New extension: Cold draught through AC power sockets

DRP

(just the sockets in the extension).

As in the title - a cold draught is coming through the socket holes. Wall is breezeblock construction with insulation boards in the cavity. Rendered on the outside. Internal wall is skimmed dotndab plasterboard. Floor is concrete>Celotex>Chipboard>Engineered wood.

Is this right/normal?

Is there a solution?

G_M

Get the builder back who did the extension.

mishkanorman

If its any help, our new extension has external bricks then insulation then the breeze blocks and the back of the socket is set into that, we then will have plasterboard and plaster with the front of the socket after that.

I cant see how any airflow would be present, either way i'd be contacting the electrician who did the work !

DRP

G_M wrote: »

Get the builder back who did the extension.

Yep he's coming Wednesday to finish off some bits, so I pre-warned him there was an issue.

Will be interesting to see how he explains/fixes it...

maninthestreet

The live and neutral are shuttered and only open when the earth 'pin' of the plug is inserted. Just how much draught can there be from just one small hole? You could try using some of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/electric-socket-covers

DRP

maninthestreet wrote: »

The live and neutral are shuttered and only open when the earth 'pin' of the plug is inserted. Just how much draught can there be from just one small hole? You could try using some of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/electric-socket-covers

Thanks - worth a try if all else fails. Will see what builder comes up with first.

It isn't one small hole, it is ten (5 double sockets) small holes.

Ten small holes in an extension that has been expensively designed, calculated, built, and regulated to meet all the current heat loss rules & legislation shouldn't really have basic problems like this.

phil24_7

Sounds like the power has been run through the cavity or the cables haven't been plastered over after chasing, allowing draughts through.

Smiley_Dan

DRP wrote: »

As in the title - a cold draught is coming through the socket holes. Wall is breezeblock construction with insulation boards in the cavity. Rendered on the outside. Internal wall is skimmed dotndab plasterboard. Floor is concrete>Celotex>Chipboard>Engineered wood.

Is this right/normal?

Is there a solution?

It's normal, but it's not right.

Ever since dot and dab started being used this has become more and more of a problem.

The fix is to either not dot and dab, wet plaster instead or parge coat the internal block before D and D. Or have your air tight layer outbound of the inner leaf.

Either way it's lazy work done to reduce cost. But it'll put your heating bills up a lot and cause problems in your building fabric.

phil24_7

Ignore my post, I forgot it was D+D. Dan is right.

I just plastered my cellar/extension and it was rendered first before being skimmed with plaster. There are no draughts in this part, despite it being connected to the original cellar by a doorway, and the old cellar having air bricks.

DRP

Thanks for the replies.

phil24_7 wrote: »

Sounds like the power has been run through the cavity or the cables haven't been plastered over after chasing, allowing draughts through.

The power was run at the edges of the room then up to sockets. Not through the cavity (I saw this before the floor&insulation went down). HOWEVER i have just remebered that there is an external garden AC socket the other side of that wall, which must have gone through the cavity i nthat approximate area....

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

It's normal, but it's not right.

Ever since dot and dab started being used this has become more and more of a problem.

The fix is to either not dot and dab, wet plaster instead or parge coat the internal block before D and D. Or have your air tight layer outbound of the inner leaf.

Either way it's lazy work done to reduce cost. But it'll put your heating bills up a lot and cause problems in your building fabric.

I did question the architect who spec'd dot n dab at the time... you live and learn.

Smiley_Dan

Architects are good at visual and "ergonomic" design but most (most) don't have a clue about building performance.