Full Rewire Consumer Unit Height

[danny30]

Hi all. I am not an electrician but greatly really appreciate some advice if possible.

I am in the process of getting a full house rewire and the consumer unit is currently under the stairs. The electrician is saying that to get the work signed off by building regulations the consumer unit has to be moved on the side of the stairs about 1.2 M high. I would prefer it to stay where it is but obviously have to stick by the regulations.

I looked online and it seems that the mounting height of over 1.2M only applies to new dwellings. Would that be correct or does a full rewire and new consumer unit mean that it would count as a new dwelling and will need to be mounted higher up?

Thanks

 

[telectrix]

it can stay under the stairs. you are correct in assuming that the 1.2m height is for new build. a small emergency light under the stairs would make life easier if you had to get to it in the dark to reset a breaker or RCD.

 

[bill01803]

There are no regs on heights on rewire, so it looks like you should be looking for another electrician because if he doesn't know the height regs what does he know

 

[danny30]

it can stay under the stairs. you are correct in assuming that the 1.2m height is for new build. a small emergency light under the stairs would make life easier if you had to get to it in the dark to reset a breaker or RCD.

it can stay under the stairs. you are correct in assuming that the 1.2m height is for new build. a small emergency light under the stairs would make life easier if you had to get to it in the dark to reset a breaker or RCD.

Thank you for your quick reply. So to confirm it can stay under the stairs and is fine to get signed off?

 

[telectrix]

being the cynic . would relocating the CU not generate a few extra hours and hence ££££s for spark?

 

[pc1966]

Another factor is you need sensible access to it, not just for installation, but afterwards for inspection and resetting anything. So if it can go under the stairs and not present a problem for reasonable access it should be fine.

That also implies not filling the area up with general (or particularly flammable) crap later on! But that is outside of sign-off.

Also a +1 for telectrix suggesting an emergency light in there powered from the floor's lighting circuit. If the lights trip and it is dark you really would appreciate it!
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being the cynic . would relocating the CU not generate a few extra hours and hence ££££s for spark?

If it is an actual rewire I guess not a big difference in time, unless it is already wired up and a move is bring proposed...

 

[danny30]

Forgot to mention that the consumer is being fully replaced as the old one is very out of date.

 

[Midwest]

agree with what’s been said. In a full rewire, I’d use the opportunity to put it somewhere, where it’s easily accessible, so perhaps under the stairs (dependant on the style of stairs) might no be the best of places. Also the newer option height would also be a good idea.

 

[pc1966]

Moving far from under the stairs might be a problem as the DNO cut-out would need moving as well, or maybe a switch-fuse if feeding long 'tails' in SWA or whatever to a new place.

However, you can get flush-mount options for many boxes so you could have it on the outside of "under the stairs" but not protruding my any significant degree and that might be withing the 3m max run for tails without a switch-fuse.

Again, under the stairs might be OK but adequate access is a key point.

 

[danny30]

I am very annoyed that he tells me on the day that he is supposed to connect everything that he wants to put my boiler beside the stairs and on top of it he wasn't even going to put a flush unit. Looks horrible there.

Is it difficult, and what would it entail to extend the wires and move it next to the front door around 3 metres away?

And what would we estimate the cost on moving it be? Then in the worst case scenario I can deduct that amount required if he refuses to move it elsewhere and pay someone else to do that when they leave.