Unvented D1/ D2

[Backboiler]

Went to a job to fix a leak on a toilet today and the house was empty. The airing cupboard door was open so as I've not long qualified for unvented I couldn't resist looking at the unvented cylinder configuration. (I'm sad like that). I. The D1 pipe from the T&P relief valve was ok, piped to a tundish but the expansion relief valve (incorporated underneath the combination valve) was piped straight outside without an air break. In my book this is wrong. Also the D2 pipe is grossly undersized as it travels approx 10 metres with god knows how many elbows. Also the two pipes terminate 400mm above ground level straight onto the path outside with no guard. Am I correct in my observations that all three points are contravening the building regs? I haven't worked on the system but is there an obligation to report it to building control/HSE?

 

[Barry98]

did you mention it to customer and recommend that you look at it more ?

 

[AWheating]

i would say your right. All you can do is give customer your views and let them decide if they want to act on it.

 

[Backboiler]

did you mention it to customer and recommend that you look at it more ?

Sorry Bod. I mentioned the house was empty. I should have said unoccupied so there was no one to mention it to. The property is due to be let out a week tomorrow. I could mention it to the agent but will they do anything about it? The property is about 10 years old so would be major work involved to correct it.

 

[mountainman]

I suppose it could be classed as AR, but where do to go from there?
The Landlord and Letting Agent won't care and I'm sure Building Control won't care and I'm convinced that the Secretary of State really doesn't care despite alledgedly approving part G of the regs.

 

[jtsplumbing]

As MM says no one care's, close the cupboard door, youv'e not seen it. After all it will still be their next year !!

 

[kirkgas]

i suggest you mention it, cause if you dont you wont get the work, but the reality is you have little chance of getting any work from it cause they dont care, but if you dont mention it you have zero chance, there is no obligation to report it the BC or anyone, technically someone will question why you were checking out all the cupboards in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mcniven]

Hahaha kirk

 

[chris watkins]

i suggest you mention it, cause if you dont you wont get the work, but the reality is you have little chance of getting any work from it cause they dont care, but if you dont mention it you have zero chance, there is no obligation to report it the BC or anyone, technically someone will question why you were checking out all the cupboards in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Kirkgas could not resist answering you, you were doing fine & totally agreed up until the bit "there is no obligation to report it", BC I agree but to the responsible person (in this case the landlord) you do have a "duty of care" as a professional class of person (having passed the un-vented ticket you are deemed in the eye's of the law to be competent & therefore have this responsibility). This works in the same way as if you are a GSR engineer working in somebody's house on unrelated work & fail to take action if you spot signs of spillage on lets say a fire which goes on to kill the house holder, you can, as I understand it, be prosecuted because you were aware of the risks but failed to discharge your duty of care!
At the end of the day it would be as simple as adding a line or two to the work /job sheet that you observed it (while searching for an isolation valve if you must)
It should not matter that no one take any notice of your report more that you are acting as a professional class of person (not a hairy bum building worker)
Sorry again it's, Friday night & I am p-ssed off.

P.S. technical Backboiler, the discharges do not have to go through a tun dish but do of course have to have an air gap (water reg's) & must be clearly visible at either of the two end (ideally both) otherwise you are spot on.

 

[kirkgas]

Sorry Kirkgas could not resist answering you, you were doing fine & totally agreed up until the bit "there is no obligation to report it", BC I agree but to the responsible person (in this case the landlord) you do have a "duty of care" as a professional class of person (having passed the un-vented ticket you are deemed in the eye's of the law to be competent & therefore have this responsibility). This works in the same way as if you are a GSR engineer working in somebody's house on unrelated work & fail to take action if you spot signs of spillage on lets say a fire which goes on to kill the house holder, you can, as I understand it, be prosecuted because you were aware of the risks but failed to discharge your duty of care!
At the end of the day it would be as simple as adding a line or two to the work /job sheet that you observed it (while searching for an isolation valve if you must)
It should not matter that no one take any notice of your report more that you are acting as a professional class of person (not a hairy bum building worker)
Sorry again it's, Friday night & I am p-ssed off.

P.S. technical Backboiler, the discharges do not have to go through a tun dish but do of course have to have an air gap (water reg's) & must be clearly visible at either of the two end (ideally both) otherwise you are spot on.

chris, i did advocate he tells the owner, just didnt word it right at the end, 1) potential earnings, 2) moral obligation in that order haha, i just said he had no obligation to report it to BC

 

[chris watkins]

I know, I know, sorry again it's a pet hate & as I said its been a bad day.
Any one know how to work out the repayment time against capital cost for solar hot water systems cor's I B*** can't ???????????

 

[stevetheplumber]

at the end of the day if theres no one killed or injured or profit in it no one wants to know, its just us foot soldiers who slog away under the weight of ever incresing legislation

 

[tamz]

Unless i (or you) am being paid to act in my professional capacity or i'm employing you, i have no duty of care, gas or otherwise for anything i may see.

I may however have a conscience and that rapidly diminishing thing called common sense which is a different argument altogeter.

 

[chris watkins]

Tamz you may not under Scottish law but we do down south.

 

[tamz]

Tamz you may not under Scottish law but we do down south.

:lol:
To help your solar calcs the average solar energy (over a year) reaching the ground in Glasgow is 2.38kw hrs/day but you are blessed with a bit more sun down your way :smile:

 

[AWheating]

my mechanic mate spends all his spare time walking around car parks pointing out faults on vehicle's because its his duty as a professional!

as you can imagine he has no social life

 

[mountainman]

Tamz you may not under Scottish law but we do down south.

Don't agree with you Chris, sometimes it's better to ignore a minor infraction than open a can of worms for no reward and plenty of potential grief.

Different story if you work for a big company but if your a one man band then you could seriously damage your reputation and business.

 

[chris watkins]

Ok, each to his own but all I do is tell 'em if they nothing about it that is up to them but they can't say I didn't warn them.
Night night all. (& if it a dangerous fault it could them, not me)