Oven Circuit Diversity Explained – Why You Need a NAPIT-Registered Electrician

Safe. Certified. Compliant installations from ROX Electrical Services.

When upgrading your kitchen or fitting a new electric oven, it’s easy to assume you’ll need a heavy-duty circuit to handle the load. But that’s not always true. Thanks to diversity calculations under the BS 7671 Wiring Regulations, your installation can be both safe and efficient without unnecessary expense.

At ROX Electrical Services, our qualified electricians apply these regulations to every job, ensuring your home is compliant, reliable, and future-ready.

Understanding Oven Circuit Diversity

Let’s look at a real example: an 11 kW single-phase oven.

At full load, it draws: 47.8A

On paper, that sounds like a huge circuit — but ovens don’t run all heating elements at once. This is where diversity comes in — as defined in BS 7671 Regulation 311.1 and the On-Site Guide Appendix A — allowing for realistic current demand based on actual use.

Applying Diversity in Practice

For domestic cooking appliances, the BS 7671 guidance says:

• Take the first 10 A at 100 %

• Add 30 % of the remainder

• If a socket outlet is included, add 5 A

For our 11 kW oven:10 A + (30 % × 37.8 A) + 5 A = 26.34 A

This means it can safely run on a 32 A circuit with 6 mm² twin & earth cable (subject to installation conditions) — fully compliant with Reg 433.1.1 of BS 7671.

Why Proper Design Matters

Correctly applying diversity ensures your oven circuit:

• Meets BS 7671 Wiring Regulations

• Operates safely within the cable’s current-carrying capacity

• Keeps costs reasonable and avoids over-engineering

In short — your kitchen wiring will be safe, efficient, and compliant.

Why You Need a NAPIT-Registered Electrician

Kitchen electrical work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, meaning only a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) registered electrician can legally design, install, and certify the work.

By choosing Rox Electrical Services, you’re hiring NAPIT-registered electricians who are regularly assessed to ensure high-quality, compliant work. You’ll benefit from:

• Full certification for BS 7671 compliance

• Automatic Building Control notification

• Safe and professional workmanship

• Peace of mind knowing your home is in expert hands

Avoid unregistered or unqualified installers — your safety and certification depend on it.

Our Commitment to Safety

Every oven and kitchen circuit we install follows the latest regulations, including:

• Voltage drop verification (Reg 525.201)

• 30 mA RCD protection (Reg 411.3.3)

• Correct disconnection times (Reg 411.3.2.2)

• Manufacturer-compliant terminations (Reg 134.1.1)

We use only approved materials and provide full electrical installation certificates for your records.

Upgrade Your Kitchen Safely

Whether you’re fitting a new 11 kW oven or planning a complete kitchen refit, ROX Electrical Services can design and install your circuits safely, efficiently, and to the highest standard.

✅ NAPIT-Registered Electricians

✅ Fully BS 7671 Compliant

✅ Certified Under Part P of the Building Regulations