Laundry Chute Regulations???

[u22]

Hi, I'm thinking of installing a laundry chute in my house, I don't
think its a common household facility in the UK as I have never heard of
or know anyone who has one.

I'm interested because it will make life easier as I have a large
family...

I'm thinking of installing it from the first floor to the basement -
that's going through 2 floors in total. I want to completely comply with
the building regs and fire standards, could you please advise on my plan
and the questions I have regarding it. Currently my plan consists of:

1) Chute diameter of 30cm
2) Chute Material: Stainless Steel
3) 1.5 hour fire rated self closing door at the top
4) 1 hour fire damper at the basement level

5) Box the pipe in with fire board and plaster it

6) Add a fire alarm at the top of the chute (inside) - fire alarm will
be interconnected to others throughout the house.

My questions:

a) Is a laundry chute legal in the UK for residential houses?
b) Is my plan above sufficient to satisfy all the building and fire
regs?
c) Do I have to inform the council that I'm putting one in?

Any other recommendations welcome!

Thanks




--
u22

[harry]

I can tell you about hospital ones. They have self closing doors,
smoke proof, on all floors and are fireproof. A mass of damp laundry
can self ignite.
There have been some serious incidents in hospitals in the past.

Also. make sure kids can't fall down access/them.
They can be smelly too.

[John Rumm]

Approved Document B contains notes on refuse chutes if nothing else...


--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

[Rick Hughes]

On 05/07/2012 14:03, u22 wrote:

I looked at putting one in my build ... from ironing room on 1s floor to
utility room below .. was advised it would be difficult to get Bld Regs
approval due to fire risk.
I did point out that my stair well was a much bigger opening .. but they
did not see that as relevant.

[Owain]

On Jul 5, 2:03 pm, u22 <u22.a3b5...@diybanter.com> wrote:

> Hi, I'm thinking of installing a laundry chute in my house, I don't
> think its a common household facility in the UK as I have never heard of
> or know anyone who has one.
> I'm interested because it will make life easier as I have a large
> family...

It may get the dirty washing down to the basement but you still have
to carry all the clean stuff back up again afterwards.

And all the dirty stuff will end up in one big basket at the bottom of
the chute, instead of being separated into whites/coloureds etc. So
that's another job that will have to be done.

Much better to put the laundry room on the bedroom floor where the
bulk of the dirty washing originates and it can be separated at source
into whites/coloureds etc.

Owain

[newshound]

If you had one of those "plumbed-in" vacuum cleaner systems you could
just put both socks in it when you take them off; then you will never
have a mountain of odd socks again.....

[S Viemeister]

My son's house is like that - right next to the linen cupboard on the
bedroom floor.

[Rod Speed]

Owain <spuorg...@gowanhill.com> wrote

> u22 <u22.a3b5...@diybanter.com> wrote

>> Hi, I'm thinking of installing a laundry chute in my house,
>> I don't think its a common household facility in the UK
>> as I have never heard of or know anyone who has one.

>> I'm interested because it will make life easier as I have a large
>> family...

> It may get the dirty washing down to the basement but you
> still have to carry all the clean stuff back up again afterwards.

Still cuts out half the work.

> And all the dirty stuff will end up in one big basket at the bottom
> of the chute, instead of being separated into whites/coloureds etc.
> So that's another job that will have to be done.

That has to be done anyway. Better to do it in the laundry IMO.

> Much better to put the laundry room on the bedroom floor
> where the bulk of the dirty washing originates and it can
> be separated at source into whites/coloureds etc.

But if the clothes are dried on the line outside, you then
have to cart it downstairs to get out the back etc.

[Frank Erskine]

On Thu, 5 Jul 2012 13:49:28 -0700 (PDT), Owain
<spuorg...@gowanhill.com> wrote:

>On Jul 5, 2:03 pm, u22 <u22.a3b5...@diybanter.com> wrote:
>> Hi, I'm thinking of installing a laundry chute in my house, I don't
>> think its a common household facility in the UK as I have never heard of
>> or know anyone who has one.
>> I'm interested because it will make life easier as I have a large
>> family...
>
>It may get the dirty washing down to the basement but you still have
>to carry all the clean stuff back up again afterwards.

