removing soil stack for Durgo

[infinity]

Is it acceptable to remove soil stack in the roof and replace it with a durgo in the attic?

I know there can be air flow issues depending on position to drain system

 

[JulianC]

Perfectly acceptable, providing it's not boxed in and therefore has sufficient air around the inlet - done it a fair few times and will be doing it again in a couple of weeks, using an externally rated one. In theory, every fifth property connected to the same drain should have an open vent, so providing the neighbours have traditional soil stacks, crack on.

 

[infinity]

Thanks Julian very helpful

 

[Vegelen]

Air Admittance Valves

Air admittance valves may require replacing in future.
They have internal springs which have a fixed lifespan.
One AAV I saw lasted > 100,000 open and close cycles.
Since we've had air admittance valves installed, smells in the bathroom occur more frequently.
Build up of hair, skin, bacteria under the plug hole need to be cleaned out periodically with cotton wool buds.
When we had an open vented soil stacks, these smells were less frequent and noticeable, but im not sure why.
Fit Durgos if you need to, else leave your soil stack alone, if it is not materially affecting generation from your solar panels.

 

[Gavin A]

I thought it was 1 in 7 needed to be vented, but it's never been anything like an issue yet.

 

[JulianC]

I thought it was 1 in 7 needed to be vented, but it's never been anything like an issue yet.

Might well be, I was just reading from the wife's Level 3 Plumbing book - appears that 5 was a suggestion rather than an absolute. No problem with fitting them and I believe many new builds use them. Any smells emanating from the plug hole may be caused by a sticking valve leading to trap seal loss. However, this could also be down to poor system design. Mind you, if it's crap stuck in the actual plug hole, that's nothing to do with smells filtering through from the other side of the trap - sounds more like a cleaning issue.

 

[SolarCity]

I thought that building control needed to be consulted? Not sure where I heard that so I could well be wrong.

 

[Guest111]

A lot of modern properties use durgo's they allow air in to prevent vacuuming but not out,so prteventing foul smells.Most newbuilds near me use them.

 

[chris murphy]

I thought that building control needed to be consulted? Not sure where I heard that so I could well be wrong.

"Hello SolarCity",

Although Air Admittance Valves are allowed under `Part H` of the Building Regulations `Drainage and Waste Disposal` this is obviously when they are installed and the Soil Stack / Waste Water and Drainage is Inspected and Certified as Compliant with these Building Regulations - by the Local Authority Building Control Department.


Without wanting to come across as a `Jobsworth Plumber` I would state that in the event of someone wanting to Terminate an Existing Soil Stack Vent internally / within the Roof Space this would definitely constitute an `Alteration` and as such it would be a `Notifiable Task` - Notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control.

At least for their Approval.


The OP and others who need to remove a Soil Stack Vent - I assume to make room for Solar Panels - should obviously do what they think best regarding the involvement of the LABC.


Regards,


Chris - Plumber, Heating Engineer, Gas Engineer / Heating - Plumbing & Gas Contractor.

 

[Gavin A]

I'm sure I checked this with napit technical a while back as we're also with them for plumbing, and they said we didn't need to notify for it, which did seem odd.

Might check again.

 

[chris murphy]

I'm sure I checked this with napit technical a while back as we're also with them for plumbing, and they said we didn't need to notify for it, which did seem odd.

Might check again.

"Hello Gavin A",

I think that a lot of Members might be very surprised at the `Works` from other Trades that are Notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control - or that have to be Certified as `Building Regulations Compliant` by ONLY Members of the Competent Persons Scheme that is related to the Work / Trade concerned.

Here are a couple of examples of `Simple Jobs`:


If an unregistered `Plumber` - Re: `Competent Persons Scheme for Plumbing` or `Sanitary Conveniences in Washrooms and Bathrooms` - were to install a Bath and slightly reposition it - altering the Waste Pipe to the Soil Stack - theoretically that would be Notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control - because He had to alter the Waste Pipe route and the Copper Pipework.

If an unregistered `Heating Engineer`- Re: `Competent Persons Scheme for Plumbing & Heating Systems` installs additional Radiators to a Heating System that would be Notifiable to the LABC.

If an unregistered `Plumber` or `Heating Engineer` installs an `Ordinary` - Vented Hot Water Cylinder that would be notifiable to the LABC.


There are many other examples of this - I have mentioned these three because most People would NOT realise that these are `Notifiable Works`.


I am sure that Members can see how an Alteration to a Soil Stack Vent - Re: Building Regulations `Part H` Drainage & Waste Disposal / Alterations would be taken at least as `Seriously` by the Local Authority Building Control as the examples above - ?


Regards,


Chris

 

[SPARTYKUS]

"Hello Gavin A",

I think that a lot of Members might be very surprised at the `Works` from other Trades that are Notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control - or that have to be Certified as `Building Regulations Compliant` by ONLY Members of the Competent Persons Scheme that is related to the Work / Trade concerned.

Here are a couple of examples of `Simple Jobs`:


If an unregistered `Plumber` - Re: `Competent Persons Scheme for Plumbing` or `Sanitary Conveniences in Washrooms and Bathrooms` - were to install a Bath and slightly reposition it - altering the Waste Pipe to the Soil Stack - theoretically that would be Notifiable to the Local Authority Building Control - because He had to alter the Waste Pipe route and the Copper Pipework.

If an unregistered `Heating Engineer`- Re: `Competent Persons Scheme for Plumbing & Heating Systems` installs additional Radiators to a Heating System that would be Notifiable to the LABC.

If an unregistered `Plumber` or `Heating Engineer` installs an `Ordinary` - Vented Hot Water Cylinder that would be notifiable to the LABC.


There are many other examples of this - I have mentioned these three because most People would NOT realise that these are `Notifiable Works`.


I am sure that Members can see how an Alteration to a Soil Stack Vent - Re: Building Regulations `Part H` Drainage & Waste Disposal / Alterations would be taken at least as `Seriously` by the Local Authority Building Control as the examples above - ?


Regards,


Chris

a bit like notifiable electrical works, no one actually cares or enforces/polices it, because they have neither the man power, time, money or inclination to.

So really it's a waste of time.

 

[BruceB]

If the termination of a soil stack by a Durgo is an ancillary work of installing solar PV, then provided the solar PV installer is mcs registered and provided the alteration is done in accordance with building regs, then no separate notification is required. When the notification is made for the PV it covers all parts of the building regs.

 

[Earthstore]

Well, this is all new to me, if you fit a new rad you need building regs!
How the hell are they going to police that one?

Strange really there are systems fitted without structural surveys, fitted without scaffold, and they can not police that.

If they were to concentrate on policing the serious points then maybe things would be better in this industry.

I am going to change from Andrex who do I notify?

 

[Vegelen]

Areas like Fallowfield and Southall must be principalities within the United Kingdom, comparable with Monaco / France.

UK Building Regulations haven't applied to Landlords in those principalities for decades.

Local Building Authorities would need to invite the Luftwaffe back to demolish thousands of "unoffical" extensions on countless red brick Victorian terrace houses, to ensure compliance.

Local Building Authority rules become more and more restrictive / pneurotic for those that continue to adhere to them, in contrast to many other UK areas with large landlord concentrations / immigrant populations that simply build what they want regardless.