Inaccessible fused spur and outlet

Question

I'm currently refitting a kitchen which a cowboy made a real mess out of, the customer is hoping to recover some of what she paid to the previous contractor. 

The fitter had installed an integrated fridge freezer unit covering two fused spurs, and the outlet for the fridge, they had also left the outlet for the dishwasher behind the dishwasher unit (which was fed from one of the two spurs behind the fridge).

I've always been told the aforementioned practise is illegal, or at very least in breach of regulations. 

Can anyone confirm if this is correct, and point me in the right direction of some literature to verify this?

There were also sockets above the gas hob, and within 300mm of the sink. 

Thanks in advance 👍🏻

Sebastian · Accepted Answer

It sounds like you're dealing with quite a challenging situation with the previous installation. To address your concerns:

Integrated Fridge Freezer Unit and Fused Spurs: You are correct that having two fused spurs behind an integrated fridge-freezer unit is not compliant with regulations. According to the 2015 IET Wiring Regulations (18th Edition), appliances like a fridge-freezer should have a dedicated socket and shouldn’t share fused spurs with other appliances. This practice could potentially be dangerous and should definitely be rectified.

Dishwasher Outlet Behind Unit: Having the dishwasher outlet positioned behind the unit and fed from a spur behind the fridge is also not compliant. Electrical outlets must be accessible for maintenance, and the wiring must be installed with proper consideration of accessibility and safety.

Sockets Above the Gas Hob: Sockets above a gas hob and within 300mm of a sink are also a breach of regulations, as stipulated in the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671). Sockets should not be positioned near any water sources or gas appliances to avoid safety risks.

For further verification and guidance, I recommend referencing the IET Wiring Regulations (18th Edition) and the Part P of the Building Regulations (if in the UK), which govern electrical installations in kitchens. These documents should provide a solid foundation for understanding the legal requirements for electrical installations in domestic properties.

If you need any help in bringing the kitchen up to standard, I’d be happy to discuss how I can assist with the necessary corrections.

Thibaut · Answer

Hi there, 
This does sound like a very unwise way to fit a kitchen, and also against wiring regulations (18th edition, 2018, IET Wiring Regulations, known as BS 7671:2018) and building regulations.
1. Regarding the concealed two fused spurs, fridge outlet and dishwasher outlet.

Preventing access to electrical accessories and connections goes against wiring regulation 513.1 which states that "[...] every item of equipment shall be arranged so as to facilitate its operation, inspection and maintenance and access to each connection". 
It also goes against wiring regulation 526.3 which states "Every connection shall be accessible for inspection, testing and maintenance" with a list of exceptions which do not cover your case.
Finally, wiring regulation 132.12 states that "Electrical equipment shall be arranged to provide (i) sufficient space for the initial installation and later replacement of individual items of electrical equipment (ii) accessibility for operation, inspection, testing, fault detection, maintenance and repair".

2. About the sockets above the gas hob, and within 300 mm of the sink.

The wiring regulations do not technically forbid sockets above hob, however they do require that all electrical equipment be suitable for the environment it is installed in (called "external influences" in the regulations): regulation 522.1.2 states that "Wiring system components, including cables and wiring accessories, shall only be installed or handled at temperatures within the limits stated in the relevant product specification or as given by the manufacturer". Additionally, regulation 522.2.1 requires efficient methods be used to "avoid the effects of heat from external sources”, which arguably implies no sockets above hobs.
Similarly, the wiring regulations do not ban sockets close to sinks, but do require that sockets be suitable to withstand external influences, in this case water. Sockets within 300 mm from the sink would potentially breach regulations 522.3.1 and 522.3.2.
However, Part P of the building regulations (which apply in the whole of the UK except Scotland, which has its own building regulations) requires sockets to be at least 300 mm from the edge of kitchen sinks and draining boards, and 100 mm horizontally from the edge of a hob.

I hope this helps!

Any questions, do get in touch.

Ryan · Answer

sockets above hob and within 300mm of a sink is not right.

the fuse spures should be insight not behind accessories otherwise they no point in having them in first place.

Matt · Answer

Hi warren

All sockets must be 150mm from hob left or right. 

No isolating switches should be covered as they point of isolation.

Andrew · Answer

You're right. 513.1 of BS7671 covers the requirement for accessibility and 300mm is the recommended minimum distance from sinks but I don't know the reg number.

Inaccessible fused spur and outlet

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