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soil vent pipe in attic without durgo

Discuss soil vent pipe in attic without durgo in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

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john1983

Hi

I've recently moved into in a top-floor flat, in an old building, and the top of the soil vent pipe is in the attic, without a durgo - which explains the odour in my flat...

I'm having difficulty getting the letting agency to tend to this, so does anyone know if it's actually illegal to have the top of the soil vent pipe in an attic without a durgo? If so, then I could report it to the council, which should get the problem fixed quicker...

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Tell the letting agency you are concerned about the build up of methane gas and you will give them 24 hours to fix it or you will have no option to inform the local council environmental health department..regards Turnpin:30:
 
Not sure if illegal but bad practice and a hell of a stink !
You have to love people really !
Me I hate people
 
It should be terminated in fresh air or a "durgo" fitted.
Contact your LL in the first instance and if you get no joy inform building control or environmental health.
 
Yes it is illegal also. an issue for HSAWA as sewer gasses build up in lost space. Hydrogen sulphide, methane , both toxic and both will cause asphyxiation. Bloke fitting dirgo should be confined spaces trained have escape set and has alarm. Also shouldn't work alone. Wouldn't be the first time incorrectly vented foul effluent gases killed some one!
 
go around to the letting agents office and empty some human waste by the A/C intake. Then ask them if they think its ok and does not need attention.
 
Hi John 1983 please let us know how you get on as this may prove helpful to other forum members regards Turnpin
 
Thanks very much for all of your replies - that's very useful.

I'll certainly report back about how it works out...
 
I reported this to the Environmental Health department of my council, and they've concluded, without a visit, that there's no risk to health in having the open end of a soil vent pipe in the attic space above my flat.

I don't understand how this can be the case, given that it's an enclosed space, and that sewage gas includes flammable methane and toxic hydrogen sulphide, amongst other things. The pipe serves four flats.

They say:

I have spoken to an Officer in our Scientific Services Team and I am informed that the gases that you refer to would be so diluted in the atmosphere before arriving in your flat as to not represent a health threat in relation to toxicity.

The odours you refer to are likely to be in the same gas concentrations as odours experienced in many communities from sewage works which whilst certainly unpleasant, are not considered a risk to health.
 
So what they say is there happy for your loft to smell of drains, y don't u just stick a dirgo on then to stop the smells
 
Odd that? Had a house condemned for effuclent vapours being present in sleeping quarters and living space. Perhaps you should reiterate that it's not a background smell but one that's making you sick and you have no way if preventing the smell entering your living space?
 
Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately, I can't do anything directly, as it's communal plumbing.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately, I can't do anything directly, as it's communal plumbing.
Who is in charge of building ?
I can promise you that if it was me having to put up with a stink like that no one else in the building would be sleeping at night until it was sorted !
Man up and create some hell until you get it sorted .
 
AS I see it there are three issues here
1. The installations contravene building regulations
2. The installations ought to contravene Health and Safety
3. Look at your rental agreement - landlords have an obligation to provide
property fit for habitation - in my opinion and UKPF IT IS NOT

We do alot with a RESPONSIBLE landlord with over 900 flats - if i brought this
to their attention it would be sorted the same day ! centralheatking
 
Connect an extractor to end of pipe so that u suck the water traps out of all the toilets and sinks. Set it to come on at 10 am and again at 10pm stinks whole building out all day and night!
 
I like your style - man up is spot on CHK
Who is in charge of building ?
I can promise you that if it was me having to put up with a stink like that no one else in the building would be sleeping at night until it was sorted !
Man up and create some hell until you get it sorted .
 
AS I see it there are three issues here
1. The installations contravene building regulations
2. The installations ought to contravene Health and Safety
3. Look at your rental agreement - landlords have an obligation to provide
property fit for habitation - in my opinion and UKPF IT IS NOT

We do alot with a RESPONSIBLE landlord with over 900 flats - if i brought this
to their attention it would be sorted the same day ! centralheatking
Yes my mate is a landlord and I know all would be sorted within a few hours of a simple phone call !
 
Re 'man up', I had no idea anybody still used phrases like that!

I don't myself subscribe to gender stereotypes.

But perhaps I'm just being a big girl about this.
 
I am the most politically incorrect person I have ever met !
Load of nonsense !
I eat bambi and thumper it is all those sandal wearing veggies I worry about ?
End the needless slaughter of millions of innocent plants !
Eat bacon
 
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