In article ,
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 10:09:25 on Fri, 30 Jun
2017, "Dave Plowman (News)" remarked:
On Newsnight yeaterday, a Grenfell estate resident (but not a resident of
the tower) said that there were unprotected gas pipes running up the
stairwell. This was also mentioned earlier by residents. But not by any
pros I heard interviewed.

Based on other comments, I thought initially they had gone over to
individual heating systems in each flat - hence the need for new gas
pipes. But it seems this is wrong - it had a new communal heating system.

So why the need for new gas pipes to all the flats? Or are they in fact
not gas but water? A layman might well not know the difference.

Sadly, running any new services through a fire protected area might well
compromise that, if badly done.

A picture has re-surfaced, that was posted online right after the fire -
showing a boiler apparently just inside a flat's front door. And loads
of copper *hot water* pipes. Also another picture showing what are
claimed to be cast iron pipes taking gas into individual flats from the
communal areas.

This is what I don't understand. One resident interviewed early on
mentioned the work done in her flat not being anywhere near the standard
of the show flat - and specifically saying her boiler had just been thrown
in. Ie very untidily installed. But then no mention of individual boilers
on the K&C site. Just of a new communal system.

The former was one of the list of possible solutions to delivering
refurbished heating in the original feasibility study, and some sources
suggest the option chosen was a new heat-pump assisted *central* system.
If anyone has access to records of what was actually chosen, it would
help.

It would indeed. But the then the cladding was apparently changed later
too.

Of course it's possible that both were installed - the central system
for the housing association flats and boilers for the privately owned
ones.

Ah - never considered that one. I'd have thought the cost of installing
individual units to a few flats where none existed before likely very
high. Different if doing the entire block.

--
*All men are idiots, and I married their King.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.