We were contacted by a property management team to address a serious issue with a 6-inch (152.4mm) diameter asbestos foul waste pipe that had cracked due to age and was leaking. Installed in 1959, the pipe ran up 12 floors and was in poor condition, presenting a major health hazard. One of the flats was dealing with water constantly dripping from the ceiling into the WC, so much so that they had resorted to placing an umbrella to catch the foul water containing human urine and waste – a highly unsanitary situation.
Before we arrived, another contractor had attempted to fix the problem by removing a section of the asbestos pipe on the 8th floor and replacing it with 152mm blue plastic pipe. Unfortunately, this solution caused more harm than good. The new blue pipe had been installed incorrectly, causing severe leaks that travelled down to the 4th floor, damaging several properties. The contractors had made matters worse by using polypropylene pipe instead of the industry-standard PVC solvent weld pipe, and they had also applied standard ‘solvent weld’ liquid adhesive – which does not bond with polypropylene.
To properly assess the extent of the damage, we used advanced thermal cameras, moisture mapping, and moisture meters to identify water ingress into the building fabric of each affected flat. Typically, the internal fabric moisture content should range between 0.5% and 1%. However, we found alarming moisture levels between 10% and 66%, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Our team carefully removed a section of the kitchen wall to access the problematic pipe joints, which had been installed in a nearly inaccessible area. We then removed the faulty connections, cleaned them thoroughly, and followed the pipe manufacturer’s guidance to rejoin the fittings correctly, using materials suited to the specific pipe type.
Throughout the process, we ensured that the integrity of the remaining asbestos pipe was not compromised, strictly following Health & Safety guidelines to avoid any risks associated with asbestos exposure.
Thanks to our expertise and attention to detail, we successfully repaired the leaking pipes and restored the building’s plumbing system, putting an end to the leaks and safeguarding the health of the residents.
Need professional asbestos pipe repair? Contact us today! Speak directly with an engineer, not a sales person. Call 0208 829 8242 or email us at hello@leakbusters.net