3 Plan where the pipe/ductwork can be hidden
Obviously, if at all possible, all the pipe work that joins the appliance to the inlets in
the wall, should be hidden. Ultimately, you may now need to change the location of
the actual appliance and/or inlets, if the route is too long and complicated to get
there.
EXISTING PROPERTY OR RENOVATION
The pipe has a 52mm(2”) diameter which can be hidden in many natural voids:
The back of a fitted wardrobe
The back of a boiler or airing cupboard
In existing soil pipe boxing
In the loft
Under floorboards
Behind the bath
Underneath kitchen units
Even out side - perhaps next to guttering and painted to match
In the worst case, your installer will either have to complete some boxing-in or you
will have the pipe exposed in the corner of the room behind a door - just paint it the
same colour as the room.
NEW BUILD PROPERTY
Normally all the 52mm(2”) pipe will go in at the first-fix stage of the project, so it is
therefore very easy to conceal. The locations shown above are all options, but
obviously with a new build project there are further opportunities to hide the pipe:
In the insulation layer or screed of the floor - just keep the pipe to the edges of the
room, where there is less foot traffic (you will need at least a 55mm depth)
If the project includes underfloor heating around the property, the pipework can
again be located in the insulation.
Utilise the voids within any partition walls - holes can be cut through any noggins
that get in the way when the pipe rises or drops.
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
RUN
THE
PIPE
WITH
THE
JOISTS
-
SPECIALLY
CONSTRUCTED
(
POSI
-
JOISTS
FOR
EXAMPLE
WOULD
BE
ACCEPTABLE
). O
THERWISE
THE
STRUCTURAL
INTEGRITY
OF
THE
JOIST
AND
THEREFORE
IT
’
S
SUPPORT
PROPERTIES
MAY
BE
AFFECTED
. I
F
IN
DOUBT
-
SPEAK
TO
A
BUILDING
SURVEYOR
OR
BUILDER
FIRST
!
NEVER
CUT
THROUGH
A
JOIST
UNLESS
IT
HAS
BEEN
D
ON
’
T
FORGET
TO
RUN
THE
WIRE
WITH
THE
PIPE
AND
LEAVE
ENOUGH
CURLED
UP
IN
THE
PIPE
BEHIND
THE
PLASTER
GUARD
TO
CONNECT
TO
THE
INLET
/
SOCKET
AT
SECOND
-
FIX
!
6