My picture of this week!

[ccam108]

So I was turning off all the lights in the church tonight and I noticed that the light was on in the cupboard we store the folding tables in.

When I went in I noticed a horrible smell and a fizzing noise. Also the switch was off and turning it on made the light a bit brighter.

Looked up and saw the sodden ceiling and extractor fan fallen off slightly from the weight of all the water inside.

Ripped it off and here's the damage:

Untitled

• ccam108
• 16 Jan 2011
• 1

Untitled

• ccam108
• 16 Jan 2011
• 1

Untitled

• ccam108
• 16 Jan 2011
• 1

We've had leaks since the extension was built a few years ago but I think Saturday's heavy rain finally finished it off.

If only the builders had installed an isolator so I wouldn't have had to work by iPhone light to un-wire it from the switch.

If only they hadn't snipped the earth wire 2 inches above then maybe the RCBO would have tripped a long time ago! Although, now I think about it, that RCBO was tripped this morning but we put it down to the DVD recorder upstairs missing half a transistor in its SMPS. (Yes bizzare circuit layout but don't ask. We also have an MCB labelled "??" lol)

Colin C

 

[bernardgreen]

If only the builders had installed an isolator so I wouldn't have had to work by iPhone light to un-wire it from the switch.

If only the "builders" had installed the extractor ducting and its outlet properly.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

How would that have helped?

 

[ccam108]

Water didn't come in the ducting. Although where it goes is a mystery - there are no vents/outlets on the outside of the building.

The problem is there is a fire escape above that was a "balcony" style, for want of a better word, and the extension was built under/around it, leaving water to lie on the fire escape where it would have previously run off the edge.

Always has been a problem and the only solution I see is to enclose the fire escape with a roof over it.

Somebody did raise the floor on a gentle rake to stop water collecting, but it didn't help.

 

[bernardgreen]

How would that have helped?

Fairly obviously. Correctly installed ducting would :-

[1] have an exit vent to the outside that was protected from the entry of rain

[2] have condensation trap to capture and safely dispose any water in the duct before it could reach the fan unit.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

[1] have an exit vent to the outside that was protected from the entry of rain

Fairly (actually, very, IMO) obviously the photos show that the water causing damage to the fan and to the ceiling did not come down the duct.

[2] have condensation trap to capture and safely dispose any water in the duct before it could reach the fan unit.

Ditto obviously it's not condensation.

 

[bernardgreen]

I concede to Bans better observation.