Socket on party wall

Sarahv · Oct 30, 2022

My neighbours are having a new kitchen fitted and have placed an oven socket on the party wall. Unfortunately this is into our chimney breast and can now be seen from our side. I’m concerned as it could be damaged from heat and surely we shouldn’t be able to see it. We live in a Victorian terraced house. Is this legal and what can we do?

freddo · Oct 30, 2022

Could you post a photo of it please?

Sarahv · Oct 30, 2022

freddo said:
Could you post a photo of it please?

UNG · Oct 30, 2022

Sarahv said:
My neighbours are having a new kitchen fitted and have placed an oven socket on the party wall. Unfortunately this is into our chimney breast and can now be seen from our side. I’m concerned as it could be damaged from heat and surely we shouldn’t be able to see it. We live in a Victorian terraced house. Is this legal and what can we do?

Speak to the neighbours would be my first response especially if your chimney is used for a fire or as a flue as it could introduce unwanted fumes into nextdoor

Could you explain what picture 3 is showing I assume the loose board has been removed to expose the socket box

Vortigern · Oct 30, 2022

I don't know if you use your chimney for fires, if you do there is a distinct possibility of carbon monoxide escaping to your neighbour. Of course this is by no means satisfactory and they need to site to the side of their chimney rather than on the party wall. I assume they are not using their chimney for fires? Party wall disputes are the most fraught and expensive items ever and can break relationships with neighbours. It seems though that you are ready/happy to sort this out amicably. I question the competence of the person putting that socket in though. Sheeesh!

Sarahv · Oct 30, 2022

UNG said:
Speak to the neighbours would be my first response especially if your chimney is used for a fire or as a flue as it could introduce unwanted fumes into nextdoor

Could you explain what picture 3 is showing I assume the loose board has been removed to expose the socket box

Yes it’s the brick that has been knocked out and the rubble. With the chimney board next to it, luckily we currently have an electric fire.

UNG · Oct 30, 2022

Looks like an easy fix for the neighbours to sort I would trim the brick that has been burst out and refix it with some fire cement and repoint any other bricks where the cement has been dislodged around it

OnlQQker · Oct 30, 2022

I'd say something before Santa visits Xmas Eve.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Socket on party wall

littlespark · Oct 30, 2022

Is it just me thinking of someway joining into the cable and getting some free leccy from next door?

mattg4321 · Oct 30, 2022

At least they used a decent quality accessory - Click Mode by the looks of it

James · Oct 30, 2022

Really disappointed if they didn’t mention to you or the customer that they had broken through a wall.

people have been killed by carbon monoxide when the chimney has been breached .

not something to be left unfixed, the electrician or kitchen fitter etc should be sending round a recognised solid fuel burner engineer round to repair it.

Vortigern · Oct 30, 2022

I am sure that the adjoining wall on a chimney should, or is usually double skin not single skin. I think there is something wrong with the construction there.

freddo · Oct 30, 2022

It does seem odd. Next doors wall would be getting very hot when an open fire was used in the fireplace!

Markyd · Oct 30, 2022

Kitchen fitters....not a sparky

James · Oct 30, 2022

Vortigern said:
I am sure that the adjoining wall on a chimney should, or is usually double skin not single skin. I think there is something wrong with the construction there.

Quite correct,

I would also wonder on the safety of the chimney breast against collapsing if the brickwork has been removed on the other side.

brianmoooore · Oct 30, 2022

Vortigern said:
I am sure that the adjoining wall on a chimney should, or is usually double skin not single skin. I think there is something wrong with the construction there.

Back to back chimneys when built, but the one next door removed?

Sarahv · Oct 31, 2022

Markyd said:
Kitchen fitters....not a sparky

It was an electrician

Sarahv · Oct 31, 2022

So update, have spoken to the owner (channel 4) and been round to look at their side. It is double bricked and they have gone through a brick and a half to get the socket fitted. hopefully they will be in contact with the electrician to correct their mistake…. Just waiting to hear for now.

Rockingit · Oct 31, 2022

If it helps resolve an argument later on.... Building Regulations Part A (Structural) section 2C30 says that chases (of which this would qualify as one) shall not be more than 1/3 of the overall wall thickness. It further states that they should not be positioned as to impair the stability of the wall - which this clearly has.

Also, Part B (Fire Safety) requires "When carrying out electricsal installations in a building the installer must not degrade the precautions taken or building design features intended to limit the spread of fire or limit the propogation of smoke and fumes".

The 'electrician' responsible for this MUST have known they'd done this as there's no way they'd have gotten a fixing screw to hold!!

timhoward · Oct 31, 2022

Rockingit said:
The 'electrician' responsible for this MUST have known they'd done this as there's no way they'd have gotten a fixing screw to hold!!

I was thinking the same. I'm also wondering where the zeal and enthusiasm came from to cut so deep!

The only way this makes any sense in my mind is if the first brick completely crumbles away, so he thinks never mind I'll attach it to the one behind (bad plan), and tries to drill for a rawplug and the brick is already loose and simply pushes right out.

But mistakes happen and it's generally best for your reputation to 'fess up especially when it's never in a million years going to go un-noticed!

UNG · Oct 31, 2022

Sarahv said:
So update, have spoken to the owner (channel 4) and been round to look at their side. It is double bricked and they have gone through a brick and a half to get the socket fitted. hopefully they will be in contact with the electrician to correct their mistake…. Just waiting to hear for now.

Is this some Grand Design they have screwed up when is Kevin coming round to film it

brianmoooore · Oct 31, 2022

Brick and a half is around 160mm. That's a deep box!

Sarahv · Oct 31, 2022

UNG said:
Is this some Grand Design they have screwed up when is Kevin coming round to film it

Worse, the great house giveaway!

timhoward · Oct 31, 2022

Sarahv said:
Worse, the great house giveaway!

At least it sounds like they are on board for not giving away a bit of yours too!

littlespark · Oct 31, 2022

Did it on purpose to add some ‘drama’ to the programme??

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