Ceiling replacement standards?

[onemoredub]

I have just had my kitchen ceiling renewed as the flat above leaked and damaged ours. The workman has taken out all of the insulation so there is now nothing between the upstairs flat and the plasterboard in ours. My question is, is this normal or should there be some kind of insulation? As it is a kitchen below another kitchen, should there be any fire retardant material, or is the plasterboard enough? Are there any regulations regarding this? Many thanks for your time.

[buildersmate]

Plasterboard is adequate for fire retardance but there should be sound insulation material in there. Usually fibreglass or Rockwool is used. Such material also acts as a heat insulator.
This is not satisfactory - don't let it rest.

[onemoredub]

Thanks buildersmate. Is it fair enough then to ask the workman to come back and take down the ceiling and replace it again putting the sound insulation in this time? Unfortunately we paid him most of the money (not all as he has not yet painted the ceiling) and did not realise there was no sound insulation until the neighbours came home!

[theshedman]

Hi, as the flat above you leaked it is possible that they have had to take their floor covering up and the builder is going to put the insulation in from above. I have seen this done in the past. As buildersmate says don't leave it as the noise could be quite bad for both flats. How come you had to pay if it was their leak?

[onemoredub]

Thanks for the suggestion, but we have checked with upstairs and just under their floor is all the electricity wiring for our flat, so it would not be practical. The work is going through the buildings insurance, but we had to pay him and then the insurance company pay us. The leak was from a pipe under their floor also, so not all their floor has to come, only the bit to give access to fix the pipe.

Thanks for your help, feel an interesting conversation with the builder is coming on....

[onemoredub]

Have now spoken with the workman. He says that he did not put the insulation in as we did not instruct him to. My next question is, should the workman know about building regulations and have known to do this or should I have known to tell him to leave the insulation in that was already there (or replace it if was not reusable).

Thanks for your help!

[tezestwing]

if the insulation was there in the first place the builder should have left it there or put it back or re new if needed you dont mention if the boards were plaster skimmed this is necessary for 1/2 hour fire check and depending on location sometimes double boarded and skimmed hth Tez

[tezestwing]

BTW any heat that you generate in your kitchen will keep them above warm like BM said have them back

[onemoredub]

Thanks for your advice tezestwing. Yes, the plasterboard was plaster skimmed.

[The Builder]

"didn't put it in because he wasn't instructed to".......................................who breeds these dimwits................................................?????

Rant over...............the insulation was there because it's between separate dwellings. The sound insulation regulation might not have been in force when the flats were built/converted...................but don't tell him that................because................make sure he replaces it with "Acoustic Roll" insulation as Buildersmate was talking about. That'll give you heat heat and sound pritection.

[The Builder]

should be...............heat and sound protection...

see...I'm all wound up now :o(((

[onemoredub]

Thanks The Builder, I feel your sentiments, I'm glad it's not just me! I did check with the council who said that if the insulation was there, then it is a building regulation to put it back. As the flats are purpose built and ex council I imagine it has always been there. You have given me the confidence to stick with this and not back down, as I presumed that when you ask a professional to do a job like this, he will know about such things as building regs. It's been a steep learning curve...

Thanks again for your help.