Design Guide

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Planning Information | Benchmark
®
Series | Refrigeration | 199
Refrigeration — Benchmark
®
Series Built-in Refrigeration
198 | Refrigeration | Benchmark
®
Series | Planning Information
Split Column Installation
Important
It is strongly recommended the top interior of the cutout be
of solid material (
5
/
8
" (16 mm) thickness). Ensure that the top
well is completely flush for a depth of at least 4" (102 mm).
Ensure that the side walls of the cutout are also completely
flush to a depth of at least 4" (102 mm).
If, for some reason, a separate cutout cabinet is created,
ensure that the furniture return is at least 4" (102 mm) deep
for proper installation.
A) Standard Overlay Design
Custom Door Panel (Emulating a Face Frame)
B) Full Overlay Design
Custom Door Panel with Nose (Emulating a
Face Frame)
Planning Information
Benchmark
®
Series Built-in Refrigeration
Cabinetry Style & Cutout Depth
Bosch built-in refrigerators and freezers are designed to
accommodate nearly any type of kitchen cabinetry door
installation. Generally, when using standard ¾" (19 mm)
panels, 25" (635 mm) deep cutouts are recommended but
the required cutout depth depends on the desired cabinetry
and custom panel execution, whether typical North American
styles that employ a face frame — requiring a depth of 25" (635
mm) — or European style — requiring a depth of 24" (610 mm).
The below cabinetry styles detail requirements for the cutout
and custom panel.
A) Standard (Partial) Overlay – 25" (635 mm) Cutout Depth
With standard overlay kitchen cabinetry the face frame is an
important design element. In order to emulate this aesthetic
for the refrigerator, one must account for the door panel
thickness (typically
3
/
4
" (19 mm)) as well as the face frame
thickness (here, also
3
/
4
" (19 mm)). The resulting thickness
of the custom door panel is therefore
3
/
4
" (19 mm) +
3
/
4
"
(19 mm) = 1
1
/
2
" (38 mm). The cumulative thickness of the
custom door panel requires added depth in the cutout so 25"
(635 mm) is recommended (see sketch).
B) Full Overlay – 25" (635 mm) Cutout Depth
The requirements for standard overlays are also valid
for full overlay designs so 25" (635 mm) cutout depth is
recommended. However, especially if kitchen cabinet doors are
thinner than
3
/
4
" (19 mm) or reveals are
1
/
8
" (3 mm) or smaller,
a 24" (610 mm) cutout depth may also be acceptable. In this
execution both the cabinet door and the small reveal of the
fully overlaid face frame must be emulated within the typical
appliance door panel thickness of
3
/
4
" (19 mm). This can be
done either a) by simply ignoring the visible area of the face
frame (very small reveals show virtually no face frame) or b) by
creating a “nose” on the custom door panel to emulate a small
visible face frame (see sketch).
C & D) Offset & Flush Inset – 25" (635 mm) Cutout Depth
Here, kitchen cabinetry door panels do not rest atop the
cabinet face frame (overlay), but are instead inserted partially
(offset) or fully flush (inset) into the face frame. Such offset or
flush inset door panels require additional depth in the cutout.
Using the example of a
3
/
4
" (19 mm) thick panel, the complete
cutout depth would be 24" (610 mm) +
3
/
4
" (19 mm) = 24
3
/
4
"
(629 mm) and in this example 25" (635 mm) is recommended.
E) Framed – 24" (610 mm) Cutout Depth
A metal frame (FRAMKITB80) may be affixed to the side of
the cabinet which conveniently hides unfinished case returns
and provides a classic built-in look. This is particularly
relevant for existing cabinetry that has not been custom-built
to accommodate these appliances. A 24" (610 mm) cutout
will result in a slightly protruding door panel for a typical
built-in look.
F) European Style Kitchen Cabinetry – 24" (610 Mm)
Cutout Depth
If the kitchen design is based on European style cabinetry,
there is no need to emulate the look of a face frame, as such
a frame is not an element of the kitchen cabinetry design.
Therefore a 24" (610 mm) deep cutout with accompanying
custom panel will always be sufficient.
X Y
18-Inch Single Door Freezer 18" (457 mm) 9" (229 mm)
30-Inch Single Door Refrigerator 30" (762 mm) 15" (381 mm)
30-Inch Bottom Freezer 30" (762 mm) 15" (381 mm)
36-Inch French Door 36" (914 mm) 18" (457 mm)
Planning Information
Benchmark
®
Series Built-in Refrigeration
Toekick & Venting Grille
Each Bosch built-in refrigeration appliance comes with a 4" (102 mm) tall stainless steel toekick. A custom-made toekick that matches
the surrounding cabinetry may be applied instead. While standard toekick height is 4" (102 mm), depending on the usage of the leveling
legs, the toekick height could vary. Regardless of toekick height, it is imperative that the venting grille remain unblocked to ensure
proper functionality of the appliance. Decorative toekicks should be removable to allow for servicing.
Typical 4" (102 mm) toekick height. Velcro adhesive strips are
used to fasten the toekick to the appliance. Venting grille and
(if applicable) the water filter cavity are located above the
toekick area.
Upper Molding
The planning of decorative upper molding above the cutout
requires taking into account the actual or desired height of the
door panel.
The overall height of the door panel will depend on:
– the height of the appliance, typically 84" (2134 mm) —
leveling legs allow height adjustment ranging from -
1
/
2
"
(-13 mm) to +1
3
/
8
" (+35 mm)
– the installed height of the door panel (distance from the
bottom edge of the door panel to the floor, typically 4"
(102 mm), and, if desired, any extension of the custom
panel above the appliance cutout)
– the appliance type (single door or bottom freezer)
Important
Please recall that a panel should be installed at a minimum
height of 4" (102 mm) from the floor to allow proper
ventilation of the appliance.
Always ensure that the top of the cutout or upper decorative
molding is at least 4" (102 mm) deep, so that the refrigerator
can be properly secured to the cutout wall. This is particularly
important if a protruding cutout is specially created and
configured with a face frame. Furniture returns for any face
frame must be a minimum of 4" (102 mm) deep.
If required by the surrounding cabinetry design, the distance
between the bottom edge of the door panel and the floor can
be increased from approx. 4" (102 mm) up to 7
1
/
8
" (181 mm),
but should not be decreased. Note, however, that the venting
grille and (if applicable) water filter cavity will be visible, even
if the door is closed.
Vertical Section, Side View:
Door Panel
Toekick
Possible Extension
of the Door Panel
Decorative
Molding
Standard
Door Panel
Appliance Door
Appliance
*Adjustment in leveling legs: -
1
/
2
" (-13 mm) to 1
3
/
8
" (35 mm)
A: Area for running
the water line. It
is recommended
the water-box be
placed adjacent
to the installation
cutout, so that it
can be accessed
for service without
uninstalling the
appliance. If this
is not possible,
place the
recessed water
box adjacent to
the power supply
socket elevated
at the heights
as referenced in
areas A+B.
B: Area for installing the
power connection
D: Opening depth of cutout,
depending on kitchen
design (24" minimum)