Neighbours Boiler Flue blowing steam into my house

Blackpool_Saver

I know this doesn't help with the immediate problem, but if it has been so bad for so many years why have you not sold and moved out?

rockin_plumber

Just for reference

Part J of the Building Regulations and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations include requirements for the safe location of flue terminals with respect to property boundaries. Approved Document J gives guidance on what would be reasonable distances for safety. In some cases it is possible that the flue installation complies with the Building Regulations health and safety requirements but represents an unwelcome nuisance. In these circumstances the Building Regulations cannot be used to obtain redress.

Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 addresses statutory nuisance and clean air. It considers whether fumes or gases emitted from premises constitute "statutory nuisances". Under the Act it is the duty of every local authority to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to investigate any complaint. If is felt that a local authority have not discharged their responsibility properly in relation to a complaint under the Environmental Protection Act, it is open to the complainant to take his/her case to the Local Government Ombudsman.
Also, under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 a person can take action if affected by fumes/gases amounting to a nuisance by bringing the circumstances of the matter direct to a Magistrates’ Court.

Zazen999

khublaikhan wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for their help and support. I rang the letting agency and after some heated exchanges they agreed to look into the matter, although, judging from my experience with them over the last 10 yrs I am not holding my breath.

I rang the local environmental health service and the gentleman on the other end said he had never come across this type of situation, he kept me on hold for a few mins whilst he sought advice and then said, without seeing the pics, it was difficult to judge but it was dependent on my access rights over the alleyway. I will look into this.

call him back tomorrow, get his email address and email him those photos.

Micky

Was there a flue for a previous boiler there previously?

2.5m from flue to property line for condensing boilers to prevent plume impinging on neighbour's property, also minimum height requirements.

http://www.idhee.org.uk/ExceptionsGuide.pdf

There is supposed to be a court case (county court?) where an incorrectly designed flue lead to rotting of a neighbour's property, court supposedly found against the owner of the boiler.

Unlikely that the plume will be just water vapour, probably contains oxides of nitrogen = acidic ... but only mildy so.

This can all be fixed with the correct flue kit.

Errata

gas4you wrote: »

A flue should not discharge over a boundary. Gas regs state 600mm minimum to a facing boundary and building regs state 2.5 M.

As said a vertical flue would have been one option, another would have been a plume management kit, fitted to the flue and then upwards and back over their property.

Contact Gas Safe and ask for a free inspection. They will state exactly what it should have been installed like, in writing

You beauty xxx MY HA replaced old boilers with condensing in the semi bungalows that I live in. They're installed in the airing cupboard in the sitting rooms which are back to back with each other IYSWIM and the steam from next door's boiler streams past my sitting room window if the ambient temp and wind direction are right.
I think I'm going to enjoy talking to the LA building inspector about this little problem.

FilthyLuka

Micky wrote: »

http://www.idhee.org.uk/ExceptionsGuide.pdf

I'm not sure where the 2.5m to a boundary dimension comes from or if it would have any significance in the installation
Section 6 of this link (from Micky) and the subsequent diagrams say that the 2.5m is relevant for the 'Boiler installation Assessment Procedure' only

Otherwise to comply with the building regulations (and manufacturers info normally) it can be only 600mm, but this one looks like it is on the boundary

The link also says that the flue can be positioned at 2.1m over a walkway which may not be much higher than it is now.

As its a shared access surely they should need your agreement to install this - they would if they wanted to brick the access up, i don't see how this is much different

khublaikhan

Sorry for the delay in replying - been busy with other things.

Thank you once again for all the advice - the so-called "Corgi registered Boiler Engineers" returned a few days ago and made the following change (the first link is a reminder pic):

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af49/khublaikhan/KK%20Neihbours%20Flue/KK4.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af49/khublaikhan/KK%20Neihbours%20Flue/KK8.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af49/khublaikhan/KK%20Neihbours%20Flue/KK6.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af49/khublaikhan/KK%20Neihbours%20Flue/KK7.jpg

I have yet to see it blasting all that steam out and am still not 100% happy but I do think it is an improvement.

Although there is a question mark as to its placement in accordance with regulations - I think its the best I could hope for?

I have made an appointment with someone from the council next week - I will see what they say when they see the pics.

C_Mababejive

Fair enough i guess....1 plume management kit fitted and well bracketed.

OddjobKIA

rockin_plumber wrote: »

Just for reference

WHy are you not closer to where i live I need another good plumber around here...

Your posts a informative and correct stating regulations and A PROFFESIONAL opinion...thankyou

khublaikhan

OddjobKIA wrote: »

WHy are you not closer to where i live I need another good plumber around here...

Your posts a informative and correct stating regulations and A PROFFESIONAL opinion...thankyou

Hear hear!