Compartmentation

[JHoe5152]

I have been checking the compartmentation of service risers and have noticed that the plasterboard don't reach the ceiling in any of them. Is there a reason for this or is this just shoddy workmanship?

[AnthonyB]

Do you have any photos?

A service riser can be a protected shaft and open at each floor with no horizontal seal, but the vertical walls (& doors/hatches in them) should be complete and of the correct fire resistance.

Missing/incomplete inner plasterboard layers to walls of riser shafts is a not uncommon defect in modern builds, usually corner cutting where no one will see.

[JHoe5152]

Hi Anthony

Please find photo's attached as requested. I have spoken to a plasterer and he can't see why they haven't plastered to the top of the walls.

[JHoe5152]

Anthony

We had a fire stopping contractor visit the site to price things up for remediation and he brought along some sort of fire stopping expert to advise on the fire stopping requirements.

When looking in one of the cupboards inside one of the flats he made a comment on the plastic access hatch to access the hidden sewer vent pipe (SVP) and said they need to me metal. He made no comment on the plastic electrical distribution box in the same cupboard. The hatch is located in a fire rated cupboard with FD30S doors fitted.

Is he correct in stating the access hatch needs to be metal instead of plastic? I have attached photo so can see what I am referring to.

regards

Joey

[AnthonyB]

The gaps in the first set of pictures do look like they should be sealed using a product/system approved to EN 1366-4 for linear gap seals.

With respect to the second set if the hatches form part of a compartment line where, if breached, fire could spread beyond the compartment, then they should be metal otherwise they may be fine as they are. The fire strategy and drawings would indicate this.

[JHoe5152]

Thanks Anthony, that's really helpful.

Hope all is well with you.