Socket on party wall

[Sarahv]

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?

 

[brianmoooore]

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]

Kitchen fitters....not a sparky

It was an electrician

 

[Sarahv]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Sarahv]

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

Worse, the great house giveaway!

 

[timhoward]

Worse, the great house giveaway!

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

 

[littlespark]

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

 

[123]

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

How are you able to tell it's a Click Mode faceplate from just seeing the back of the metal flushbox?

 

[DPG]

How are you able to tell it's a Click Mode faceplate from just seeing the back of the metal flushbox?

Look through the slot in the back box.
To be fair I didn't notice it until I've just gone back and zoomed in!

 

[123]

Look through the slot in the back box.
To be fair I didn't notice it until I've just gone back and zoomed in!

Fair play @mattg4321 , I'd never have noticed that. Now I see neutral pressed against the back box and oversized earth sleeving too