Building Regs BS?
Discussion
The BS stands for bovine splatter.
Getting some plumbing done and wanted an outside tap moved. The pipe was still in the wall and a drain still underneath but cemented over, all that needed to be done was a few pipes moved on the inside and a new tap fitted.
Heres were i suspect BS.
The plumber claimed under new building regs (the house is 60 years old). He could not put in a tap back where it once was because, quote
"you can't put a tap over a drain incase theres is a leak and you don't notice"
Apparently it's in new legislation.
Anyone confirm this nonsense.
Getting some plumbing done and wanted an outside tap moved. The pipe was still in the wall and a drain still underneath but cemented over, all that needed to be done was a few pipes moved on the inside and a new tap fitted.
Heres were i suspect BS.
The plumber claimed under new building regs (the house is 60 years old). He could not put in a tap back where it once was because, quote
"you can't put a tap over a drain incase theres is a leak and you don't notice"
Apparently it's in new legislation.
Anyone confirm this nonsense.
Possibly covered here:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/regul...
Specifically:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/regul...
Specifically:
legislation site said:
(3) No water fitting shall be installed, connected, arranged or used which by reason of being damaged, worn or otherwise faulty, causes or is likely to cause–
(i)waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of water supplied by a water undertaker
But by that logic, you couldn't install any tap anywhere that might leak. So the location of the tap seems irrelevant. I can't find anything that says outside taps are different - but then, I'm not a plumber or an expert on this stuff, I'm just bored on a Friday afternoon...(i)waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of water supplied by a water undertaker
Most modern cistern overflows now recirculate into the toilet bowl. So instead of seeing water pouring out of an overflow outside the house it goes into the toilet bowl and is much less visible. Can't see how that setup would be a permitted solution under that interpretation of Building Regs.
While I can think of reasons why it would involve more than you thought due to water regs (as opposed to building regs) I can't think why a tap couldn't be fitted over a drain.
It's not even like it was a case of foul water going into a rain water drain.
While the pipework may need altering, your plumber would have to have fitted an isolating valve and a check valve, but many outside taps have the check valve incorporated.
Is there anything else that would be between the tap and the drain that could be the issue?
It's not even like it was a case of foul water going into a rain water drain.
While the pipework may need altering, your plumber would have to have fitted an isolating valve and a check valve, but many outside taps have the check valve incorporated.
Is there anything else that would be between the tap and the drain that could be the issue?
Moonhawk said:
All inside taps are fitted over a drain (sink)........
Methinks your plumber has misinterpreted the regs, is being a jobsworth - or is trying to screw you for more money.
Why not ring building control and ask them.
Are you sure ? Methinks your plumber has misinterpreted the regs, is being a jobsworth - or is trying to screw you for more money.
Why not ring building control and ask them.
What about cleaners taps !
Sorry for pedantry, but the issue is the outside tap.
The two main possibilities that spring to mind are that the plumber was making that rule up lol, or there is some local water authority bye law that states ALL unseen draw offs must have a visible warning (like the visible warning from a toilets cistern) and that the outside tap would not be ovbiously visible. That said, Bristol water who are my local water authority have no bye law like that and ice not seen it elsewhere.
Edited by Raynkar on Saturday 18th April 08:50
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