Asbestos

[grumpybum]

I'm in the process of having major work done on my rented house. The plumbers are in fitting a new central heating system. It now seems that the asbestos problem has reared its ugly head. There refusing to drill holes for the copper pipe until tests are done. The landlords have told the plumbers that the HSE recommend wall paper paste on the site of the drilling to collect the dust? Is this true or does it require expert contractors? Neither the contractors or ourselves were ever informed of asbestos on the property.

 

The asbestos problem might even get worse as builders are due in within 2 weeks for major work some of which now appears to include other areas where its present. I wont know till later if the builders are aware of this problem.

 

I would appreciate any help or suggestions as to a way foreward.

[Phone]

gb,

 

Hope you have a long term rental agreement at a fixed rate.

In the US you have to have more permits than will fit in a filing pouch. It becomes a REAL issue if disposal is involved.

 

Phone

[corydoras]

Phone

 

It is the same here. His landlord is talking out of his ass, at least I think he is.

 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/risk.htm

 

Go speak to the Building Control Officer at your local town hall mate.

 

Only licenced contractors can work with asbestos. Where is Barry Luxton? I reckon he would know for sure.

[Brian Carragher]

I work with asbestos during the course of works, or put it another way, manage asbestos removal as part of my job (site manager) and although some types of asbestos can be removed by non licenced contractors who've got the appropriate qualifications and insurance, the vast majority of it (removal)has to be done under controlled conditions

 

The landlord is talking out of his arse, before any works take place he should have had an invasive survey carried out with analysed samples as identified by a lab certified as capable of carrying out the analysis, the asbestos regs changed in April 12 and are now even more onerous on property owners and their agents who authorise work on their behalf

 

The landlord can be jailed if the HSE are involved after the event , the penalties are that severe, before work starts on properties that have asbestos in them, then by law the HSE must be informed

 

If you want any more or detailed response just shout up, off out now for last day on the river

[Sportsman]

The contractors are perfectly correct not to do any work if they suspect the presence of asbestos. Prior to work starting the home owner / landlord must have an asbestos survey carried out and as Brian has said unless the asbestos containing materials are of a certain type or the works will not involve asbestos then the work will need to be performed by specialist contractors.

Someone is in for a big bill I'm afraid.

[grumpybum]

Many many thanks for the replies. A survey was done but had gone missing. So they refered to several other surveys done in the same type of property but at different locations. The problem has been narrowed down to just one problem area. Were now awaiting the arrival of a specilist team to drill some holes etc.

 

Now can I test you all again? Ground heat source, heat pump etc for the central heating. Good bad?

[Sportsman]

Hi GB

Heat pumps are much more popular here in France. We have a heat pump but ours is aerothermie so it takes heat from the ambient air rather than the ground. This is not quite as efficient as ground source but ours is brilliant. It heats a 287 sq m. house via underfloor heating. It runs from October to round about now 24 hrs a day and keeps the house at a steady 20'C all the time.

Overall cost is difficult to estimate as it is included in the electricity bill but we pay around 2500 euro a year for electricity which includes the heating.

Installation of ground source can be expensive and the heat pumps themselves are not cheap. They seem to work best for underfloor style heating which runs on lower water temps than radiators.

I don't know the payback time, that would depend on too many variables but as a piece of kit they work brilliantly and I would have another one like a shot.

PM me if you want a chat about it.

[nick]

no personal experience but the in-laws have a house in the highlands ground source heat pump provides their only source of heating. I have been there on days when the outside temp has hit -15C and been plenty warm enough. I guess as with most things quality varies, but in principle it can be a super cheap and efficient means of heating.

[chesters1]

 

no personal experience but the in-laws have a house in the highlands ground source heat pump provides their only source of heating. I have been there on days when the outside temp has hit -15C and been plenty warm enough. I guess as with most things quality varies, but in principle it can be a super cheap and efficient means of heating.

Ask stephen (my son near you) if he recommends heat recovery systems (not the same as heat source)