Upstairs Lights Suddenly Stopped Working

Section62

Ben1989 said:

Just a pain. I have no idea how to remove it all as I'll have to as I cant see a thing with it spread everywhere.

It is evil hideous stuff to work with... if it doesn't blow around all over the place then it clings to everything. A decent vacuum cleaner is an essential tool.

And yes, the PVC wiring problem is now well known (see my posts earlier in the thread when styrofoam was mentioned).  I would be really careful not to move or disturb any of the wiring until the electrician has taken a look.  Realistically the only safe way forward is replacing any of the cables which have been in contact with polystyrene.

On a more positive note, at least you aren't dealing with a loft full of loose-fill asbestos. (I'm crossing my fingers for you when I say that)

Ben1989

Section62 said:

Ben1989 said:

Just a pain. I have no idea how to remove it all as I'll have to as I cant see a thing with it spread everywhere.

It is evil hideous stuff to work with... if it doesn't blow around all over the place then it clings to everything. A decent vacuum cleaner is an essential tool.

And yes, the PVC wiring problem is now well known (see my posts earlier in the thread when styrofoam was mentioned).  I would be really careful not to move or disturb any of the wiring until the electrician has taken a look.  Realistically the only safe way forward is replacing any of the cables which have been in contact with polystyrene.

On a more positive note, at least you aren't dealing with a loft full of loose-fill asbestos. (I'm crossing my fingers for you when I say that)

I have a Titan vacuum from screwfix which is an animal. I anticipate this will be able to handle it all. 

Can i ask why the loft would have asbestos?

I must say, there is a lot of dust on the floorboards and generally small bits of rubble. Not sure if this is from the roof being replaced 6 years ago, though. 

Section62

Ben1989 said:

Can i ask why the loft would have asbestos?

I must say, there is a lot of dust on the floorboards and generally small bits of rubble. Not sure if this is from the roof being replaced 6 years ago, though. 

Before people came up with the 'clever' idea of using loose polystyrene balls/beads for loft insulation, someone had the really bright idea of using loose-fill asbestos.

This is usually pure asbestos fibre - nothing whatsoever to contain or bind it - just spread around over the ceiling.  It wasn't used in the UK as much as in some other countries, but it is something that traders will occasionally find, and when they do (and understand what they are dealing with) it is a real nightmare to deal with.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/loosefill.htm


As horrible as the polystyrene is, when dealing with old buildings and lofts it isn't the worst outcome you could have had. (hence try to see the positive side)


The dust/rubble could well be from the roof replacement.

Bendy_House

Ben1989 said:

I have a Titan vacuum from screwfix which is an animal. I anticipate this will be able to handle it all. 

Can i ask why the loft would have asbestos?

I must say, there is a lot of dust on the floorboards and generally small bits of rubble. Not sure if this is from the roof being replaced 6 years ago, though. 

That is probably ideal - large hose, good suction, large capacity.

I'd wear a good dust mask too, tho', as no vacuum cleaner catches everything, and what it doesn't filter out, it sends flying into the air.

Brie

GDB2222 said:

Alderbank said:

Would one of these be useful?
https://uk.bestreviews.guide/toilet-bowl-light

I found a motion sensitive toilet bowl light on Amazon. That rather made my day.

Brill!!  I now know what to get the OH for Christmas!!!  Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

FreeBear

Bendy_House said:

Ben1989 said:

I have a Titan vacuum from screwfix which is an animal. I anticipate this will be able to handle it all. 

Can i ask why the loft would have asbestos?

I must say, there is a lot of dust on the floorboards and generally small bits of rubble. Not sure if this is from the roof being replaced 6 years ago, though. 

That is probably ideal - large hose, good suction, large capacity.

Have come across vacuums built around a 45 gallon (200l) drum - Massive amount of suction, and plenty of capacity for debris.. You might be able to hire one..

I think a Henry (or similar) will get overwhelmed by the volume of beads in a loft.

coffeehound

FreeBear said:

Have come across vacuums built around a 45 gallon (200l) drum - Massive amount of suction, and plenty of capacity for debris.. You might be able to hire one..

I think a Henry (or similar) will get overwhelmed by the volume of beads in a loft.

I suppose you could improvise one by putting a container in-line with the titan's hose so it acted like one of those fireplace ash collector canisters

Ben1989

I was thinking of removing the bag and having straight through suction into a bin liner. Trouble is, if I pick up rubble, I could risk damaging the vacuum motor

GDB2222

FreeBear said:

Bendy_House said:

Ben1989 said:

I have a Titan vacuum from screwfix which is an animal. I anticipate this will be able to handle it all. 

Can i ask why the loft would have asbestos?

I must say, there is a lot of dust on the floorboards and generally small bits of rubble. Not sure if this is from the roof being replaced 6 years ago, though. 

That is probably ideal - large hose, good suction, large capacity.

Have come across vacuums built around a 45 gallon (200l) drum - Massive amount of suction, and plenty of capacity for debris.. You might be able to hire one..

I think a Henry (or similar) will get overwhelmed by the volume of beads in a loft.

Just to put some rough figures on it, suppose the loft area is 50 sqm, filled to a height of 50mm with beads. That's 2500 litres of beads!  (Unless, I've put the decimal point in the wrong place.) 

Our Henry has a capacity of 9 litres. So, you'd be looking at roughly 250 emptyings of poor Henry. He'd be worn out. 

In practice, it might be easier to scoop up most of it and stick it in bags, then vacuum up the rest. 

Do the 45 gallon vacuums come with a really really long hose, as it might be too big to go through the loft hatch?

Section62

Ben1989 said:

I was thinking of removing the bag and having straight through suction into a bin liner. Trouble is, if I pick up rubble, I could risk damaging the vacuum motor

Vacuum cleaner motors should be protected by a filter over a grille which stops larger objects getting into the fan and doing damage.

However, I don't think your plan wouldn't work anyway as the container collecting the beads needs to be rigid to resist the vacuum - if you use a bin liner on the suction side it will just collapse, and if there was some way of using it on the pressure (output) side then unless you contrive some kind of filter as well the bin liner will just inflate and then 'pop'.

'Professional' type dust extractors like this one work on the principle you are thinking of (and yes, rubble or lumps of wood can smash their fans) but I'm assuming your Titan isn't that kind of machine.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-ha1600-1150m-hr-electric-dust-extractor-230v/65112