Brix

Unfortunately the installer has not registered it yet.

Thanks both - sorry I did not get notifications of replies! He agreed last week to issue the FENSA and warranty and to get the product designer / owner in to assess the job. He's now reneged on all of that and said that and he wants a declaration that she is satisfied with the job. The product owner is Smart Systems. They are understandably being cautiously on the fence but seem to acknowledge that the photos show issues. They will not inspect site unless requested by the installer or the manufacturer - neither of whom are inviting them on site. They don't seem particularly concerned that the installer is saying that gaps between parts of the frame, and gaps between seals and the frame when closed are just a feature of the windows. It's a £5000 window! The only reason I can imagine that the installer does not want an inspection is that the manufacturer was not licensed to produce the frames (they will not confirm who the manufacturer is).

Hello. My ex is looking to sell her flat. She had Crittal windows replaced with a modern metal alternative - quite pricey stuff. The install was practically complete in March last year - almost a year ago. She raised some fitting issues with it but the installer insisted that it was properly fitted and has turned up with various bits of equipment to demonstrate that there is no draft and sound reduction works. I have some experience with sound and noted that he was testing incorrectly (e.g. only measuring the background noise level with the windows closed, rather than the differential between the levels with windows open and closed). Some seals visibly do not meet - he said that they don't need to because there is more than one seal. In some places if you close the windows on a sheet of paper it holds it tight as you would expect - in others the paper just slides out. Nevertheless he insists it is all as it should be. We have been in direct contact with the system designer and they are clear that there is either a manufacturing issue or an install issue. The installer has been promising to meet with the designers on site but the meeting has not materialised. Anyway - she is now selling the flat and needs the FENSA certificate. The installer - who has repeatedly denied that there is any issue - says he cannot issue the warranty or the FENSA certificates because she has raised issues. But he still does not accept there is anything wrong with them and is not taking any action to put things right. Surely there is nothing to prevent him issuing the FENSA certificate and warranty docs? (I'm starting to wonder whether the product is a fake?)

Cheers. Can you tell me where that requirement is set out? I'd like to point m to it!

From that link: Under the new, revised regulations, electrical work undertaken in kitchens such as adding a new socket or work outdoors such as installing a new security light will no longer be notifiable unless a new circuit is required. This will mean less work has to be notified by electricians

Electrician brought in by the kitchen fitters, specifically to do the electrics only. I have read that anything in the kitchen is notifiable but this suggests not anymore: https://www.niceic.com/Niceic.com/media/Schemes/NICEIC-Part-P-Updated-Factsheet.pdf I did ask an electrician I know and trust (who was not available at the time) and he did not think works were notifiable - no new circuits. Didn't want to grill him much further!

I mean minor works!?

I had a kitchen refitted. Nothing major electrically. We raised the wall units so the grid switch for all the major appliances had to be relocated from its old position immediately below the fuse board to a new position above it. New LV under unit lights added to existing light circuit. Replaced gas hob with induction (using existing cables). A handful of sockets replaced. I have asked for a small works certificate but they seem very reluctant. They seem a bit confused, and have forwarded me NICEIC guidance to the Part P changes saying that the works are non notifiable. I can't find anything concrete about Small Works Certificates and whether electricians are obliged to provide one. It's a letting property. It was given its EICR cert. shortly before the kitchen refurb. Given all the hoops landlords are made to jump through, I'd feel more comfortable with some paperwork to show it's all above board. Does anyone know or have a link to definitive guidance about Small Works Certificates?

Thanks Temp. Was anticipating more of a yeah that'll work kind of answer. Super helpful and much appreciated!

I have two UFH systems in my home. One in the main house and one in the granny flat. The granny flat has 5no. zones with a timer on the combi and Wirsbo Cosy stats in each room. This is 3 wire 24V I think. I'd like to upgrade room stats to programmable stats. Upstairs each room / zone is operated on a 2 wire 240V Danfoss TP5000Si. I'd like to use something similar in the flat for continuity. Can I use the TP5000M 24 Si. Would it be a straighforward switch? Any other suggestion?

Yes - it has blown my mind somewhat.

Whilst replacing a kitchen in a ground floor rental flat the fitter has discovered extensive rat burrows under the reinforced screed. Mostly they have stripped out the rigid foam insulation layer between the screed and the slab. The kitchen /living floor construction is floating timber floor finish over mesh reinforced 50mm screed containing UFH pipes over rigid foam insulation over waterproof membrane over slab. I think we have found the point of entry - an uncapped disused drain pipe - but not certain yet. Quite large areas of the screed are left entirely unsupported but there is no sign of instability above. Obviously the most diligent solution would be to lift the entire finished floor, reinforced screed and UFH and re-lay. But it is a huge area (not far off 30sqm) and I think we have the main area. I'm possibly clutching at straws a bit but are there any other options using pumped foam or resin ( a bit like they do for foundation repairs) to back fill the holes without disturbing the otherwise intact screed and UFH and floor? Assuming of course that we can confirm and secure the entry point. There is no sign that it is occupied anymore although that's not to say the would not come back. Goodness know where all the insulation which has been ripped out has been deposited. I'm fairly certain that this is not covered by insurance.

Lovely - thanks for the advice. Do I need to worry about any of the other specs - e.g. flow rate, head etc.. The uppermost floor is about 2m above the pump. Servicing 8 zones.

