Electric Kitchen Equipment Installation

This question depends on whether there is an appropriate existing circuit for your oven to be wired into or not; a qualified electrician is needed for the installation of a new circuit, whilst anyone competent enough to simply replace an oven using the same circuit can do so.

However, DIY electric oven installations still need to be vetted and approved by a qualified electrician, who will subsequently issue you an Electrical Test Certificate.

Whether or not you can use an existing circuit for the replacement of your oven comes down to the power requirements of your cooker. Commercial ovens typically require a substantial amount more power than domestic ones, and will usually need to be hardwired into a higher-rated circuit. This work has to be carried out by a qualified electrician.

You need to work out whether or not your plug socket has the power to meet the power required by your commercial oven – if it doesn’t, you cannot safely plug your oven into this socket. Moreover, electrical ovens should not share a circuit with another kitchen appliance, since this too can cause hazards.

Whether you can plug your oven into a normal socket also depends on whether your oven is a single-phase or three-phase appliance. A single-phase machine (up to 13-amp 3kW rating) will typically be a plug in, usually seen in domestic appliances or small units for a commercial kitchen. This can then be easily plugged into any socket that is able to support it.

Anything over 13-amps will typically need to be hardwired – work which has to be done by a qualified electrician. This is referred to as a three-phase appliance, and is more commonly seen in busy commercial kitchens with a need for more powerful, larger electrical equipment. Three-phase industrial plugs are available for commercial kitchen equipment, meaning they can be plugged into industrial grade sockets, and be safely supplied with the correct amount of power.

An electrical safety certificate, also known as an electrical installation condition report (EICR), is a legal requirement for both privately-owned and rented properties – including commercial kitchens – as stated by BS 7671 and Part P of the Building Regulations.

This report is carried out every 5 years (as a minimum), and ensures any electrical equipment – including plug sockets, wiring, and fuse boxes – are safe for use. This has to be completed by a qualified electrician, who will issue you a certificate upon completion if all electrical equipment meets the safety requirements.