Safety guidelines

When considering your own kitchen floorplan, for safety reasons you should adhere to the following guidelines;

• Minimum distance between hob and sink of 600mm (2ft).
• Minimum gap of 760mm (2ft 6in) above the hob.
• A hob and oven should not be positioned such that any door can swing open against them.
• A hob should have a clear worktop, or a space of at least 200mm (8in), on either side. This is particularly important where tall cupboards or walls surround a hob; these should be at least 200mm (8in) away from the edge of the hob to prevent heat damage and allow for pan handle movement.
• A hob should not be placed underneath a window as draughts can extinguish gas flames and leaning across a hob to open the window is dangerous.
• Minimum distance of 1200mm (3ft 11in) between any two rows of cupboards that face one another, for example in a galley kitchen, or where an island has been installed. This allows for drawers and the doors of front-loading appliances to be opened, while allowing ease of passage.
• Avoid short runs of worktop of less than 1000mm (3ft 3in) wherever possible.
• A run of worktop must be supported by a vertical strut every 600mm (2ft). Where two appliances are sited next to each other, allow space for a supporting panel to be positioned between them.
• Current building regulations require all kitchens to have "adequate air extraction".

• Guide to extractor fans
• Full guide to the building regulations

Further information and useful links

• Planning a new kitchen
• Example kitchen floor plans
• How to design your new kitchen layout
• Low cost kitchen refurbishment
• More kitchens topics

• Find a Kitchen Planner near you
• Find a Kitchen Worktop supplier near you
• Find a Kitchen Units supplier near you