Probably better to use a dumb waiter...

--
Frank Erskine

[Owain]

On Jul 5, 10:13 pm, Frank Erskine wrote:
> Probably better to use a dumb waiter...

or a WIFE.

Owain

[PeterC]

And then the school will complain.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <a5mdi0...@mid.individual.net>,

My parents had that arrangement for ~30 years.
It did mean they couldn't use a high spin speed,
as it would have shaken the house to pieces.
It will depend on floor construction, and span
from supporting walls at the point in question.
When they first did it, they had a separate spin drier.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

[Hugo Nebula]

[Default] On Thu, 5 Jul 2012 13:03:37 +0000, a certain chimpanzee, u22

<u22.a...@diybanter.com>, randomly hit the keyboard and wrote:

>a) Is a laundry chute legal in the UK for residential houses?
>b) Is my plan above sufficient to satisfy all the building and fire
>regs?
>c) Do I have to inform the council that I'm putting one in?

In my twenty-mumble years in Building Control, I've never been asked
about a laundry chute in a house. But thinking about it;

As it will involve a material alteration to the internal fire spread
of the building, and may involve a structural opening in a floor
(unless it fits between a pair of joists), then it would require a
Building Regulations application.

It can be done, and if it's in a dwellinghouse rather than a building
containing flats, then it shouldn't require more than enclosing the
chute in fire resisting construction to the same level as the
remainder of the building. So if the house's top floor is no more than
7.5m above ground level, then 30 minutes fire resistance would be
enough. If the chute opened onto a stair enclosure at any level, then
the doors or hatches may need to be fire resisting to 20 minutes.
--
Hugo Nebula
"If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this,
just how far from the pack have I strayed"?

[GED Laundry Chutes]

There is one simple answer to this post - simply contact Neil from GED
Laundry Chutes - 'GED Chutes - Residential Laundry Chutes / Linen Chutes
and Commercial Laundry Chutes' (http://www.laundrychutes.co.uk)

They supply and fit residential laundry chutes all over the UK, Europe
and America. There is no problem with UK building regulations as all
their doors are fire rated and child safe (lockable). Automatic fire
dampers can be fitted as extra safety if needed. 300mm or 400mm sizes.

Look at this quick video on youtube for information (<90 seconds).
'GED Chutes - Residential Laundry Chutes and Linen Chutes.mp4 -
YouTube' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKKOUmfzFaY)

The award winning laundry chutes can be seen at the National
Homebuilding and Renovating exhibition in Swindon (open all year) or at
Grand Designs Show, NEC in October.
Any further advice or information just please ask them. They are the
experts.

Their biggest residential laundry chute was 18m high with 5 doors, 400mm
for a single family house! No problem with building control.




--
GED Laundry Chutes

[Dave Liquorice]

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:49:31 +0000, GED Laundry Chutes wrote:

> There is one simple answer to this post - simply contact Neil from GED
> Laundry Chutes

<snip>
> They supply ...

They? I think you mean "We". If you are going to spam a news group don't
pathetically try and dress it up as a third party posting.

--
Cheers
Dave.

[Andy Burns]

I can see the doors being low volume=high price items, but the price of
the actual 300mm duct seems very expensive compared to e.g.

http://www.ductstore.co.uk/index.html

1m tube £174 vs 3m tube £46
T-piece £434 vs £38
90° bend £266 vs £23

Not sure if there are differences in terms of M->F sockets all the way
down and smooth internal bores to prevent clothes snagging ...

[Fred]

On Sat, 7 Jul 2012 06:55:52 +0000 (UTC), and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk
(Andrew Gabriel) wrote:

>My parents had that arrangement for ~30 years.
>It did mean they couldn't use a high spin speed,
>as it would have shaken the house to pieces.

You would not be able to do your washing on economy 7 because the
noise would keep you awake but that's not an issue if all washing is
done during the day.

