Stopcock hatch in bathroom

Le_Kirk

Due to the way the house was split into flats some years ago, the stopcock (and water meter) in my daughter's flat is in the bathroom and was sealed behind the bath panel.  She is in the process of having the bathroom refurbished and does not want to end up with an inaccessible stopcock and water meter.  The water meter has a sender that can be read from a meter outside the property (installed by the water company) but the builders are saying the tiles (laid horizontally) on the end of the bath MUST be sealed and their advice is to break the seal every time you need to turn off the stopcock or attend to the water meter (change the battery for example) but this is not something one would want to have to do in an emergency!  Of course it would then have to be resealed or regrouted.  The chaps doing the job are saying it is not possible to come up with a hatch as it must be sealed to prevent water ingress (I cannot see the problem as it is at the non-tap end of the bath); I think they just don't want the extra work.
Has anybody seen or come up with, a flap that would do the job?  The bath stops short of the end wall and is being tiled over a support that goes between the end of the bath and the wall.  Due to the pedestal for the wash basin it won't be possible to gain access from the side.

FreeBear

Le_Kirk said: Has anybody seen or come up with, a flap that would do the job?

Something like this - https://www.semin-plaster.com/sealed-access-panels/53-waterair-dustsmoke-tight-trap-door.html

Don't know who the UK retailer/distributor is for Semin, but there are bound to be similar products from other sources available.

And no. A stopcock should not be hidden behind a sealed panel. It needs to be easily accessible should there be an emergency such as a burst pipe. The alternative is to fit something like a Surestop.

Le_Kirk

That's the sort of thing.  Now I know it exists,  I can do a bit more searching.
ETA.  Searched for and found something similar  <<<LINK to that above and forwarded it to the daughter who says her chaps are going to fit something similar!  Just as well as I pointed out to them that as they are starting the kitchen refit next week and will need to turn off the water it might not be a good idea to have to undo all their good work in the bathroom.  Common sense prevails!

Le_Kirk

FreeBear said:

Le_Kirk said: Has anybody seen or come up with, a flap that would do the job?

And no. A stopcock should not be hidden behind a sealed panel. It needs to be easily accessible should there be an emergency such as a burst pipe. The alternative is to fit something like a Surestop.

Absolutely agree.

andyhop

plenty plenty of options . We would generally relocate and fit inside vanity unit or something similar 

plenty of tiled access hatches on the market too and can be made bespoke for not much money

sounds like laziness to me !

Le_Kirk

andyhop said:

plenty plenty of options . We would generally relocate and fit inside vanity unit or something similar 
plenty of tiled access hatches on the market too and can be made bespoke for not much money
sounds like laziness to me !

Absolutely right.  They have had their thinking readjusted!

GDB2222

It may be more practical to fit a Surestop remote control stopcock.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/surestop-remote-stop-!!!!!!-push-fit-15mm/48604
You might want to fit that, anyway, as the last thing you want is to be scrabbling around through a small access hatch if there's a flood going on.

That doesn't help with the water meter, though.  If the water board need to access the meter, will they be happy with a small service hatch? I think I'd ask them what access they require. There's Elfin Safety to consider.

Ganga

Will the water company not fit a new meter outside the house and possibly a stop !!!!!! ?

travis-powers

GDB2222

That doesn't help with the water meter, though.  If the water board need to access the meter, will they be happy with a small service hatch? I think I'd ask them what access they require. There's Elfin Safety to consider.

I did social housing kitchens for a while, if we came across a water meter the general rules was enough access for meter to be undone and replaced.

Le_Kirk

GDB2222 said:

It may be more practical to fit a Surestop remote control stopcock.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/surestop-remote-stop-!!!!!!-push-fit-15mm/48604
You might want to fit that, anyway, as the last thing you want is to be scrabbling around through a small access hatch if there's a flood going on.
That doesn't help with the water meter, though.  If the water board need to access the meter, will they be happy with a small service hatch? I think I'd ask them what access they require. There's Elfin Safety to consider.

Ganga said:

Will the water company not fit a new meter outside the house and possibly a stopcock?

travis-powers said:

GDB2222

That doesn't help with the water meter, though.  If the water board need to access the meter, will they be happy with a small service hatch? I think I'd ask them what access they require. There's Elfin Safety to consider.

I did social housing kitchens for a while, if we came across a water meter the general rules was enough access for meter to be undone and replaced.

Thanks all good points.  Since it was pointed out to the bathroom fitters how stupid it would be to seal it all in, they have agreed to fit a non-sealed hatch.  There will now be enough room through the hatch (due to the size of the tiles) to gain access to read or work on the water meter.  The water supply company will not do anything as they say "it is inside the property and therefore your problem, householder"  although they are attending to repair/replace the outside repeater, which is their property.  Should point out that daughter only bought and moved in February and has found a hatful of similar strange arrangements that previous owner installed and presumably got used to and lived with.