Is this flue position illegal??

Is this flue position illegal??

Author
Discussion

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
We have had an offer accepted on a house that has just had a new boiler fitted.

Went for a look at the outside yesertday and noticed the new flue exit seems to have been installed by a monkey.




That seems to have been gobbed in there while peeing with rain as it's crumbling away already.

That flu is sited in the driveway down the side of the house at about 1.2m from the ground - the drive is 2.5m wide. Am I right to say this should be at 2.1m minimum and also should not be less than 300mm away from a opening in the brickwork, which it isn't?

What do you learned folk reckon?

mart 63

2,070 posts

245 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
They can be lower than 2.1 mtrs.Not sure about distance from openings.You do need a metal mesh guard over the flue tho.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the reponse but I'm still a little confused.

Just looking through Guide to the Condensing Boiler Installation Assessment Procedure for Dwellings

http://www.idhee.org.uk/ExceptionsGuide.pdf

If you look at page 11 it states the terminal needs to be sited above 2.1m in an access route or patio and also should be >2.5m from any car parking space.

Just to clarify. Drive is on the left of the gable end (like that pic on p11) and is 2.5m to the boundary wall. It's mounted about 1200mm high in this space and if you pull the car into this area you either run the risk of knocking the bloody thing off the wall or having exhaust gases pumped out onto the car.

I'm happy to be put right though, I might be barking up the wrong tree entirely. No wonder gas engineers command so much brass, it's a minefield.

Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 1st March 10:53

Henry-F

4,791 posts

246 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
No the flue doesn't have to be 2.1m from ground level.

I am not a plumber so please do not rely on my post for information. Worcester produce this which might help. Again please do not rely on it or take it as anything other than a guide. To be safe consult a registered professional.

Flue location guide

Henry smile

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Henry-F said:
No the flue doesn't have to be 2.1m from ground level.

I am not a plumber so please do not rely on my post for information. Worcester produce this which might help. Again please do not rely on it or take it as anything other than a guide. To be safe consult a registered professional.

Flue location guide

Henry smile
Cheers Henry.

That link states this though

• *Minimum distance of the flue terminal from above ground is 2,100mm where directed to a public footpath, private access route or a frequently used area and 2,500mm from a car parking area.

I've bolded the bit that makes it relevant. It is technically a car parking area.

I'm sure there are some qualified Corgi chaps on here. I'm sure they'll come along in a bit.

Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 1st March 11:17

Engineer1

10,486 posts

210 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
How about getting a local gas fitter to look it over, you may as well get the whole system checked incase any shortcuts have been made.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Engineer1 said:
How about getting a local gas fitter to look it over, you may as well get the whole system checked incase any shortcuts have been made.
On to that. I have a pal training in gas installtion at the moment. He's going to use my job as part of his training (get's signed off by his tutor or something).

Always useful to get opinions off here though.

BoRED S2upid

19,713 posts

241 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
If its below 2.1m it needs a guard on it just incase the postman touches it when its red hot and burns his face off and sues you to death.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
bump for the eve crowd

Ferg

15,242 posts

258 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
The problem with flue positioning is that it shouldn't (as far as the HSE are concerned) cause a 'nuisance'. Most manufacturers now will be able to supply some sort of plume diverter/snorkel kit. This will allow air to be drawn in at the original terminal, whilst a vertical pipe will take the products up and away.

Yes, it requires a terminal guard and the original installer should have fitted one prior to filling in the 'benchmark' paperwork.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
So are these references I've found to the 2.1m height thing in a walkway/parking area just guidance rather than the law?

Also, the installation looks a right mess, I don't think it's unreasonable to request it taken out and done again with a little more finesse, and a guard cover. That or a small reduction in the agreed sale price.

Si 330

1,299 posts

210 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
From part L of the building regs

Flue options NOT to be considered

Wall terminals with horizontal discharge less than 2.5m from a car parking space and less than 2.1m above the ground.
Wall terminals less than 2.1m above the ground with horizontal discharge of the flue products across a public footway, or a frequently used private access route, or a patio (hard surface area).


Si 330

1,299 posts

210 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Part J of the building regs give minimum set dimensions from openings.
Above an opening
0-32kW 300mm
>32kW 600mm

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Si,

What you've quoted does make this a dodgy installation then, no?

Did you get my mesage btw?

Si 330

1,299 posts

210 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Yes I got your message thanks, just drop me a line if and when you want further info.

In answer to your question yes, it doesn't comply the current regs.

As you have stated you either go for a reduction on agreed price or they have the work done to the correct regs.

The proposed extension is it going to be to the rear or side? if side push for a reduction as it will be moved anyway.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Monday 1st March 2010
quotequote all
Si 330 said:
Yes I got your message thanks, just drop me a line if and when you want further info.

In answer to your question yes, it doesn't comply the current regs.

As you have stated you either go for a reduction on agreed price or they have the work done to the correct regs.

The proposed extension is it going to be to the rear or side? if side push for a reduction as it will be moved anyway.
Cheers mate. I've already drafted the layout in autocad, going back on sat for a more detailed measure up. Intention is to extend out the side and part of the rear as well.

Going to have to resite the boiler in the loft.

I will get in touch when we exchange contracts, no onward chain so should be fairly quick
. I want to get cracking and have it finished asap.

dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
Bit of a bump.

Any gas installers about? Please read the above ^^^




Jesus, it's like pulling teeth this one.

The vendor has issued my solicitor a signed off gas installation after stating he would get the flue looked at and modfified accordingly. It's not been touched.

I've reported it to Gas Safe but they won't come out and inspect it as I don't own the property yet and did not comission the work.

When I do own the property they still won't come out as I didn't comission the work. If it's wrong it'll be picked up by whomever services the boiler and any rectification will be down to me £££££

So if I die from carbon monoxide poisoining in the next 12months it's my fault!!

Tw@tting boll0x!!

Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 7th April 12:54

Simpo Two

85,484 posts

266 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
It seems to be an attitude that's crept in over the last 10 years, particularly among corporates. Rather than spend five minutes fixing something, they will spend weeks and months arguing that it's not their fault.

And don't even mention Sleepmasters shoot

Busamav

2,954 posts

209 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
Just ask for the vendor to have the boiler serviced by a suitably qualified Gas Safe " engineer " with a specific request for him to comment on the flue position.

That should throw up any problems for a cost under a £100.


dave_s13

Original Poster:

13,814 posts

270 months

Wednesday 7th April 2010
quotequote all
Busamav said:
Just ask for the vendor to have the boiler serviced by a suitably qualified Gas Safe " engineer " with a specific request for him to comment on the flue position.

That should throw up any problems for a cost under a £100.
Trouble is the thing was installed all of 6 weeks ago. It has a fresh certifcate of conformity (or whatever they're called) and as far as he's concerned that's that.

I've asked our solicitor to request he either:-
1. report the issue to Gas Safe for inspection
2 Gets the flue moved/modified
3 £500 off sale price

I want him to notify Gas Safe - that way there is no cost involved to anyone but the installer - who should have done it right first time around.

This is of course assuming I have made a correct assumtion about the installation being incorrect. smile