Extractor fan and gas pipe side by side - whose responsible?

on_my_oe

We brought our home last year from a developer.

Yesterday we called out Gas Networks as we could smell gas. While he was here he saw the exit for the extractor fan is immediately beside the exit for the gas, when it should be 30cm.

1) how much is the installation of a pluming kit likely to cost against moving the pipe?

2) as the property was brought new and its inside 12 months, shouldn't this be the developers cost to rectify?

Gas Networks intended on switching off the gas altogether but kindly let it stay on providing it's fixed within 72hours

DublinDilbert

I assume there's a 4" pipe inside the wall where the extractor duct comes out. If you fit a 4" to rectangular 90 degree bend and some rectangular ducting down (or up ) the wall I'd imagine that would provide enough separation. Just bond the ducting together with the likes of tek7.

http://www.goodwins.ie/p-35321-flat-ducting-rect-to-round-elbow.aspx
http://www.goodwins.ie/p-35314-flat-ducting-110mm-15mtr.aspx

on_my_oe

Aside from my poor DIY skills, I have to provide a copy of the RGI registered plumber's certificate of repair

Calahonda52

on_my_oe wrote: »

Aside from my poor DIY skills, I have to provide a copy of the RGI registered plumber's certificate of repair

so they want the gas flue extended, sound reasonable: the kit is probably euro 150 plus fitting
eg http://www.precisionheating.ie/store/category/175/product/6449.aspx

ps never saw the pic Doh

DublinDilbert

It looks like the extractor fan was added after the boiler, going by the house next door. The rgi's here will advise if redirecting the exhaust from the extractor will comply with regs.

K.Flyer

on_my_oe wrote: »

We brought our home last year from a developer.

Yesterday we called out Gas Networks as we could smell gas. While he was here he saw the exit for the extractor fan is immediately beside the exit for the gas, when it should be 30cm.

The requirement is 300mm from a window, air-brick etc, in any direction.

on_my_oe wrote: »

1) how much is the installation of a pluming kit likely to cost against moving the pipe?

From looking at your picture, the flue terminal looks like a Vokera Mynute standard efficiency (Non-Condensing) boiler flue terminal. If it is, then this flue is not designed for a pluming kit as it does not produce plume in the same way as a condensing boiler.
Therefore you would need to have the end of flue extended upwards and back out again, using bends, extensions and a new terminal end, all of which need to be bought from the same manufacturer as your boiler, and I imagine that it would look as ugly as sin.

on_my_oe wrote: »

2) as the property was brought new and its inside 12 months, shouldn't this be the developers cost to rectify?

I would be chasing whoever installed the extractor vent, as it was they who made the mistake. As Dilbert says, the extractor looks like an after-thought.
To be honest, I imagine that it would most likely be a lot cheaper to have the extractor vent moved to the correct position than all the messing around with the flue.


But if moving the vent is not an option, then any alterations to the boiler flue will need to be carried out by an RGI as they will have to certify that it is installed correctly and has been checked using a Flue Gas Analyser (FGA).

on_my_oe

The extractor fan cent was definitely installed as an after thought but it was done by the developer.

We took a quick walk this morning before work and saw that two of our neighbours seem to have blocked up their extraction fans exits as in rendered over it.

The developer is trying to push back, saying Bord Gas wouldn't have connected the gas in the first place unless it meet regulations

K.Flyer

The gas installation may have been passed and connected before the vent was fitted.
Either ways, the situation you have with the two of them being so close, is against regulations and thats the way he sold it to you.

StonyIron

The problem there is if the extractor is off and open it could cause blow in of fumes through the extractor.

All it would take is a windy day with the wind blowing at the wall.

Also if the boiler ever discharged gas to the atmosphere in a fault condition you could get a minor bang!

The regulations are there for a good reason.

If it's in breech of regulations I'd send the developer the bill.

dathi

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,37240,en.pdf
page 34 and 35 of the above building regulations deal with position of flue

Calahonda52

Is he registered here
https://www.ciri.ie
PM me the developers name and I will get it sorted.

on_my_oe

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Is he registered here
https://www.ciri.ie
PM me the developers name and I will get it sorted.

Unfortunately not

I've checked both the 'vendors name' and the 'developers name' from our purchase documents, in case one was hiding behind the other.

The developer is ignoring my attempts to contact him, and I don't want to get my gas cut off. Im thinking I might have to get it repaired myself and take him to Small Claims to get the money back.

I'll PM you just in case I'm an idiot and am missing something on the register search