En-suite & bathroom fans empty into loft

dadsarmy

Any comments?

Several 2008 2.5 storey terrace houses (velux in roof) have the en-suite & bathroom fans emptying into the loft space - above the soffit. There is no dedicated outlet for the flexible hoses.

If the latest breathable roofing felt is used with soffit vents and ridge vents can a shower and bath room extractor fan discharge into the the area above the soffit?

Building control and approved documents re ventilation say a dedicated outlet is required. The original builders snagging crews say no dedicated vent is needed.

Thank you for any advice.

phill99

It is the Building Control Dept of your local authoruty that enforce Building Regs and Therefore you need to go with what they are saying. Snagging contractors will say what they have to in order to get ot of finishing snagging items.

It is not appropriate for a bathroom vent pipe to be discharging into you loft space. Even with breathable felt, you will get a build up of condensation in the loft which is not what you want. Breathable felts are designed to allow a through flow of air into the loft to stop 'normal' moisture build up, not the excess amount that is produced frrom a shower room. Get the builders to put it right and if they wont say that you will refer it to the NHBC for a resolution.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Both of mine do the same also.

iamcornholio

Fans need to extract to external air.

Your builders are wrong - I wonder if cost and time/trouble were considerations in them reaching their decision?

jonmp

:eek:

Vent to the outside!!!

Owain_Moneysaver

Vent to the outside unless you want your loftspace filled with toxic black mould and your rafters rotting.

dadsarmy

Thanks for replies to one and all.

phill99 - Not NHBC but Architects certificate ( I know people were saying that you would not be able to sell a house that only has a architects certificate for 10 years or so - but - one terrace is currently under offer at 215k - a increase of 20K in 18 months). I`m not sure building regs can do much as the way I see the law the Approved documents are only guidelines anyway. Perhaps I am mistaken here?

iamcornholio (of Butthead & Beavis fame?) posted "Your builders are wrong I wonder if cost and time/trouble were considerations in them reaching their decision?" yes I think that is the case.



Luckily my house along with another house in this terrace were the only ones out of 8 that were built that have dedicated vents for the ducting. I have managed to point this defect out to 5 other house owners and two have had it rectified - but a little worrying for me is that my neighbours each side have so far not seen sense. However as we are on a slight slope each terrace house has its own pitched roof - if you know what I mean, so maybe not too much risk for us piggy in the middle?

phill99

But your architect should be aware of the regs. You don't need the brains of an archbishop to realise that moisture discharging into a loft space is just asking for trouble. Tell the architect that you will contact the RIBA and ask them to adjudicate in the matter.