitchen done.

The kitchen fitter has been a bit of a nightmare. He was recommended by the electrician. I spoke with both of them and asked why the pipework and cabling was not clipped to the wall as agreed. Their response was to the effect that they had done more kitchens than me and it was all ok.

Whilst I don't like what they've done, and it looks shoddy, my biggest concern now is whether it is safe and, possibly even whether it is legal to do this.

Can anyone give me some advice on this?

keith969

Shoddy work. Who oversaw the kitchen supply and fitting? Did the electrics get signed off? As for the plumbing it will probably be OK but you really need to know and specify before the job what you want - I'd always prefer copper to plastic piping, especially if you have any risk of mice.

Lulu58

Unfortunately it is me who's overseeing the kitchen installation.

I had agreed with the kitchen fitter and the electrician beforehand what was going to be done, but when I got home everything was in place and I found that they had done effectively what they wanted.

I spoke to them both again and was told this is the normal way to do things, although the electrician admitted he partly did it because the kitchen fitter was fitting the kitchen whilst he was doing the electrics so it was difficult. I'm not making excuses, but it's difficult when you have a so called 'expert' telling a complete novice what's what.

We've had a new consumer unit and various other electrics completed. This was all checked and signed off.

The gas fitter only used flexible pipes because the original kitchen was in situ. He did ask and explained the difference between the two . We agreed to the flexible piping, but he couldn't reach all round to pin it to the wall as he was working below the units. He advised the kitchen fitter should pin them to the wall. As mentioned above, the fitter agreed to do that but didn't.

I don't know what to do at this stage as everything is in place.

jk0

Forget it and move on.


Tradesmen always bodge this sort of thing. Unless you want to have no kitchen for weeks while you wait for everything to be done properly, this is what you have to put up with.

naf123

As long its not a trip hazard, hidden out of sight e.g its under the cabinet hidden by a kickerboard, and its all working, it should be ok.

As the poster above says, forget and move on

Aylesbury_Duck

Is it impossible to get them clipped to the wall now? If not, I would do so. Having them off the ground is helpful for two reasons. One, if any of the wet appliances leak, you don't have cables trailing in water and two, having them off the ground would reduce the risk of rodent damage if you ever got visitors.

Lulu58

Thanks, naf123. I really just wanted to make sure that it was safe and legal.

naf123

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Is it impossible to get them clipped to the wall now? If not, I would do so. Having them off the ground is helpful for two reasons. One, if any of the wet appliances leak, you don't have cables trailing in water and two, having them off the ground would reduce the risk of rodent damage if you ever got visitors.

Very good advice about the cables off ground - should be easy to do with some hooks.

Lulu58

I replied to you post, Aylesbury Duck but can't see it now.

The cables are not long enough to clip anywhere because the electrician ran them under the cabinets rather than round them.

The heating pipework is probably just about long enough, but there are a couple of tricky areas which would be difficult to reach.

I'll ask them again next week if I feel up to another battle.

EachPenny

Lulu58 wrote: »

The cables are not long enough to clip anywhere because the electrician ran them under the cabinets rather than round them.

The heating pipework is probably just about long enough, but there are a couple of tricky areas which would be difficult to reach.

I'll ask them again next week if I feel up to another battle.

You can use these:-
https://www.screwfix.com/p/2-way-adhesive-base-black-19-x-19mm-pack-of-100/93380
(other suppliers available)

...with cable ties. You could stick them on the underside of the kitchen unit above where the pipe/cable currently runs, then use a cable tie to lift the pipe/cable off the ground.

The length of the cables/pipes is then irrelevant because you are just lifting them up rather than moving them.

Don't fully tighten the cable tie, leave it as a 'loop' (with space for a couple of fingers) to allow for movement. Also, if you put too much strain on the fixture by attempting to move the pipes around then the adhesive is likely to fail. Keep it all loose and free.