The council house I live in is currently being re-wired. Several new
sockets have been installed in the kitchen. For the washing machine &
fridge outlets have been placed below the worktops, with seperate
switches located higher up. In the case of the washing machine the
switch has been placed direcly above the kitchen sink, which seemed a
bit strange to me.
The switch is on the wall directly behind the sink draining board, only
about 6 inches up, which seemed a bit unsafe to me. I spoke to one of
the electricians, but he told me the switch is safe was placed as per
the plans, and did not require moving.

The socket's position can be seen he
http://notfunny.org/media/temp/DCP_1954.JPG

Does anyone think this breaks any regulations? I'm still not convinced
that it is safe, but I'd like to hear some other opinions before I
demand that the contractors move it

Thanks, Calum

In article . com,
writes

The switch is on the wall directly behind the sink draining board, only
about 6 inches up, which seemed a bit unsafe to me. I spoke to one of
the electricians, but he told me the switch is safe was placed as per
the plans, and did not require moving.

The socket's position can be seen he
http://notfunny.org/media/temp/DCP_1954.JPG

It's fine, don't sweat it.
--
fred

fred wrote:
In article . com,
writes


The switch is on the wall directly behind the sink draining board, only
about 6 inches up, which seemed a bit unsafe to me. I spoke to one of
the electricians, but he told me the switch is safe was placed as per
the plans, and did not require moving.

The socket's position can be seen he
http://notfunny.org/media/temp/DCP_1954.JPG


It's fine, don't sweat it.

Why is it fine, given that it's perfectly possible (and likely) for the
switch to be operated by dripping wet hands (+/- another wet hand
holding the metal sink?)

Note I'm not arguing: just asking the question!

David

On 15 Mar 2005 13:57:28 -0800, wrote:

The council house I live in is currently being re-wired. Several new
sockets have been installed in the kitchen. For the washing machine &
fridge outlets have been placed below the worktops, with seperate
switches located higher up. In the case of the washing machine the
switch has been placed direcly above the kitchen sink, which seemed a
bit strange to me.
The switch is on the wall directly behind the sink draining board, only
about 6 inches up, which seemed a bit unsafe to me. I spoke to one of
the electricians, but he told me the switch is safe was placed as per
the plans, and did not require moving.

The socket's position can be seen he
http://notfunny.org/media/temp/DCP_1954.JPG

Does anyone think this breaks any regulations? I'm still not convinced
that it is safe, but I'd like to hear some other opinions before I
demand that the contractors move it

Thanks, Calum

Hi calum ,

i'm with lobster on this one. I can only search the net for the legal
specifics as you can but my gut says NO WAY.

There are regs for shower switches and electric hobs so i think that
this is definately subject to regs and indeed contrary to them.

I'm sure you will have enough replies off electricains soon enough.

Andy

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 23:12:33 UTC, Andy pandy wrote:

i'm with lobster on this one. I can only search the net for the legal
specifics as you can but my gut says NO WAY.

In that situation I wouldn't say NO WAY...but I'd fit a suitably IP
rated switch if I really wanted it there. Did that with the light
fitting in a cramped shower room!

--
Bob Eager
begin a new life...dump Windows!

In article , Lobster davidlobst
writes
fred wrote:
In article . com,
writes


The switch is on the wall directly behind the sink draining board, only
about 6 inches up, which seemed a bit unsafe to me. I spoke to one of
the electricians, but he told me the switch is safe was placed as per
the plans, and did not require moving.

The socket's position can be seen he
http://notfunny.org/media/temp/DCP_1954.JPG


It's fine, don't sweat it.

Why is it fine, given that it's perfectly possible (and likely) for the
switch to be operated by dripping wet hands (+/- another wet hand
holding the metal sink?)

