Gas hob and over hanging cupboard to the side: regulation / appropriate model?

[Alphab]

Hi all,

Our gas hob is partially broken, so we ordered a new one, but the installer refused to set it up as he said our cupboard were too low.

I have made a diagram with the dimensions of our kitchen, available at this address: bit DOT ly / 143TjRK (without spaces, and please replace DOT with . I couldn't past the link otherwise as I'm a new user, I guarantee this isn't any kind of spam!)

The diagram has all the needed measures, but if you can't see it, basically we have two cupboards hanging over the sides of the hobs (not directly over it), at a distance of 37 cm over the worktop.

The old hob was set up barely 3 years ago so we're thinking that that must have been ok then... I've heard many completely different versions of what the regulations are, and I am struggling to find a solution.

Would anyone know what the regulations actually are, and/or be able to point me to a model of hob that would be acceptable in this set up?

Thanks very much in advance!

 

[Alphab]

Looks like I can upload a picture straight here, so here is the diagram I made.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Masood]

The units need to be minimum 460mm above the hob, whereas you have a clearance of 370mm.

 

[dave1]

You will need to check the manufacturers instructions which will tell you exactly what clearances are required.

 

[Masood]

You will need to check the manufacturers instructions which will tell you exactly what clearances are required.

Good point. Manufacturer's instructions take precedence, but in their absence the figure I quoted is the default.

 

[Mike Jackson]

I doubt the install was legal 3 years ago. It's unlikely you'll get a gas hob that will fit with those clearances.

 

[kirkgas]

I don't think any MI allows the units to be that low, however it is possibly to have them that low if they are stepped back 50mm from the vertical line of the edge of the hob, not easy to do once the kitchen is in, the second option is to see if you can get a 500mm hob and change the work top, the third option is to fit an electric hob as the clearances aren't as large, check MI first
Just because it is fitted this doesn't mean it was fitted properly, as we see on a daily basis, I don't know the situation of who fitted the hob etc, but if you know who it was you may have some recourse against them

 

[kirkgas]

A fourth option could be to get the units altered by shortening them to give you the 460mm height above hob

 

[Alphab]

Thanks all for your replies even if they are not really encouraging...

I have now traced back the installation instructions of my model of hob (Candy PL 40 AX), and the only clearance instructions they give are the one on this picture, which is not very clear I am afraid.



It states 60 cm directly above the hobs, which we meet, and nothing immediately to the side for 12cm, which we also meet. Or is that 120 on the side supposed to be enforced even for cupsboard that are much higher above the worktop too?

View attachment 13939

So if I understand you guys well, I need to have my cupboards at at least 460mm (Masood, When you give that figure, is it measured from the worktop where the hob is, or from the top of the pan support?), and follow manufacturer's instruction.

What if the manufacturer's instructions require less?

And regarding switching to an electric hob, would this require a special power socket or would a normal one be ok?

Thanks again!

 

[Masood]

460mm from the worktop, and you'd need a separate fused spur for an electric cooker. You may need to have a new cable run in from the distribution board, and it's own breaker. If there is no spare breaker you'll need to have one installed, or to have your board upgraded.

 

[GrahamM]

Unless the manufacturer instructions state anything different the minimum standard is measure 50mm out to sides of hob and visualise an imaginary line rising up. Your units cannot overhang this. With the general clearance of at least 460mm above hod to the extractor.

If the manufacture clearly specifies different figures then these overrule the general standard.

 

[kirkgas]

The manufacturers instruction over rule anything else, so if you can find one that meets what you have that's good, but I don't think you will, check with a spark re the power supply for the electric hob, generally there is a cooker supply in that is 30/45 amp which can be adapted and used

 

[Bazz]

Personally I would get the hob repaired. A qualified engineer would not install a hob with the dimensions you have, all the best.

 

[Alphab]

Thanks all, we ended up removing some decorative bottom part under of the cabinet units, giving us the few extras centimetres we needed to get a Samsung gas hob fitted, which only needed 40 cm clearance there.

Thanks gain for your help!