Oh not again! 300mm is recommended but there is NO stipulated distance, common sense is the answer here.
Like Groundhog day in 'ere! .................................................. http://www.thegroundhogs.co.uk/41%20years.html Yes an excellent band Sparky.
This question gets asked a lot. 300mm is the recommended distance. It is nothing to do with discretion or common sense. Common sense does not apply to people. They need to be TOLD.
Good practice, acceptable practice, call it what you want, it is stated in a guide book so why ignore it?
bit like ignoring adding RCD protection to a circuit no protected which is having extra sockets fitted
bit like ignoring adding RCD protection to a circuit no protected which is having extra sockets fitted Which is totaly acceptable under new proposed Amendment to 7671 Fooman!
Maybe there's a plumbing reg that say's a sink shouldn't be fitted near a socket BL, (although I doubt it!)
As has been said BS 7671 does not stipulate minimum distance. NICEIC Snags & Solutions Part 2 Wiring Systems (16th Edition version - don't have 17th Edition one) states that "the NICEIC recommendation is that a distance of at least 300 mm should be provided ... ideally not less than about 1000 mm" If position is unavoidable then IPX4 or IPX5 accessory may be required.
bit like ignoring adding RCD protection to a circuit no protected which is having extra sockets fitted Not quite as bad as not paying your debts and boasting that you went bankrupt though eh!