400v 3P Disboard Distance from Belfast sink

I'm pretty sure  there is not an exact reg - but it needs to be far enough away not to be splashed as the sink is used . How sealed is the dis-board, and is it on the level of the sink or above ?

In some ways the 400V rating part is a bit of a red herring - it could have been a light switch, but like every other electrical item it needs to be safe to touch the outside of it, though how the door on it opens/shuts and if it is in regular use may affect the wisdom of moving it or adding boxing or a partition.

Exactly what danger do you think is involved? As long as the DB is Earthed, and you may decide to install local equipotential bonding to the plumbing, there is no danger. DBs are usually IP44 unless you cut a big hole in them. There is no regulation to prevent this installation. The Belfast sink is insulating too, but there would equally be no problem with a stainless one. Do you have a copy of the 15th edition, if so it is 30 years out of date? Mike is quite right. Please explain how a shock could be obtained?

15th, that`s quite modern Dave, I was brung up on the 14th being quite modern. Bakerlite BC lampholder adaptors and Y splitters to do do your ironing, toasters etc etc, earths not required (well never used, what were earths for?) . Skrewits, porcelain, buckle clips etc etc etc. You`d to turn the telly on 10 mins in advance to get to see coronation street and world cup 

The recommended guidance is 300mm to the left or right, but basically there is no regulation. The main considerations are going to be is the sink in the way of access of the board and is stream or splashing from the sink going to effect it probably hence the reason 300mm is recommended.

Where is that recommendation, Colin?

From Electrical Safety First, NICEIC, NHBC etc. 
 

BS 7671 does not specify a minimum height or horizontal distance.  However, Regulation 512.2.1, relating to external influences, requires that equipment shall be of a design appropriate to the situation in which it is to be used or its mode of installation shall take account of the conditions likely to be encountered.

Regulation 522.3.1 requires a wiring system to be selected and erected in such a way that no damage is caused by condensation or by ingress of water whilst being installed, used or maintained.

When installing standard accessories, good practice would be to install them at least 300 mm horizontally from the extremity of the sink bowl (excluding drainer) or wash basin opening. 

For commercial premises, the same principle applies.  However, the designer may consider it appropriate, due to the increased risk of splashing or the use of water jets, to install equipment that has a degree of protection of at least IPX4 or IPX5 respectively, as appropriate.

If an accessory is encountered closer to a sink than this during a periodic inspection, engineering judgement will need to be applied to determine whether this is safe. An accessory so located for a considerable time that had not suffered any perceptible water ingress or damage would not warrant a classification code or comment on the Electrical Installation Condition Report.

General guidance is to avoid positioning a consumer unit immediately above or alongside a sink.

Regulation number(s):

• 512.2.1
• 522.3.1

That Colin was not what I asked. A metal DB is normally IP44. This is splash and condensation resistant. A 300mm displacement is unlikely to make much difference to exposure in commercial premises. In other words, you are saying this is an “opinion” and not from a particular source. BS7671 fully recognises this situation and uses IP ratings to define problems, defined by 512.2.1, and 522.3.1 is irrelevant in this situation as the external influence is clearly water ingress. You personally may not like this and it is not ideal, but I cannot see that it is contrary to BS7671. If it has large open holes, this is a different problem, but we do not know this. I would expect that the cables into this DB are probably SWA or in containment, and hole sealing is probably satisfactory. Holes in the bottom surface may be a good thing to allow condensation to escape, but do not offer any particular risk.

Hi Dave this was the answer given by Electrical Safety First from this question they printed.

Q1.54 How close can an accessory and/or consumer unit or distribution board be installed to a sink or to a wash basin to protect from splashing?

You might disagree but that’s the guidance, your surely not saying it’s ok to install a distribution board above a sink?

IP 44

Really?!!!!

I just took a typical 3ph DB and looked at specification, IP 30.

So, protection against objects > 2.5 mm

NO protection against moisture

Regards

BOD

I have installed replacement consumer units in particularly nasty external cupboards and had to use plastic consumer units to get what was an acceptable IP rating.

The BG garage unit and the slightly larger version are cast aluminium and have rubber seals, so they are okay in wet places making them ideal for outbuildings, but generally consumer units are not rated for water ingress.