Inspection hatch or not?

[Irish]

Evening all my friend has a flat he rents out with a boiler which has a vertical flue which goes straight through through the ceiling and flat roof, the bottom of the 6x2 roof joists is the ceiling, the gse from estate agents said it needs an inspection hatch as its going through a void but surely this is no different than going through a 12 inch wall I've had a look in tb17 but maybe I'm not looking hard enough?

 

[dancinplumba]

is there a join in the void ? if not then no hatch required imo

 

[Irish]

That's what I thought but the fella was adamant it should have a hatch (no joint in the ceiling)

 

[dancinplumba]

why dont you do his llsc for him

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

if no joins in the ceiling no hatch required the GSE that inspected has either misinterpreted the rules or does not understand the flues in voids requirements

 

[Irish]

I offered but silly fool pays management fees to the estate agents so says he wants to get his money's worth outta them

 

[lame plumber]

seems the agents are getting their money out of him!

 

[kirkgas]

Evening all my friend has a flat he rents out with a boiler which has a vertical flue which goes straight through through the ceiling and flat roof, the bottom of the 6x2 roof joists is the ceiling, the gse from estate agents said it needs an inspection hatch as its going through a void but surely this is no different than going through a 12 inch wall I've had a look in tb17 but maybe I'm not looking hard enough?

its TB008 ed 2 you want to be looking in, but i cant see a hatch being required

 

[zeebeedee]

What's the point! If its through a solid wall not needed.

 

[kirkgas]

Zee where does it say the flue is going through a solid wall?
There is a void between ceiling and roof

 

[CES]

I'm doing a lot of these inspections just now and from my perspective I would say a hatch isn't required. Perhaps the Estate agents GSE is hoping to make money fitting hatches?

 

[zeebeedee]

Zee where does it say the flue is going through a solid wall?
There is a void between ceiling and roof

I meant celling! No void involved its just a case of getting in the loft and having a look!

 

[Irish]

Yeah ces I think you're spot on! there's no loft space zee the bottom of the joist is the top of the plasterboard

 

[stevetheplumber]

no joints no hatch

 

[SimonJohns]

no joints no hatch

How would the next plumber be 100% sure there's no joints?

 

[Reg Man]

Purpose of the hatch would be to inspect any flue joints. No joints no hatch.

 

[Al7]

I'm with SimonJohns on this - how can you be sure there isn't a dodgy bodged joint in the void? Common sense dictates that the vert flue terminal should have been dropped straight through the flat roof flashing and be long enough to clear the 6" void, but if it was a second hand flue component(I know it doesn't bear thinking about) or cut wrong, then you would have to be sure it was all correct. I think the estate managers 'belt and braces' approach makes sense and if unsure of history of install, fit an inspection hatch. Nightmare if its artex ceiling though - asbestos worries?

 

[Reg Man]

I'm with SimonJohns on this - how can you be sure there isn't a dodgy bodged joint in the void? Common sense dictates that the vert flue terminal should have been dropped straight through the flat roof flashing and be long enough to clear the 6" void, but if it was a second hand flue component(I know it doesn't bear thinking about) or cut wrong, then you would have to be sure it was all correct. I think the estate managers 'belt and braces' approach makes sense and if unsure of history of install, fit an inspection hatch. Nightmare if its artex ceiling though - asbestos worries?

Yes That makes sense. all depends how the flue has been installed. someone probably covering their back.

 

[kozak1968]

I think i read somewhere that you should put some documentation with any grey area regarding flues in voids, so the next GSR engineer knows whats going on.

 

[TBServices]

How would the next plumber be 100% sure there's no joints?

Because the length of the vertical flue terminal should go all the way through to well below ceiling. No need to joint in the void at all. Not saying I'm correct, but that's how id see it.

 

[mountainman]

Getting interesting this 'flues in voids' issue IMO.
I am encountering more and more properties with double insulated roof spaces and a warning notice stating that safe access equipment and crawling boards should be used when accessing the loft.
Not easy or attractive when all your doing is a CP12 on a steamer with a vertical flue.