[Fred]

On Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:48:25 +0100, Hugo Nebula <ab...@local.host>
wrote:

>(unless it fits between a pair of joists)

You would have to lose a bedroom if you installed your laundry room
upstairs, so a chute would be a good idea. As it is only laundry, the
space between joists should be enough, shouldn't it?

The dumb waiter is a good idea as it allows travel in both directions.

[K...@justlikekat.com]

I thought exactly the same Andy - seems vastly more expensive than standard duct pieces.

u22 - did you ever manage to work out how to do this? where did you get your duct/door pieces from in the end? We're looking to do the same thing, but think the kits are ridiculously expensive for what is in effect just a couple of pipes stuck together with a door.

[Andy Burns]

K...@justlikekat.com wrote:

> I thought exactly the same Andy - seems vastly more expensive than standard duct pieces.

Oh, my thoughts were only a vague idea to consider for some hypothetical
"ideal" house if I ever get round to building one!

[harryagain]

<K...@justlikekat.com> wrote in message
news:f2bab3aa-f61c-43bb...@googlegroups.com...

There are big issues with laundry spontaneously catching fire.
That is why laundry chutes are so expensive. Fire resisting, smoke issues,
alarms etc.
People killed in the past.

Very bad idea in a domestic house.

[Andy Burns]

harryagain wrote:

> There are big issues with laundry spontaneously catching fire.

Oily rags I've heard of, but has anyone else heard of household laundry
spontaneously combusting, or is it only on Planet Harry?

[harryagain]

"Andy Burns" <usenet....@adslpipe.co.uk> wrote in message
news:b6SdnSXZcPtsXobO...@brightview.co.uk...

I can't help you being thick.
http://www.mcclureindustries.com/Reports/Spontaneous_Ignition.pdf
https://www.laundrychutesolutions.co.uk/info/laundry-chutes-are-safe/
http://www.coinlaundry.org/blog/safer-laundries-newsletter/spontaneous-combustion-invisible-threat-self-service-laundry/

[Jim K]

On Sunday, 9 March 2014 09:03:20 UTC, harry wrote:
> "Andy Burns" <usenet....@adslpipe.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:b6SdnSXZcPtsXobO...@brightview.co.uk...
>
> > harryagain wrote:
>
> >
>
> >> There are big issues with laundry spontaneously catching fire.
>
> >
>
> > Oily rags I've heard of, but has anyone else heard of household laundry
>
> > spontaneously combusting, or is it only on Planet Harry?
>
> >
>
>
>
> I can't help you being thick.
>
> http://www.mcclureindustries.com/Reports/Spontaneous_Ignition.pdf

let's see:

"spontaneous combustion of items which had been removed from hot dryers and placed in polyethylene plastic transport carts."

"the source of ignition was spontaneous combustion caused by residual chemicals in the laundered fabric reacting to the heat of the dryer."

Not really anything to do with chutes is it?

> https://www.laundrychutesolutions.co.uk/info/laundry-chutes-are-safe/

let's see:-
"Laundry chutes are safe and doors supplied with UK 1hr fire rating

Laundry chutes are safe and doors supplied with UK 1hr fire rating

More information soon!"

Well F me that's conclusive!


> http://www.coinlaundry.org/blog/safer-laundries-newsletter/spontaneous-combustion-invisible-threat-self-service-laundry/

let's see:-

"she doesn't wait for the dryer cycle to finish completely; she removes the clothes and towels before they are totally dry and before the cool-down cycle has begun. The hot, still-moist garments are folded neatly, stuffed into a laundry bag and placed under the counter.

With her work done for the day, the attendant locks up the store and goes home. About four hours later, the owners receive a call that their business has been totaled due to fire - and the probable cause is spontaneous combustion from that wash-dry-fold bundle under the counter."

nothing to do with laundry chutes then....

What a load of OT cock Harry (again).

Jim K

[MattyF]

Rather than have a chute, I have invented a way of washing bed sheets
automatically.
The sheets are in a loop that goes across the bed, through a slot in the
wall and down through the washing machine and dryer then back up to the
bedroom. Each day the loop moves across so a clean piece of sheet goes
over the bed. Possibly it needs a pressure switch to stop the sheet
moving if someone is in the bed.

