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Should ask questions (SAQs) before buying a residential laundry chute:
How do the laundry chute parts comply with current UK fire safety and building regulations?
Make sure you get these answers:
- The laundry chute parts will be made from steel - ideally stainless steel. Never use plastic or wood as these will burn and produce lots of toxic smoke in the event of a fire.
- The pipework should be connected with a firm clamp that will reduce/prevent smoke escaping from the joints.
- A UK fire rated door or lid will be supplied (to meet or exceed BS 476: Part 22).
- Although not legally required but highly recommended an automatic fire damper should be installed near the base of the laundry chute.
- In addition to the above, the laundry chute parts will need to be encased in at least half an hour fire rated compartment. This can be achieved by using plasterboard, brick or block.
Are laundry chutes safe?
Even if you yourself do not have children or vulnerable adults living in your home they may visit, or at some point you might decide to sell the house to others who do.
- Laundry chute doors should be supplied with a lockable handle.
- Alternatively, doors without a lockable handle (flush "disappearing" doors) should have a two stage opening process to prevent the door being opened easily.
- A recommendation should be made that all laundry chute doors are installed at least 1m above finished floor level.
- There should be no sharp edges inside any of the pipework.
What guarantees do laundry chute companies offer - giving you peace of mind?
and
How often would I need my laundry chute servicing - any on going costs?
(OK, there are two questions but they are under one heading!)
- You should be offered at least a 10 year warranty on your laundry chute pipework or even a lifetime guarantee.
- The doors and lids should have at least a one year guarantee.
- Service plans are not required for high specification residential laundry chutes. If a part eventually becomes faulty (hinge, handle, lock etc) then replacements should be made available and priced at a reasonable cost.
How easy is it to install your laundry chute?
- Modern laundry chute systems should be very easy to install.
- A variety of parts should be available so that the laundry chute can be installed with the minimum of fuss. Telescopic pipework sections really help and save time.
- There should be no need for any cutting of metal - removing any health and safety risks, especially hand and eye injuries often associated with pipework.
- Installation instructions or even video should be available.
- A professional company will always offer an installation service if preferred by the client.
How quickly can I obtain laundry chute parts?
- This is not an obvious question but it can be important especially when you are running to a strict timetable.
- Your laundry chute supplier should have stock on the shelf available for next day delivery.
- Unfortunately, many "stock" items for different construction products can take days if not weeks to be delivered. This should not be acceptable.
- If extra parts are needed or something gets damaged you need to know that they are available for immediate despatch.
Is my house suitable for a laundry chute?
- Not if its a bungalow!
- Suitable residential homes in the UK range from 2 floors to 7 floors (honestly). New builds and renovation projects can accommodate a laundry chute.
- Ideally a straight vertical drop into the utility room is the perfect situation. However, slight offsets or even angles up to 45 degrees can be fitted without laundry getting stuck halfway down.
- A reputable company will be able to look at your plans and offer advice regarding the ideal location for a chute, or not as the case may be.
How should my laundry chute "end"?
This is more a question you need to ask yourself so that it meets your requirements.
- Some people have a floor to ceiling cupboard that hides the pipe and the dirty laundry.
- Others like to have the pipe on show, ending about 1.5m from the floor so that the laundry will fall directly into a laundry basket.
- If you really want to go to town you could install two laundry chutes that terminate directly above a top loading washing machine. One for whites, one for colours.
- Check to see if your chosen supplier can supply luxury laundry baskets.
- Also available in the UK you can now purchase a dream ironing system to finish off the perfect laundry chute system! Request details for residential roller ironers - and be amazed.
Inventive Homes supply the Worlds No.1 Laundry Chute System - PYTHON.
If we can offer you any advice please contact us - were here to help.
E: info@laundrychutes.co.uk
T: 0330 133 2606
W: www.laundrychutes.co.uk
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