Frequently Asked Questions

This page contains some of the many questions often asked by our customers. Some of the respective answers are brief, so if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Refuse Chutes

Chute Cleaning System

MK7 (ground floor) Hoppers

Refuse Chutes

	Q. How many chutes do I need.. A. Generally a 600 dia. chute will serve 40+ apartments. Refuse chutes should not be more than 30m horizontally from the apartment it serves.
	Q. What is the life expectancy for a chute. A. 25-30 years.
	Q. What is the main advantage of a steel chute compared to a concrete chute. A. Steel chute sections are relatively light weight and can be man handled into position. Typically a 10 storey chute can be installed in 3 to 4 days as soon as the building structure is complete and the roof is in place. Concrete chute are heavy, cumbersome and need to be installed at stages using a crane for lifting in to place.
	Q. Can a refuse chute be located on a stair landing. A. Refuse chutes in any new building have to satisfy the Building Regulations, approved document B1, Clause5.48 'Refuse chutes and rooms provided for the storage of refuse should: a. be separated from other parts of the building by fire-resisting construction, and b. not be located within protected stairways or protected lobbies'.
	Q. Do Hardall refuse chutes need additional sound proofing. A. We always recommend coating the chute in 'Revac DC1010' sound deadening compound. (For product information page click here >). If the chute is to be located adjacent habitable rooms then additional sound proofing may be required in order to satisfy the requirements of Building Regulations approved document E, section 1, clause 1.3 'A wall separating a habitable room or kitchen and a refuse chute should have a mass of at least 1320kg/m². A wall separating a non habital room, which is in a dwelling, from a refuse chute should have a mass of at least 220kg/m². Hardall chutes are supported by a special clampband which incorporates a 3mm rubber insert to isolate the chute from the structure. This combined with the Revac sound deadening compound and a separating wall of dense concrete blockwork and/or a cavity wall construction will normally satisfy building control. As an alternative to Revac, Hardall can wrap the chute in a high density 'Punf' foam & barrier matt for additional sound proofing.
	Q. How high can a single chute go. A. 40 storeys is about the maximum.
	Q. Does the chute require any baffles to slow down the fall of refuse. A. Baffles are not part of Hardalls chute design.
	Q. Can a refuse chute be offset to avoid structural obstacles or change direction. A. Yes, but the angle of inclination of the offset section must not be less than 45º from the horizontal, 70º is recommended.
	Q. Is the chute fire rated. A. The chute its self does not have any certified fire resistance, but the combination of fire rated hopper doors, an automatic fire door and enclosing walls create a fire protected chute system.
	Q. Do the floors around the chute need fire-stopping. A. Only the bottom floor at fire door level, enclosing walls around the chute then form a fire protected shaft.
	Q. Can the vent pipe terminate inside a vented roof space. A. This would be acceptable for a linen chute, but a refuse chute must be vented to atmosphere.
	Q. Do I have to have a separate vented lobby accessing the chute. A. Yes, to comply with UK Building Regulations 2000, approved document B1, 'means of warning and escape'. clause 6.52.'Rooms containing refuse chutes, should be approached either directly from the open air or by way of a protected lobby provided with not less than 0.2m²of permanent ventilation.'
	Q. Does the automatic fire door need a power supply. A. No, it is mechanical and operates on breakage of a 70ºC fusible link.
	Q. Can the fire door be linked in to the building fire alarm system. A. Yes, either it can activate an alarm via a simple limit switch, or if fitted with electro-magnets the fire door can actually be triggered by a fire alarm. This is treated as an optional extra and not part of the standard fire door design.
	Q. What are the minimum enclosure dimensions for a 600dia refuse chute. A. 350mm centre to back wall, 690mm centre to front face and 800mm wide (For illustration page click here >).
	Q. How is the floor around the chute made good. A. It is quite acceptable to just shutter up and concrete the floor around the chute, although this normally only needs doing at the bottom floor level immediately above the fire door.
	Q. Do you survey before commencing manufacture. A. Manufacture will commence on approval of shop drawings or if the program dictates. A site survey will be carried out, normally 1-2 weeks prior to installation.
	Q. What maintenance is required. A. Generally a basic chute should require very little maintenance. However if a chute cleaning system and interlocks are included then we will recommend a preventative maintenance contract. In addition a chute cleaning service, utilising high pressure jet washing is available.