Mainly cos in a small kitchen (like this one looks) it's pretty hard not to
place an electrical switch or outlet within reach of water. The switch isn't
'over the sink', it's behind the draining board so for me that makes it the
place of least evils to have it. AIUI, this is not in breach of electrical regs
but I wouldn't place an outlet there.
--
fred

In article . com,
wrote:
The council house I live in is currently being re-wired. Several new
sockets have been installed in the kitchen. For the washing machine &
fridge outlets have been placed below the worktops, with seperate
switches located higher up. In the case of the washing machine the
switch has been placed direcly above the kitchen sink, which seemed a
bit strange to me.
The switch is on the wall directly behind the sink draining board, only
about 6 inches up, which seemed a bit unsafe to me. I spoke to one of
the electricians, but he told me the switch is safe was placed as per
the plans, and did not require moving.

I really can't understand this fashion for having isolator switches for
appliances which are fed via a socket but normally left switched on.

They'll all have the means of being switched off on the appliance if
needed - even a fridge which can be defrosted by simply turning down the
thermostat.

For pro servicing, anyone with a modicum of sense would unplug them.

And if the rare event happened where a faulty appliance needed to be
isolated - like say it burst into flames - I very much doubt the average
punter would know which isolator applied to which appliance.

A cooker on a 30 amp+ radial circuit is rather different. They can't
usually be unplugged.

--
*There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:18:47 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

I really can't understand this fashion for having isolator switches for
appliances which are fed via a socket but normally left switched on.

I think it's for keeping the washing machine's contents (and DW and
TB) safe from potential damage caused by small fingers daytime. The
top switches don't attract their attention unlike the cute 90C
boil-my-coloureds button. They play daytime near the machines but
can't start any cycle before the Hand of Daddy intervenes. Then when
they're tidied to bed, switch on and run the units.

My theory anyway.


--
New anti-spam address cmylod at despammed dot com

In article ,
Colum Mylod wrote:
I really can't understand this fashion for having isolator switches for
appliances which are fed via a socket but normally left switched on.

I think it's for keeping the washing machine's contents (and DW and
TB) safe from potential damage caused by small fingers daytime. The
top switches don't attract their attention unlike the cute 90C
boil-my-coloureds button. They play daytime near the machines but
can't start any cycle before the Hand of Daddy intervenes. Then when
they're tidied to bed, switch on and run the units.

That's certainly a decent reason. If you remember to switch them off...

--
*It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Does anyone think this breaks any regulations? I'm still not convinced
that it is safe, but I'd like to hear some other opinions before I
demand that the contractors move it

It looks fine to me. There's an unwritten rule of being 30cm from the sink,
but even this isn't enforceable.

Just because it is above the drainer makes it no more likely that you'll
operate it with wet hands than a switch 2m away. What determines that is
whether you bother to dry your hands before operating switchgear. In fact,
in this case you are unlikely to ever operate the switch at all, as you
probably won't be switching off your washing machine at the mains.

The main thing is that you don't want it getting splashed everytime you fill
the sink, which isn't likely in the shown location.

Christian.

I think it's for keeping the washing machine's contents (and DW and TB)
safe from potential damage caused by small fingers daytime. The top
switches don't attract their attention unlike the cute 90C
boil-my-coloureds button. They play daytime near the machines but can't
start any cycle before the Hand of Daddy intervenes. Then when they're
tidied to bed, switch on and run the units.

My theory anyway.

Good theory ! our grandson has just discovered the delights of the kitchen.

Dave

--
For what we are about to balls up may common sense prevent us doing it
again
in the future!!

In article ,
Dave Stanton wrote:
I think it's for keeping the washing machine's contents (and DW and TB)
safe from potential damage caused by small fingers daytime. The top
switches don't attract their attention unlike the cute 90C
boil-my-coloureds button. They play daytime near the machines but can't
start any cycle before the Hand of Daddy intervenes. Then when they're
tidied to bed, switch on and run the units.

My theory anyway.

Good theory ! our grandson has just discovered the delights of the
kitchen.

I'd think there are far more worrying hazards in there for a toddler than
playing with a washing machine...

--
*You sound reasonable......time to up my medication

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Good theory ! our grandson has just discovered the delights of the
kitchen.

I'd think there are far more worrying hazards in there for a toddler than
playing with a washing machine...

Don't disagree at all.

Dave

--
For what we are about to balls up may common sense prevent us doing it
again
in the future!!