Internal Soil Pipe

[RBZ5416]

I have a '70s semi & for reasons I can't begin to fathom, the soil pipe runs inside the house. It descends into the lounge & is simply boxed in. This provides an ideal sounding board to present anyone sitting in the lounge with a blow by blow account of everything that's occurring in the toilet!

I'm guessing that having the soil pipe moved outside would be a fairly major job, so was wondering if insulating the space in the box would help? I was thinking of maybe opening the boxing upstairs & filling the gap with polystyrene chips or similar. Obviously this would be a right pain if the boxing downstairs ever need opening.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions of how best to deal with this problem.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

It was a requirement of building regs in that era that soil pipes were run internally. (Since been rescinded to allow external installations again.)

If its not too much of a pain to remove the box I would think putting some fibreglass insulation inside the boxing would achieve your aims. The polystyrene may prove a fire hazard should worst ever happen, I am wondering if the box is of plywood construction as plasterboard has better sound insulation qualities IIRC.

 

[RBZ5416]

Thanks Hugh, I had no idea it was required. Just seems running through the main living area was a crazy thing to do.

I suspect from tapping it that it's ply. I'll know soon as the wallpaper is about to come off for redecorating. I'd be reluctant to remove it as I have zero DIY skills & would struggle to replace it. I'd also be concerned at the possibility of the ceiling board having been fitted after the pipe was boxed.

Hadn't considered the fire risk so thanks for that. Maybe I'll open the boxing upstairs & see if it's possible to feed some insulation board down from above.

 

[Nige F]

see if it's possible to feed some insulation board down from above.

You won`t be able to get boards down there- BUT you will be able to empy a bag or two of Vermiculite

 

[RBZ5416]

Thanks Nige, I'll look into that.

 

[CharteredEngineer]

a colleague of mine drilled some holes into the boxing and filled the area with rapid expanding foam. this severely reduced the noise problem. but does present an issue if you ever want to fish it out.

 

[mickroyds]

Using the foam is a good idea but the downside I would say is unless your able to balance the amount you put in, as it expands its likely to force the boarding off.

Expanding foam has been known to distort newly installed PVC window frames unless a temporary bracer has been employed.

Cheers Mick.

 

[RBZ5416]

Cheers guys.

There's plenty of room for the foam to expand as the box is some 12" x 9". No idea why it's so big.

Just looking at Wickes site there's a suggestion that the foam expands to approx 3x, so a 750ml can will fill approx 2l. I guess that's rather a lot of cans making it uneconomical.

 

[CharteredEngineer]

I think 3x is a bit stingy. In the past I have found its way more than that.

 

[picasso]

or you could go over the ply with a couple of layers of plasterboard.

 

[Nige F]

But then we`d need you to finish/decorate it . N`est ce pas Pouvez vous painterez le conduit de merde

 

[RBZ5416]

le conduit de merde

 

[tamz]

Without removing the front off the boxing and packing with glass wool, which if it is ply and you are redecorating is simple, Nige's suggestion of the vermiculite poured from the top is probably the easiest providing the hole around the pipe at the ground floor is cut neat which is highly unlikely.

 

[dextrous]

Good grief. Op, just bite the bullet and have someone move the stack outside and make good the plaster work inside - it'll be worth the expense now foe peace of mind for all eternity

 

[tamz]

Good grief. Op, just bite the bullet and have someone move the stack outside and make good the plaster work inside - it'll be worth the expense now foe peace of mind for all eternity

That could be a BIG job and certainly not worth the hastle. Far easier pulling the front off the boxing and packing with glass wool.