Property UG duct hidden / FTTP entry

Unhelpfully the previous owner of my property has removed the ducting (I assume connector bend 4) from groundlevel and pressumably screeded over the enterence due to making a once external porch area now internal within the property. I pressume they have simply cut the duct out (the vertical element). The copper multiple pair cable appears to been plasterboarded over on what would have been the exterior wall and the BT101 cover removed and the copper cable pushed straight through the wall.

Getting to the point, in preparation for FTTP I will need to figure out how to get the duct unblocked without damaging or blocking it. I just wanted to check if any form of termination box is needed now that the UG duct is now internal? For example could the fibre just mirror what they've done with the cooper cable and simply take the fibre straight from the UG JB directly through

Edited by gary333 (Tue 08-Jun-21 11:59:11)

Intercept outside and turn up exterior wall.

In reply to a post by FibreBubble:

Intercept outside and turn up exterior wall.

+1

Unfortunately that isn’t possible as that element is now UPVC for a larger door and surround.

They'd just intercept further back and run the ducting to a new location. If you have a preference for what is done then it would help if you posted a photo.

I think I might have confused things in my explanation, apologies. I am hoping to “unhide” the existing ducting where hopefully part of the original below surface bend remains by removing the screed from it. I presume the previous owner wouldn’t have removed the underground duct, just the visible above ground elephants foot and the capping.

What I wanted to clarify is does the fibre need some form of “official” Openreach / BT capping from where it leaves the underground duct prior to where it enters the ONT or can I just put some form of basic ducting tacked to block work for fibre to exit and bung the remainder of the duct up?

If the ducting now comes up inside your property you will want to resolve that anyway, otherwise you could get gas or water from leaks coming up inside your house.

Totally understand but wouldn’t bunging it work for that (once bend is exposed) rather than digging up the drive? I’ve seen in commercial building the ducting running internally and they bung with a form of intumescent - I was hoping I could do something like that if that’s allowed?

Hopefully this picture will illustrate better than my babble

Inside:
https://ibb.co/zR1Cwqz

Neighbours House (with porch area as built)
https://ibb.co/bXy6sjS

Edited by gary333 (Tue 08-Jun-21 13:03:54)

If it was me I would probably try and move it back outside, if for no other reason that it means the engineers can always access the external part of the install (splice point etc)

That being said have read about plenty of other installs that have been done using the internal ducting.. I guess as long as its sealed off correctly it shouldn't matter.

The real issue is what if you dig down and either cant find/access it or its been blocked with rubble.. Then you have 2 areas to make good!!

Edited by kjwkjw (Tue 08-Jun-21 14:28:55)

What size duct is it? 54mm possibly?

Looking at the other houses on the street they all seem to be 54mm

In reply to a post by gary333:

Looking at the other houses on the street they all seem to be 54mm

Normally a BT Duct 56 (54mm) on an outside wall would typical be fitted with a 'Duct Plug 1A' which is simply high density sponge but that doesn't stop water and gas ingress as its not a problem being outside. If you have a duct coming up inside your property you would need to use either a Filoform duct sealant or maybe Openreach have a different seal to seal it up when inside.

If you're prepared to lift the carpet and uncover the duct you will have a better idea of what you need to do but as that previously outside wall now has plasterboard on it there is a high chance the duct will partly be cover by that plasterboad. it all depends on how risk adverse you are.

If your lucky they may have just cut it level with the new floor and there is a gaping hole just underneath the surface

Unfortunately the floor has been screeded over to raise it up to a similar level to the interal floor so there is no hole underneath . I can tell they've done it themselves as there's a dogs paw print in the screed and it's not what you'd call level.

I agree Dect that part of the original duct will have been underneath the plasterboard as it would have sit flush with the brickwork. I fitted (well paid for lol) the skirting but whilst it was off I couldn't see any evidence of the duct.

I wish now that i'd have knocked some plasterboard off and given the floor a whack to properly check however for some reason I was thinking the house was direct burried, but after checking every other house on the street has ducting so I doubt this one was any different.

In reply to a post by gary333:

I fitted (well paid for lol) the skirting but whilst it was off I couldn't see any evidence of the duct.

Did you see any evidence of the telephone cable on that wall?

In reply to a post by dect:

In reply to a post by gary333:

I fitted (well paid for lol) the skirting but whilst it was off I couldn't see any evidence of the duct.

Did you see any evidence of the telephone cable on that wall?

I don't think I actually checked. At the time I bought the house it was an exchange only line so (in hindsight not ideal) didn't really check much as was planning and preparing house for Virgin Media.

I think I'll knock a little of the skirting off and cut a small incision in to the plasterboard and see whats there. Hopefully I do this without piercing the copper.