STANDARD SPECIFICATION. for. Plumbing, Heating, Hot Water, Cold Water & Electrical work. Sussex Lodge London W2 & 16 Stanhope Terrace London W2

Transcription

1 STANDARD for Plumbing, Heating, Hot Water, Cold Water & Electrical work undertaken by owners within the building known as Sussex Lodge London W2 & 16 Stanhope Terrace London W2 BPME Consulting Engineers Tel: JULY 2003.

2 1. General introduction Pipework Insulation and Painting Under floor pipes Renewal of old pipework Electrical Services... 5 Page 2 of 5

3 1. General introduction The purpose of this specification is to acquaint owners and prospective contractors of some of the problems to be found when modifying or upgrading plumbing and electrical work within the flats. to ensure that replacement plumbing systems are to a single standard which has a 30 year life and can be maintained easily over that period and which also complies with the requirements of the block s insurers. to ensure that all other plumbing work required due to refurbishment, re-arrangement of services or repairs is carried out to a single standard to the benefit of the owner of the apartment and also to adjoining apartment owners. to ensure that all electrical work required due to refurbishment, re-arrangement of services or repairs is carried comprehensively, to a single standard and to current regulations (which is not the case for some of the work carried out by tenants) and that all existing unsafe wiring is renewed. It will also serve to deter non competent Companies from undertaking the work. The existing Hot and Cold water as well as the heating systems were installed over 70 years ago. Life expectancy of these types of systems is usually given as 30 to 40 years, and they are now in very poor condition. The Hot Water system is in particularly bad condition due to the introduction over the years of copper pipework into the original galvanized steel distribution system. Copper and galvanized (Zinc coated) pipe work should not be mixed on a system where fresh water flows from copper onto galvanised surfaces. In simple terms the two metals form a battery which results in the galvanizing being corroded away. The bare steel is then exposed to fresh water which contains Oxygen resulting in the steel pipe rusting internally and ultimately leaking. During the last two years and particularly in the last six months, there have been instances of leaks from flats which have caused expensive damage to the flats around or below them. In some cases, these leaks have been due to poor plumbing work carried out by tenants. In many cases, the leaks have been traced to completely corroded pipework which has had to be completely replaced. To compound this problem, some horizontal pipework is buried in solid concrete and/or mortar at the base of party walls especially in the Page 3 of 5

4 kitchen and bathroom areas. In many cases it is the concrete that has prevented major floods. As the steel pipes expand and contract with changes in temperature some galvanising is also eroded from the outside of the pipe. None of the existing vertical distribution mains and the connections to the baths, sinks etc as well as the heating are insulated, resulting in wasted fuel oil and unwelcome heating within the flats during warmer weather. As work is undertaken within the flats and when the distribution mains are replaced we can gradually change over to a reliable modern copper installation. 2. Pipework All pipework shall be installed as follows: Internal hot and cold water Copper EN 1057 Black label Heating up to 50mm (2 ) over 50mm (2 ) Copper EN 1057 Black label Black heavy weight steel to BSS 1386 Gas internal up to 22mm Copper EN 1057 Black label Gas internal over 22mm (¾ ) Black as heating over 2 Waste connections from fittings to stacks MUPVC All fittings on copper pipe shall be non dezinkifiable and leadless soldered. Unions shall be bronze faced conical seat pattern. Full regard shall be given to expansion and contraction of the pipework Insulation and Painting All pipework other than useful heating surface shall be insulated as required by section L of the Building Regulations and water supply regulations with mineral wool or equal sectional insulation having a thermal conductivity not exceeding W/mK and a thickness equal to the pipe external diameter up to a maximum of 40mm Page 4 of 5

5 No insulation shall be applied until the systems have been tested, cleaned and for steel pipework painted one coat primer. All insulation shall be non- combustible when tested as required by BS476 : Part 4, and the surface rated class O for flame spread in accordance with BS 476 : Part 7 No materials shall be incorporated which could emit toxic fumes or smoke in the event of fire. Polyurethane, PVC or other thermo-plastic materials shall not be used. All insulation shall comply with the following :- BS3958 Part 3, 4 and 5 BS Under floor pipes No pipe shall be buried within the floor or walls unless unavoidable such as the feeds to radiators and towel rails. In this case the water regulations and Building regulations shall be strictly adhered to. Pipes under the floor or within the screed thickness shall be formed in one length, insulated and installed within a proprietary sleeve such that the screed can not come into contact with the pipe. No joints will be permitted under the floor except in the special case of radiator connections. In this case an access arrangement shall be incorporated within the floor Renewal of old pipework When it is required to re route pipework within a flat and hence existing pipework is exposed all of the existing pipework shall be removed and replaced with copper in such a way that new rising / dropping mains can be installed by the Landlord. In some cases, existing galvanised pipes are buried within the wall thickness especially around the kitchen and riser areas. Such mains shall be replaced away from the wall in copper tube. The existing redundant mains may be removed or abandoned. 3. Electrical Services All electrical work shall strictly conform to 16 th Edition of The Institute of Electrical Engineers Wiring Regulations BSS 7671 and particular specifications and recommendations given by the manufacturers and suppliers of fittings and equipment. Page 5 of 5