Latest Fits

[Daz Gizmo]

Yeah, so Joe's installations in his images are not following them....the top image looks like 300mm (could even be 260mm) each side and one a bit further down looks like 500mm on the rh side.

Can Joe tell us if he got the go ahead from Hotpoint on these?

[Stretch]

Most members here normally introduce themselves here by telling us a bit about where they are from, what they do, how many years in the trade etc.

It's quite unusual to join a forum, drag up a 6 month old thread, and then start banging on about MI's...I'm not sure why Joe would even need a "go ahead" from Hotpoint to install them in this way.

[Daz Gizmo]

Okay, Sorry

Been in this industry around 25 years, Cabinetmaker and installer most of this, and the last 10 years just designing and selling kitchens and bedrooms.

Came across the top image via Google search "Luce Hobs" as I am currently having conversations with Hotpoint about their instructions, especially with the 600mm side to side limitation.

Surely if we do not follow and clarify instructions we invalidate warranties and the like? That's why I asked if he had a conversation with the manufacturer's about this.

[Joe the chip]

I never contacted Hotpoint regarding that particular query, as it never occurred to me that it wouldn't meet there requirement. They have however sent an engineer out to repair that hob as the ignition spark thingy was faulty, and he never mentioned anything. Maybe i just got lucky. If it really was a problem I would replace the hob.

However we installed the 75cm version of that gas flame hob, and the gas fitter noticed in the manual that it hasto have an extractor that is permanently ducted to outside, and switches on when the hob is turned on.

This gave me two problems, as the extractor was to have carbon filters fitted (no route for ducting), and we couldn't figure out how to get the extractor to turn on when you press the knob on the hob! The gas fitter rang Gas Safe, who said they had come across this problem before, and had it in writing from Hotpoint that it was a misprint in the instructions. Still don't know what they meant to say, but it's been installed and is fine.

[Daz Gizmo]

Thanks Joe

I am still waiting on a reply from them. The order is on hold.
I have to say their instructions are rubbish and they need to get this sorted out.

[Daz Gizmo]

Had a bit of news about the 600mm rule from the rep:

"Service Technical came back with the 600mm rule, however I have questioned again, as I cannot see that we would be any different to Bosch or any other manufacturer."

[Daz Gizmo]

Had a conversation with the Rep today:

Sounds like it could be to do with the translation from Italian to English in the instructions. She is still trying to get technical to confirm that this is overkill for a minimum and not in line with the industry norm...

[Stretch]

So it's actually 60mm and not 600mm then?

Quite honestly, MI's are nothing more than arse covering tactics. I have a bread bin in my kitchen which is located approximately 300mm from the nearest gas flame on my range cooker. Not once have I gone down in the morning to make some toast for breakfast only to find that all the slices of bread have been already cooked for me.

On another note, I once got one of these Yellow Page plumbers to connect a gas hob for me on a John Lewis kitchen that I had installed. He got the MI's out and refused to connect the hob as it was less than the minimum 50mm from the splashback. The distance was actually 45mm and it was tiled....a fairly non combustible material, but if he had come around two days earlier before the splashback had been tiled it wouldn't have been an issue.

Most kitchen fitters will use their experience and judgement when installing hobs versus clearance spaces. 150mm is usually adequate.

[Daz Gizmo]

You could be right on the 60mm Stretch, I did think that after been told about the translation.

I have worked with fitters and gas safe installers that follow instructions to the letter. I remember when I sold a Caple downdraft extractor and their was an issue with the instructions with the required clearance behind the hob. I had to get it in writing showing the new confirmation that it was okay to have tight up against the back of the hob.
I don't think that it should be our decision to make judgement on clearances. The manufacturers have their products tested to get these requirements and that is why Gas Safe say the manufacturers instructions overrule their standards.

It can work the other way. The 50mm x 460mm zone to the sides of the hob is sometimes a problem as the light pelmet and sometimes the wall unit falls below this. Some hobs including the 60cm Luce Direct Flame this dimension is 420mm. So we can have wall units up to the edge of extractors without having to leave a 50mm space which can be a problem with integrated hoods. Where I used to work, especially on makeovers, this used to cause no end of problems as following Gas Safe the fitters where cutting the pelmet returns back and lifting up wall units and also we were turning down jobs and forgetting to check or did not have access to the instructions.

It is only more recently we are able to download instruction books, as we all know, we don't always get this info in the brochures.