Huge notch in bathroom joist

[BookerT]

Hi, I think I have a problem!

I am having a new bathroom installed and so far all of the underfloor pipe work has been done - the fitters are due back on Tuesday. This morning I decided to lift the floorboards to look at their work and noticed a huge notch in one of the joists to house the 2" plastic waste pipe for the shower.

The joist is 7" x 2.5" and the span is around 17ft.
The notch is roughly in the middle of the span and measures 3.5" deep and 7.5"long!

I have a few concerns:
1. Does the notch comply with building regs?
2. If not, how can it be fixed?
3. Is there any danger of the ceiling below coming down?

Thanks in advance..

 

[alfiembra]

1. No it doesn't comply with any regulations let alone building regulations.
Mid span big notch out the top worst possible position. As a rule of thumb no notch should be deeper than 1/3 of the depth absolute maximum.

2. If you can, get some metal plates made up that can be fitted either side of the joist and be bolted through it. Make them to the depth of what's left of the joist below the pipe and extend it past the pipe by at least a foot either side more if you have room. This should keep the joist from splitting, get some decent sized bolts M12 say and bolt at approx. 6" centres. This is just a best guess design and tried to keep it simple.

3. I wouldn't think so timber tends to split and sag gradually so you'd know in advance of anything happening.

Get the plumber back and get him to sort it.

HTH

Alan

 

[BookerT]

Thanks for the advice - I'll get on to the plumber.

 

[big-all]

its actualy worse than alfiembra says notches 1/8th joist
holes centraly place in the neutral access are 1/3 but not within something like the first middle or last 5th althoug dont quote me on the 5ths its probably 9ths

http://www.worthing.gov.uk/Planning...idanceNotes/19NotchingDrillingofTimberJoists/