Gas riser in a block of flats

[Tom Sutton]

Could it be classed as a protected shaft if one side is open to the elements?

[Bill G]

Kurnal

re ADB - yes . the main intake gas riser within the protected shaft is to the correct construction. The problem lies in that from the main riser it then branches off at each floor and this branch pipe goes through the protected saht into a gas cupboard at each level within the communial flat lobby. it is the venting of this cupboard that is the problem. Currently the top and bottom vent to the individual cupboards is through the protected shaft wall into the staircase. I will try and send you a photo seperately via e-mail .

[wee brian]

It's fine as it is - just leave it alone - make sure that the only thing in the riser "cupboards" is the pipe.

[Stinky]

From my experience the majority of 1960s blocks I have come across; they did not have gas when the building was designed.  Sometimes they run it up the outside of the building when they do decide to fit gas.  However I have found in a few blocks that the gas engineers have taken advantage of a natural smoke shaft.  Now being a smoke shaft it is typically 1.5m2, so for the gas engineer, it is the perfect place to retrofit the gas supply!

Obvioulsy your shaft may not be a natural smoke shaft, without seeing it, it can be difficult to tell, but there is possibly a chance it could be.

Please ensure that the cumunal lobby (or corridor) has a menas of ventilating it, which would have been by permanent vents (PVs), or AOVs may have been fitted.  This is a crucial part of the design and safety of the building and you cannot have a single staircase high rise block without it.  Many (cowboy) assessors miss this.