The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:50 pm**

Hi, great site full of useful information.
However i'm confused on an issue i have with a conservatory i am presently having built. Builders arrived today to start digging a soakaway and intended to dig a 2ft square hole to be filled with gravel right next to my kitchen wall. I sent them packing, stating it should be at least 5 metres away from any dwelling (at the time i didn't get as far as questioning the size of soakaway).
My questions to the Brew Cabin is: Is 5 metres enforcable by law or just good practice? and is a conservatory classed as a dwelling as it is not a habitable part of my building?
Cheers
Bob.

Posted: **Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:47 pm**

conservatory is deemed part of your building, only a BS ( Brittish Standard ) covers the spec for a soakaway, not enforcable by law, but if you specify the job should be done to the relevant Standards, they cannot make it less than 5m from the dwelling, if they do make it less than 5m, stop the works and inform them their not doing the job their contracted to do.

Hope it helps

Posted: **Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:21 pm**

Unfortunately did not or even know i'd have to specify the job should be done to the relevant Standards

Posted: **Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:59 pm**

The builders should know that anyway, if they know what they are doing.

Relevant information can be found in British Standard BS EN 752-4 1998, if anyone cares.

Posted: **Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:18 pm**

Thanks for the BS numbers

I've decided to get another builder in to extend my existing drain at a cost of Â£400 and intend to ask the conservatory company to meet me part of the way

Posted: **Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:24 am**

result, offered me Â£250 towards it
thanks for the help and all the facts on this site

The Brew Cabin

Conservatory soakaway