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MK7 (ground floor) Hoppers

	Q. What is the maximum height for a ground floor hopper. A. Anywhere between 750-1200mm.
	Q. How many steps-up should I provide. A. 4 steps or a floor differential of 1m is ideal.
	Q. What if the hopper is too high. A. You could use a MK7 side hung door instead. Because there is no hopper bucket on a side hung door its height can be approximately 250mm lower than a hopper.

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Hopper Doors

	Q. Will a standard hopper take a large black plastic sack. A. An 'Ealing design hopper will take a partially filled black sack, otherwise you will need a special larger sized hopper or a 600mm sq. side hung door.
	Q. Do all hoppers have a rear baffle plate. A. No, only hoppers designed to meet BS1703.
	Q. What is the largest standard size hopper. A. An Ealing design hopper, 555x465mm. Special larger sizes can be made but are often too heavy and cumbersome to use.
	Q. Can 'slimline' hoppers be used in the UK. A. No, Hardall 'slimline' hoppers are designed for export only.
	Q. If I replace an existing hopper can the opening be enlarged. A. Generally not. The new hopper has to fit the existing structural opening, also the smoke seal on Hardall hoppers will reduce the physical opening. Increasing the structural opening may damage the chute construction, whether concrete or clay pipe, and if successful could potentially cause chute blockages by allowing oversized items into the chute.

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Linen Chutes

	Q. Does a linen chute need to be vented. A. No, there are no regulations specific to venting a linen chute, however hardall recommend venting to reduce vacuuming and odours.
	Q. Is the chute fire rated. A. No, but the doors have a 2hr fire certificate and the fire door at the base of the chute is 1hr rated..
	Q. Doesn't the chute need a fire door at each floor level. A. Fire stopping the bottom floor at fire door level and building a minimum 1hr enclosure around the chute forms a fire protected shaft.
	Q. What if the enclosing wall doesn't go up to roof level. A. Hardall can supply a fire damper in the vent pipe at the top of the fire protected shaft.
	Q. How is the floor around the chute made good. A. It is quite acceptable to just shutter up and concrete the floor around the chute.
	Q. When should fire sprinklers be fitted. A. There are no specific requirements. If required however we normally recommend fitting sprinklers at alternate floors.
	Q. Can the fire door be linked to the building fire alarm system. A. Yes, in one of two ways. Either the fire door can be fitted with a limit switch to trigger an alarm or a special electro-magnetically operated fire door can be supplied which will be activated by the building fire alarm or a smoke detector. In all cases the fire door has to be manually re-set.
	Q. When should the chute have electrical interlocks. A. If it is 3 storey's and above, then interlocks are recommended.
	Q. What is the minimum angle for an offset in a linen chute. A. 30º from the horizontal but 45º is recommended.
	Q. When would you recommend a deceleration track be used. A. Soiled linen bags when fully loaded, can weigh between 25 to 50kg. Hardall linen chutes are designed to withstand bags of up to 50kg. It is however recommended that a chute deceleration track be used with bagged linen to slow down the linen at point of discharge, particularly on chutes of 10 storey's or more.
	Q. What are the minimum enclosure dimensions for a 600dia linen chute. A. 350mm centre to back wall, 500mm centre to front face and 800mm wide.(For illustration page click here >).

Q. Do you survey before commencing manufacture.
A. Manufacture will commence on approval of shop drawings or if the program dictates. A site survey will be carried out, normally 1-2 weeks prior to installation.

