Dangerous Unvented Install.

[SimonG]

Called out to a dripping overflow.

Turn out to be a small warmflow unvented cylinder. Up in the loft.

No insulation.
No 2 port valve.
Cylinder stat not wired.
Discharge tundish on top of a pulled bend. 22mm copper disappears down towards bathroom.

Bloke then tells me back wall is soaked where its been dripping. So goes outside to see a plastic overflow dribbling away 3 metres up the wall.

Then to top it all its being ran off a solid fuel back burner.

Fitted by a builder 2 years ago.


I've e-mailed customer with list of faults and he wants me to put it right.

The choices I gave him were

1. Break the solid fuel with a plate heat exchanger to separate circuits.
2. Vented cylinder.
3. External combi, which he is keen on.

My main worry is what do I do with regard the current install. Phone building control? All the cylinders paperwork was stuffed behind it, wasn't notified.

Basically what do I do to cover my arse?

All replies gratefully received.

 

[on31ll]

So have you worked on this cylinder yet or just been round to look ? Did you take any pictures ? Along with your email to the customer stating there is problems with it. As far as im concerned youve covered your back.

 

[Dotty]

From what you've said, Si, your arse is covered. But it might be worth a call to either the LABC or the HSE to stop the cretin seriously hurting someone.

 

[SimonG]

Refused to touch it. No photo's as I didn't have the smart phone with me.

The bloke that's installed it has also installed one for this guys brother and aunt!

 

[Best]

I wouldn't worry about yourself getting the blame. As long as you haven't tried to fix any bits of it. Just give plenty of paperwork and emails to the customer telling him list of faults and each letter state a warning that unit is highly dangerous and NOT to have any heat source to it, - in other words, No solid fuel fire or electric heater - so no hot water possible.
I would be worrying about the customer.

 

[Best]

The bloke that's installed it has also installed one for this guys brother and aunt!

That's plenty work for you! I would definitely try to contact them as it will be another dangerous install. Really a legal issue.

 

[quality]

Lets not get carried away. our building & water regs are pretty tight but other European countries do this (rubbish installs) daily. we are about 10+ years behind with unvented and regulate it far different to what our other neighbors do

 

[Best]

It's the solid fuel connected to it I would worry about the most. Although the p&t valve will probably save an explosion, but will the DIY discharge pipe work take high pressure boiling water? Maybe spew out tundish and through the ceiling into rooms below.

 

[Gray0689]

Stick in a small buffer (just a 32x18 direct cylinder with a few extra takings )
It's pretty straight forward to just need a decent spark if underfloor

 

[townfanjon]

One word simon ..... riddor

 

[oz-plumber]

This could also happed...
Big bang sends water tank sky high

January 12, 2015 Stephen Taylor News No comments






Share
Water Tank ExplosionIT wasn’t a bomb, but it was just as destructive. A Frankston house was partly demolished last Wednesday afternoon when its hot water service exploded.

The force of the blast in Drum Close destroyed much of the rear of the house and part of the roof. It is believed no one was home at the time.

Witnesses said the hot water tank “took off like a rocket” and ended up on a nature strip in Dalpura Circuit.

“When it exploded there was a loud bang and it shook houses for quite a distance around,” said a neighbour, who asked not to be named.

“We ran outside and someone saw the water tank a few hundred yards up in the sky, and then debris rained down on nearby houses.

“One resident raced to protect his children, who were in a swimming pool as rubble rained down. The water tank and pieces of roof tiles ended up in Dalpura Circuit. The house next door had its fence, belongings and car damaged.”


Investigation: Police talk to witnesses in Dalpura Circuit, Frankston. Part of the hot water service is in the foreground.

Detective Acting Sergeant Mark Garett, of Frankston Crime Investigation Unit, said the house’s occupant had been interviewed and “investigations are ongoing”.

Two Frankston CFA trucks and five crew members attended the scene just before 5pm. Senior station officer Graham Kirk said he was unsure what had caused the explosion but it appeared the pressure release valve had been blocked.

“It might not have been done maliciously,” he said. “It might have been done to fix a leak.”

Mr Kirk said his members monitored air samples for flammable gas and used a thermal imaging camera inside and outside the house to determine the cause of the explosion. None was found.

After the big bang, a plumber, who lives nearby, turned off the gas and water to make the scene safe. He said it appeared the hot water service had been tampered with and the pressure valve capped.

Police gas investigators attended the scene later in the day.

First published in the Frankston Times

 

[Riley]

I am finding that unvented cylinders are becoming a more popular option for those people wanting to achieve the powerful shower. I am also seeing a noticeable amount that are clearly DIY jobs and are totally unsafe. Do HSE actually take these dangerous installs seriously??? I went to one the other day cylinder was put in 12 years ago, actually in remarkably good nick but there was so many small faults with it that could have amounted to something pretty horrendous not least the fact that the PRV outlet and TPRV outlet terminated straight onto the porch roof above the front door