Rank: Forum user 
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Morning all,
Quick question/request for information....is there anything that says we can't move an electricity distribution board into a cleaners cupboard which has a ground level sink in it. My initial thinking is yes, we can, as long as its adequately protected and suitably located. Having a flash of unsureness (new job!)
Thanks in advance.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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So you can stand in the sink while operating the switches............hmm.
is it Friday already?
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Rank: Forum user
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ChrisBurns wrote:So you can stand in the sink while operating the switches............hmm.
is it Friday already? Without knowing the size of the room, the layout etc, how on earth can you possibly make a sarcastic comment like that. Seriously, I understand risk assessment, but perhaps I needed to be specific, EWR code of practice etc is not something I'm too familiar with, hence asking any "professionals".
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Rank: Forum user
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Similar to Chris
General rule of thumb that I use is that if you can have one hand in water and the fingers of the other in the plug socket/electrical supply then the electrical equipment is too close.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sorry Safety Girl but how big is a cleaners cupboard?
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Rank: Forum user
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Must admit I recently went to a building which is a new build and the cleaners cupboard was more like a room, this has DB boards in place due to the layout.
I am sure Safety Girl is not talking about a sluice type cupboard where all you can fit is a mop and hoover, hence them thinking of placing a DB board there?
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Rank: Forum user
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SafetyGirl wrote:ChrisBurns wrote:So you can stand in the sink while operating the switches............hmm.
is it Friday already? Without knowing the size of the room, the layout etc, how on earth can you possibly make a sarcastic comment like that. Seriously, I understand risk assessment, but perhaps I needed to be specific, EWR code of practice etc is not something I'm too familiar with, hence asking any "professionals". Sorry if my reply seemed flippant as well. In new build the position of switchboards and other electrical equipment is mentioned in the Building Regulations and there used to be a British Standard that covered it as well (which is where my rule of thumb came from). However with the improvement in the standards of protection there is more that is covered by risk assessment. However if in the same position as yourself I would seek advice from a competent Electrician and a Building Standards surveyor.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks to all replies, hammer/bob, you're right, it's the size of my living room! I'm waiting for our in-house electrician to come back from holiday but its our Facilities Manager who asked the question and rather than give a half a**ed reply, I wanted something substantial to report to him.
Don't worry bob and Chris, I'm not overly sensitive, just feisty.
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Rank: New forum user
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Good day you will find on the building drawings that your cleaners cupboard?? is actully a switch room? if the room is that big can you not build an internal cupbaord that way you reslove both issues ??
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Rank: Forum user
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Forza wrote:Good day you will find on the building drawings that your cleaners cupboard?? is actully a switch room? if the room is that big can you not build an internal cupbaord that way you reslove both issues ??
Looking at this resolution now, thank you Forza :-)
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Rank: Super forum user
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Morning,
You might want to have a look at section 7 of the 17th edition wiring regs - whilst not specifically covering your installation it does give guidance on protection zones and required protective ratings for installations within the zones. I would suggest you should also seek the opinion of your electrician before going much further, even if that means waiting for him to come back off holiday, as with all due respect you are probably not as competent as he is in this particular field.....
Jim
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Rank: Super forum user 
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There are issues of housekeeping and mutual safety to consider. A cleaners cupboard being an unsecured area with free access and used as a temporary store for all sorts of junk, with potential for damage, inadvertant contact and accidental switching etc. One would also have to consider the fire compartment rating of this cupboard too.
Much depends on the room dimensions and the type and size of "distribution board" involved. Where space is limited, I would generally suggest "no". For any but the smaller domestic boards, I'd want these rooms secure and accessible by authorised personnel only.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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SafetyGirl,
Part 7 of BS7671 will not apply as this is NOT a Special Installation or Location.
HOWEVER, there are other relvant regulations, both statutory under EAWR & advisory such as 7671 which could make this a bad idea.
Flammable materials stored in what could become a switch room, inadequate safe access to electrical equipment etc.
This however, would be dependent upon whether you are looking to move say a 2 way single phase board which only controls the lights and sockets that are wholly located in the "large" cleaners cupboard or perhaps on the other hand a 400A distribution board covering the whole building for example!
BTW Ron,
I agree completely with most of your points, however even some of the larger 3 phase boards are designed for the breakers to be able to be reset by instructed persons (see other post).
Housekeeping, size and fire rating are IMHO very valid considerations.
There are also arguments for NOT "securing" access to distribution equipment.
Junk store, absolutely.
Damage yes.
Accidental switching, should not be possible with correctly maintained devices.
Inadvertant direct contact MUST not be possible to comply with EAWR for any board that could be considered in such a situation.
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Rank: Super forum user
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SafetyGirl wrote:ChrisBurns wrote:So you can stand in the sink while operating the switches............hmm.
is it Friday already? Without knowing the size of the room, the layout etc, how on earth can you possibly make a sarcastic comment like that. Seriously, I understand risk assessment, but perhaps I needed to be specific, EWR code of practice etc is not something I'm too familiar with, hence asking any "professionals". Hi Safety Girl, sorry to be pedantic here but the following is a wikepedia definition of cupboard and room. It is Friday after all. A cupboard (pronounced /ˈkʌbərd/) or press (Hiberno-English) is a type of cabinet, often made of wood, used indoors to store household objects such as food, crockery, textiles and liquor, and protect them from dust and dirt. A room, in architecture, is any distinguishable space within a structure. Usually, a room is separated from other spaces or passageways by interior walls; moreover, it is separated from outdoor areas by an exterior wall, sometimes with a door. Historically the use of rooms dates at least to early Minoan cultures about 2200 BC, where excavations on Santorini, Greece at Akrotiri reveal clearly defined rooms within certain structures.[1]
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