[dennis@home]

No need, just shape the slot to roll them over onto whoever is sleeping
next to them.

[harryagain]

"Jim K" <jk98...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:50e099c6-b1f9-4c24...@googlegroups.com...

On Sunday, 9 March 2014 09:03:20 UTC, harry wrote:
> "Andy Burns" <usenet....@adslpipe.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:b6SdnSXZcPtsXobO...@brightview.co.uk...
>
> > harryagain wrote:
>
> >
>
> >> There are big issues with laundry spontaneously catching fire.
>
> >
>
> > Oily rags I've heard of, but has anyone else heard of household laundry
>
> > spontaneously combusting, or is it only on Planet Harry?
>
> >
>
>
>
> I can't help you being thick.
>
> http://www.mcclureindustries.com/Reports/Spontaneous_Ignition.pdf

let's see:

"spontaneous combustion of items which had been removed from hot dryers and
placed in polyethylene plastic transport carts."

"the source of ignition was spontaneous combustion caused by residual
chemicals in the laundered fabric reacting to the heat of the dryer."

Not really anything to do with chutes is it?

> https://www.laundrychutesolutions.co.uk/info/laundry-chutes-are-safe/

let's see:-
"Laundry chutes are safe and doors supplied with UK 1hr fire rating

Laundry chutes are safe and doors supplied with UK 1hr fire rating

More information soon!"

Well F me that's conclusive!

nothing to do with laundry chutes then....

Hey shit-fer-brains
Any mass of laundry can catch fire spontaneously especially if it's a bit
damp.
Just as a pile of damp hay can catch fire.
Laundry chute fires are a known hazard, the doors are specially designed to
stop heat and smoke penetrating the building.
I have seen such a fire myself in a hospital.

[harryagain]

"MattyF" <matty...@yahoo.co.nz> wrote in message
news:lfhi9j$5an$1...@dont-email.me...

Are you barking mad?

[Rod Speed]

"harryagain" <harry...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:lfict9$cqe$1...@dont-email.me...

Did you get your SoH bypass on the NHS ?

[MattyF]

I think the original question has been answered OK.
As you should know, I am an expert at solving weird problems and invent
extreme solutions. I hate boring things like washing and housework.

[willje...@gmail.com]

Hi Guys,

If you are looking to install your own chute then check this out; http://www.laundrychute.co.uk/blog-Easy_Line_Laundry_Chute_Installation_Ins.htm

alternatively I know they do fittings themselves should you struggle to do it yourselves.

Will

[michael adams]

The angle of the chute needs to be steep enough
to shoot Norman Wisdom onto a hospital trolley 10ft
away, and launch the trolley down a 50ft hospital
corridor at around 10 mph.

HTH

michael adams

...

[GB]

We've never had one, but they seem quite a good idea. The main problem I
foresee is stopping small children climbing in.

[Bob Eager]

And the interesting fire regulations that are no doubt required.

[GB]

Hadn't thought of that. Would that be a big issue for a typical two
storey private house?

[Bob Eager]

No idea, but I'm sure someoen here will know.

[Davey]

On Mon, 14 Mar 2016 11:59:37 +0000

We owned a house with one once, but it was too small to be of any use
except for socks and knickers, and the other end in the basement was
hard to get at. So we used the part in the kitchen as a convenient booze
cupboard instead. It held a bottle of whisky and a bottle of vodka
perfectly.

--
Davey.

[Mr Macaw]

Why is that a problem, they'd love it, it's just like a waterslide.

--
Mick and Paddy are reading head stones at a nearby cemetery.
Mick says "Crikey! There's a bloke here who was 152!"
Paddy says "What's his name?"
Mick replies "Miles, from London!"

[Mr Macaw]

Surely you could just call it a fire escape.

And it lets no more smoke through than say a.... stairwell!

[Mr Macaw]

Anything is an issue for planning regulation morons.

--
It's always funny, until someone gets hurt...
then it's just hilarious.