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Vent Pipes

	Q. What height should the vent pipe terminate above the roof. A. We recommend 1200mm above roof level, but there are no hard & fast rules.
	Q. Can the vent pipe terminate inside a vented roof space. A. This would be acceptable for a linen chute, but a refuse chute must be vented to atmosphere.
	Q. Can the vent pipe route be offset. A. Yes we can provide flexible or rigid bends.
	Q. Can the vent pipe exit through a side wall. A. Yes, so long as it isn't near any windows, rule of thumb is 3m horizontally or 1m vertically from any opening window.
	Q. What is the vent pipe diameter. A. 153mm or 250mm if an exhaust fan is fitted.
	Q. When should the vent pipe diameter equal the chute diameter. A. This is a design feature of Hardall double skin chutes and commonly a requirement on some overseas projects.
	Q. What is the actual ventilation requirement. A. According to BS1703, 350cm² of cross sectional area for each refuse chute.

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Containers

	Q. How many bins do I need to provide. A. Based on the number of households and the number of refuse collections per week. Each household (2 person flat) will generate at least 0.15m³ of chute waste per week (note: other sources may quote different figures). A standard bin will hold 1.1m³ of un-compacted waste, therefore a building with 25 households will require 3-4 bins based on a weekly collection. (For waste generation statistics click here >)
	Q. How much does a full bin weigh. A. Assuming normal domestic waste approx. 275Kg for a Paladin and up to 350Kg for a 1100L Eurobin or Continental.
	Q. How much does an empty bin weigh A. 105Kg for an 1100L Continental
	Q. What about compacted waste. A. Assuming normal domestic waste a full 1100L bin will weigh between 500 and 750Kg. Example an 1100L bin weighing 105kg and 100kg of waste compacted at 4:1 is 400kg so total weight is 505kg. Wet waste will tend to compact more and weigh more.
	Q. How do I know which type of bin to use. A. Please check with your local authority or waste collection contractor. Generally speaking however the 1100L 'continental' bin is now the most popular type. Circular paladin bins are being phased out in favour of these and the new 'chamberlain' bin.

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Waste Compactors

	Q. Can the H150 compactor be positioned outside. A. No, this compactor is designed for internal use.
	Q. How heavy is the H150. A. Approximately 750kg.
	Q. What power supply is needed for an H150. A. 415V TPN&E, 15A Isolator.
	Q. Will the carousel compactor fit through a standard door opening. A. Yes, the compactor can actually be delivered de-assembled.

	Q. Which 1000 series portable compactor would require the larger 4-axle 30T hook lift vehicle. A. The 1020 and 1024 machines. (NB: the 1028 machine will require an even larger vehicle not normally available in the UK.)
	Q. What maintenance is required. A. Hardall offer a full maintenance service at intervals depending on the expected usage of the equipment and the type of compactor.

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Chute cleaning system

Q. Does a chute need an automatic cleaning system.
A. This is a recommended optional extra and not a requirement. Consider whether the chute is to be heavily used or not. Will the system be subjected to possible vandalism.

	Q. When are door interlocks required. A. In conjunction with an automatic cleaning system.
	Q. Does the chute cleaning system need a water supply. A. Yes, a header tank water supply is required delivering approx. 1/2 bar pressure at the connection to the cleaning system.
	Q. What capacity water tank is required. A. 0-10 floors, 4 Gallon (18L) tank. 10-20 floors, 15 Gallon (68L) tank. 25+ floors, 20 Gallon (91L) tank. .Q. What is the water flow rate. A. 0.05 litres per sec.
	Q. What happens if there is insufficient water pressure. A. The disinfectant spray head will not function correctly. Use a booster pump to achieve the required pressure.
	Q. Can the automatic cleaning system work off a single phase power supply. A. Yes but prior warning is necessary to enable certain modifications to the standard system.
	Q. What maintenance is required. A. Hardall offer a full maintenance service at intervals based on the expected usage of the equipment.

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