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Groundwork & Foundations

Lightwell drainage

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.55 PM

We have a lightwell in the basement that has no drainage. There is a window in the wall to the lightwell. Outside the lightwell we have a temporary unsightly lean-to clear cover to stop rain water getting in. We want to remove the lean -to cover. The problem is we have no drainage outside the lightwell. The only option I think of is to build a low ventilated wall around the light well and put a poly covered access hatch over the lightwell. Not sure this complies with building regulations...as you need to get through the window then the access hatch if there's a fire. Does anyone know if we can get rid of the lean-to or access hatch cover over the lightwell and drain water away some way?

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4 Answers

Anonymous user

You can’t do that the window has to be used as a fire exit, if you are looking for drainage you should contact a engineer to survey the property to see if there any options
Answered12 November 2020
6

Boom construction

Rating: 5 out of 5
Wisbech
You could place a sump pump. Small concrete pad with gully to take water away from basement. Would advise to speak to engineer to get report done to make sure all building regulations are meet. As this could affect the sale of the house if not meet regulations. As could get picked up on the report.
Answered12 November 2020
0

Anonymous user

Without seeing any photos it's impossible to say, but from what you are saying, you need to start with an engineer. It depends a lot on what the basement is used for or intended to be used for. If it to be used as a room rather than just storage, you can always consider a second access/escape route that is not the light well. The upper part that you want to replace could also be made with a fire escape handle. Locked from the outside but easy to open from the inside if there's a fire. If it means that the fire brigade have to put the cover through to rescue from the outside, they have plenty of kit to do that so it would be fine to go down that route once the engineer has been through everything.
Answered19 November 2020
0

MWE Builders

Rating: 5 out of 5
Bristol
Hi I agree with other answers but you could always put Acos in with a sump pump to pump water into either soak away or to sewer , but you do need to keep access for fire and building regs hope this helps
Answered5 December 2020
0