Plumbing advice

Dauph · Monday at 07:01

Hi folks,
Not woodwork but hoping some of you might have some advice /opinion?
My client (friend) wants me to cut off these pipes so he has more space for shelves.
It's a tower block, the pipes run through the floor and celling. He says they are inactive, or no longer in use, but I doubt I really knows for certain.
In my unqualified opinion, this seems like a very bad idea. For a start, they are part of the blocks infrastructure which I'm sure he has no ownership right to modify. They may be inactive now, but one turn of a tap somewhere in the building and they could become active. I'm sure there are many other reasons not to do this.
Thoughts?

Fitzroy · Monday at 08:10

Totally agree! At best it’s a leak in their flat, at worst it’s damage to every flat below and a bill to fix.

Bingy man · Monday at 08:13

Looks like black iron 3/4”. If they were water pipes they would be side by side, if they were gas there would likely be only 1 of a much lager diameter. In my opinion and of course I don’t know anything about tower block construction but I WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES- cut those pipes without consulting the building owner/ management company. It’s not worth it to only gain a few inches . If the owners can confirm what they were used for and can confirm they are not part of the building structure and give you permission in writing that’s is ok to cut them out to then it’s still a risk as they could contain water , oil , gas etc . You could also create a fire

path to the flats above / and below in the event of a fire . My advice is box them in or walk away ….

Phil Pascoe · Monday at 08:13

Rearrange the following words to make a sentence - not with a touch bargepole do.

Dauph · Monday at 08:22

Bingy man said:
Looks like black iron 3/4”. If they were water pipes they would be side by side, if they were gas there would likely be only 1 of a much lager diameter. In my opinion and of course I don’t know anything about tower block construction but I WOULD NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES- cut those pipes without consulting the building owner/ management company. It’s not worth it to only gain a few inches . If the owners can confirm what they were used for and can confirm they are not part of the building structure and give you permission in writing that’s is ok to cut them out to then it’s still a risk as they could contain water , oil , gas etc . You could also create a fire path to the flats above / and below in the event of a fire . My advice is box them in or walk away ….

I hadn't considered the fire path. I'm not going to cut them and shall tell him he shouldn't

Bingy man · Monday at 08:29

My old landlord years ago decided to do some plumbing ( he was less than able ) he owned a large 3 storey house and I lived on the top floor. He was working on the floor below cos I could hear him banging around and sawing something ( for ages ) suddenly there was a loud but dull thud , I ran downstairs fearing he’d fallen down or something. Asked if he was ok and he says yes - I’ve finally cut that pipe that was in the way . I said that “ I don’t think you should of done that “ he’d cut through a building tie iron , the ones they use to pull old buildings back together that have large iron plates on the outside of the building. It cost him thousands to repair and I gained my 1st customer as his wife banned him from diy after that .