Nut to nut on mine is 180. I haven't found that info on the Grundfos. Depth 145 mm Height 180 mm Width 96 mm Weight 2.94 kg Maximum Head 6000 mm Number of Phases 1 Maximum Pressure 10 bar Maximum Flow Rate 1.5 l/s Material Bronze Colour Bronze/Green Voltage 230 V Type Domestic Made To Order N Manufacturer Model No 4035483 Brand Name Wilo Range Description Wilo-SB

I certainly will not be sad if I never have to buy another SB60 again!

Nice one. Is that same size and power etc.. (not entirely sure what is essential.) Are plastic bodies a more recent development ? - would explain why not specified in install docs in 2003.

Thanks. Tried the adjuster but nothing. Plastic body may be the go.

Bronze as can't have any ferrous on the system - it corrodes the UFH pipes (Kee Triple Tube, old system, discontinued, lots of documented cases of pipes literally disintegrating). I undid the screw earlier and water came out. I thought the pump was glandless?

Power is on. Zone actuators seem to be working as normal - several are open/on. Wilo SB60 bronze pump is not doing anything. Pump is less than three years old. Has been working fine until this afternoon. Thermalstore, hot water, etc.. all working ok. These pumps are about £550 - what goes wrong with them and are they serviceable? Or can anyone think of anything it might be other than the pump itself?

Yes, I hope I have been fairly careful not to give too many clues to exact location ... ?.

Thanks for your reply - this is really helpful. You are absolutely correct about the certificate at the other site - it was a CLUED. There was in fact some significant development (a large concrete base) which may have affected my recollection - although this is not mentioned in the certificate. Whilst looking for a copy of the certificate I answered my own question about the size limitations - the planning department wrote to me confirming that they would not take enforcement against anything which exceeded the dimensions stated in the certificate, so long as it met the definition of caravan (it was along time ago!). I presume that this means they accept that the site specific caravan size restrictions were not enforceable. They confirmed that any changes to the concrete slab would need permission. They also said that the holiday use restriction might be enforced. In that case the owners has submitted an affadavit stating that they used it regularly between March and October with maintenance visits only between Nov and Feb and so usage was restricted to those months. I'm keen to avoid a holiday restriction on mine. As regards my site: I suspected that moving the caravan even for a few days might cause the clock to be re-set if they were being particularly strict. Although 10yrs might well have passed since it was last moved, there is nothing to be gained by mentioning it so I guess it is safest if that is simply left out of any application. You refer to the red line of the application site. What would govern where the red line is in this case? The registered title is for a plot of 25 acres. This is split into fenced fields - the field in which the caravan is currently located measures about 2 acres. I presume that where you reference ancillary development, this might include any foundations for a more substantial caravan and that, because the existing one has no foundations, any proposed replacement would need to be designed to sit on the land without any foundations? I take your point about DIY applications. I have quite a long history of doing my own - the only two rejections I have had have been submitted by architects and both of those I successfully appealed by myself. That said, I'm also fairly realistic about where my considerable blind-spots are and like to run things past people. I might well use a consultant on this one. I read your website and your approach sounded interesting to me as one of my problems has always been finding the balance between what I feel is needed in terms of drawings and detail at each stage, and what an architect wants to provide.

I have a caravan in a field in Wales which I visit it for short breaks (although less so recently because I have built a cabin nearby which is more comfortable and the caravan is starting to deteriorate). Now that I have a youngster, I'd like to tow it back to a workshop and restore it for towing and replace it on site with a larger structure which meets the planning definition of caravan. I bought the caravan in 2006/7 to use as a site office for a development which for various reasons has not started. Initially the caravan was in a field immediately adjacent to the barn intended for development but soon after I moved it into another field. I can't recall the exact date when I did this but aerial imagery shows that I moved it to its current position at least ten years ago. The only physical works I carried out were a trench for the wheels on one side to compensate for sloping land, and a widened gate (done by the farmer) to make it easier to maneuver. Apart from two short trips to festivals the caravan has not moved. The caravan is not connected - I fill water from a nearby spring, use solar power and gas. The toilet goes to a tank which we empty into a mobile carrier and then into a neighbour's cesspit. In terms of evidence - I have some dated photos, dated aerial photography at various intervals going back at least ten years and hope to be able to get a statement from the farmer I rent the fields to. I have some email correspondence about repairs on site dating back to 2007/08, and restoration receipts prior to moving it on site. I have never paid council tax on the site. I am a little concerned as to whether this will constitute enough evidence. I'm assuming that I need ten years history. I'm intending to replace it with something larger but I have come across a planning decision by this council in which the council granted a LDC but restricted it to the size of the caravan in respect of which the LDC was applied for? Is that allowed - or is the LDC not simply permission to keep a caravan? They also restricted that particular one to holiday use (it had been used as a second home / holiday home by the owners)? Might a new caravan need to be located in exactly the same spot or just anywhere in that particular field? Any other thoughts? Thanks.

Love it. Going to read up on the "hutters".

I'll try to dig out a better pic later. It's clad in Onduline. The roof was badly damaged this year and so whilst repairing I'm planning a little sleeping loft for my son - it was going to be pop up like my campervan roof but going to be rigid now.

I did but it was some time ago and I would need to dig it out (my planning permission actually expired but I have a certificate of lawfulness in respect of material commencement, so now secure in perpetuity.) To be honest, I have zero experience of stone walls and foundations have been my biggest worry even though full building reg plans were approved without any upgrade to the existing foundations where walls are being retained - engineer felt structure was sufficiently stable at the time. There is a lot of excavation up to the base of the stone walls for a new insulated slab etc... Although once complete this should add stability to the structure the construction process worries me! (As you can probably tell - I'm not really focused on that project at the moment.)