Cooking fumes in my kitchen from the flat below

astron4

I've always had extremely strong cooking smells coming up from the flat downstairs (Indian food), but the other day I walked into my kitchen and there were cooking fumes, I mean my kitchen was foggy.

I raised it with the directors of the freehold (I am one of them, it's a share of freehold) as a compartmentation issue and potential risk to life, and one is against doing an intrusive (type 4) fire risk assessment, and the other one is passive/against too. They said it's an expensive exercise and there is no need "to get rid of cooking smells". I have stressed the fact, again and again, that it's not just smells but we're talking about a more serious issue here, and as directors we are responsible for the health and safety of the building. Again, they have been dismissive.

How do I resolve this? Our managing agent is waiting for instructions from us and won't do anything on their own. I am genuinely concerned about this, but I am being blocked by the other two directors.

I also called the fire brigade and they said that they're not responsible for demised areas, and that I'd have to convince the other directors.

moneysaver1978

I have no experience in this but did you manage to capture evidence like videos or photos? This might help for pushing through at least an investigation.

Also have you been able to pinpoint where the fumes are getting into your flat?

born_again

Do the other directors live on site?
If they do next time it happens call them in straight away to show them.

twopenny

You;re looking for a hole where a pipe comes in.

Backs of base units - is there a gap under the kick board of the units?

Do you have extractor fans fitted over the ovens? If so where do the vents go out?

Mine goes into the loft which is a fat lot of good. Could it be a vent is going past your kitchen and it's degraded?

astron4

moneysaver1978 said:

I have no experience in this but did you manage to capture evidence like videos or photos? This might help for pushing through at least an investigation.

Also have you been able to pinpoint where the fumes are getting into your flat?

Unfortunately not, I just walked into my kitchen and it was hazy. They're getting in from the kitchen downstairs to my kitchen and spread to the whole flat of course if I leave my kitchen door open.

astron4

born_again said:

Do the other directors live on site?
If they do next time it happens call them in straight away to show them.

One of the directors is in the flat downstairs actually. Last time I called him was due to very strong smells. He came upstairs and said that he couldn't smell anything... I guess one can be used to certain smells, what can I say.

However as you say, next time, when there's fumes, I'll call them upstairs.

astron4

twopenny said:

You;re looking for a hole where a pipe comes in.

Backs of base units - is there a gap under the kick board of the units?

Do you have extractor fans fitted over the ovens? If so where do the vents go out?

Mine goes into the loft which is a fat lot of good. Could it be a vent is going past your kitchen and it's degraded?

Yes, there are several wholes in the pipework under the counters and behind the wall where the boiler is installed: all the pipework actually, from mains, to boiler pipes, everything. And that's directly on top of their cooking area.

What do I do about this? It's all fitted under the counted and inside a large cupboard that's housing the boiler, water meter etc.

No extractor fans that vent outside, only internal ones.

Emmia

I'd consider looking at whether there are any obvious gaps under your kitchen units etc. and get them filled. It will be a complete pain to do, as I expect the area will be difficult to access, so it might end up being expanding foam and a squirt and see approach. 

I sympathise, we have a slight cigarette smell in our bathroom coming from the flat below, I've been sealing obvious, and not so obvious holes, but it's still an issue. And my OH cannot smell, so thinks it's fine.

astron4

Emmia said:

I'd consider looking at whether there are any obvious gaps under your kitchen units etc. and get them filled. It will be a complete pain to do, as I expect the area will be difficult to access, so it might end up being expanding foam and a squirt and see approach. 

I sympathise, we have a slight cigarette smell in our bathroom coming from the flat below, I've been sealing obvious, and not so obvious holes, but it's still an issue. And my OH cannot smell, so thinks it's fine.

I mean, ultimately, to seal off my kitchen I will have to rip off all of the kitchen, including the floor, and seal it up, I know that.

However, what I am worried about is compartmentation and the hazard in case of fire. Sealing up with expanding foam doesn't prevent this I don't think...

Emmia

astron4 said:

Emmia said:

I'd consider looking at whether there are any obvious gaps under your kitchen units etc. and get them filled. It will be a complete pain to do, as I expect the area will be difficult to access, so it might end up being expanding foam and a squirt and see approach. 

I sympathise, we have a slight cigarette smell in our bathroom coming from the flat below, I've been sealing obvious, and not so obvious holes, but it's still an issue. And my OH cannot smell, so thinks it's fine.

I mean, ultimately, to seal off my kitchen I will have to rip off all of the kitchen, including the floor, and seal it up, I know that.

However, what I am worried about is compartmentation and the hazard in case of fire. Sealing up with expanding foam doesn't prevent this I don't think...

The killer in the event of a fire downstairs is probably smoke - which is what you're trying to stop entering your flat.  The compartmentalisation element might be difficult to fix without significant works to both/all flats - and your fellow freeholders are not keen on the works this may involve. 

I think all you can do is works to your flat to try and seal it from the others. Or sell your flat and move on. 

astron4

Emmia said:

astron4 said:

Emmia said:

I'd consider looking at whether there are any obvious gaps under your kitchen units etc. and get them filled. It will be a complete pain to do, as I expect the area will be difficult to access, so it might end up being expanding foam and a squirt and see approach. 

I sympathise, we have a slight cigarette smell in our bathroom coming from the flat below, I've been sealing obvious, and not so obvious holes, but it's still an issue. And my OH cannot smell, so thinks it's fine.

I mean, ultimately, to seal off my kitchen I will have to rip off all of the kitchen, including the floor, and seal it up, I know that.

However, what I am worried about is compartmentation and the hazard in case of fire. Sealing up with expanding foam doesn't prevent this I don't think...

The killer in the event of a fire downstairs is probably smoke - which is what you're trying to stop entering your flat.  The compartmentalisation element might be difficult to fix without significant works to both/all flats - and your fellow freeholders are not keen on the works this may involve. 

I think all you can do is works to your flat to try and seal it from the others. Or sell your flat and move on. 

This seems to be the case with the other freeholders (or at least with the particular director). I think he knows that this may very well be the case and wants to avoid having the fire assessment in the first place.