Bad air / pollution / bad bolts / etc

[Burt]

Bad air in Manor Farm, Saturday 8th Nov 2008.

Around entrance to NASA gallery but in the main streamway. Rain had been heavy for the previous 2 days so I guess the silt / poo combination had been stirred up.

Both myself and 3 clients experienced gasping for breath and dizzyness, so made a hasty retreat upwards. One client ( a smoker so this may not be related to the air quality) was having to stop frequently to catch his breath.

 

[Ray Talbot]

Went in on Thursday (03/07/09) with a friend and were both endurance runners so were fairly fit however we realised that we were breathing heavy and after resting for five minuets we were still panting. We also used one of those wind resistant matches that normally light like a flare but this just fizzled! We were stumbling and slurring our speech, but when we came out I recovered pretty quickly but my friend has had a 48 hour head ache. Thought Ill give the heads up.

 

[whitelackington]

I wonder why Cuckoo is the most common bad air cave,
there must be something different about it.
If we could figure out what, then just maybe, we could glean an inkling in CO2 in general, in caves on Mendip.
I have never noticed a problem in Yorkshire caves.
This is surely a university type project awaiting a university type.

 

[pete h]

There never used to be a problem when we were digging, banging the bottom of the cave years ago. One theory i have is the gates don't have open holes for the locks like they did have (GB is another similar case) it may be only a small air way but it is the only change that is obvious.

 

[Les W]

There never used to be a problem when we were digging, banging the bottom of the cave years ago. One theory i have is the gates don't have open holes for the locks like they did have (GB is another similar case) it may be only a small air way but it is the only change that is obvious.

A bat access hole was created into the GB blockhouse when the gate hole was blocked. The bat access hole is actually larger than the original hole in the gate so I don't see that change as being material with CO2 levels in GB. Don't know about Cuckoo though.

 

[Aubrey]

When I mentioned the bad air in Cuckcoo could be worse since the new lid was fitted I was told the CSCC were organising some CO2 testing. Did they ever do it?
My suggestion was to cut a slot or hole in the lid to allow some movement of air.
Tynings has a similar problem and also has a lid with no ventilation hole.

What have we to loose by having a hole in the lid?

Last week was high atmospheric pressure which does back up the theory about the bad air occuring at such times.

 

[Maggot]

Air a bit iffy in Hunters Hole tonight. Couldn't get a lighter to light  and that was on the ledge 10 feet above the top of the pot

 

[axbridgecaver]

Honeymead Hole - Maesbury, Shepton Mallet.

An MNRC trip last weekend (16 August 2009) encountered very high levels of CO2 in the cave.

Several in the party felt ill and one is still not too good 24 hours later.

 

[Darkstar]

The following anchors in Rhino Rift have been reported defective and are under investigation by CSCC:
RR-FP-08  Rebelay on first pitch
RR-SP-01  First anchor on traverse line to second pitch

CSCC is investigating this report and you will be notified again when a CSCC appointed person has inspected the anchor and a decision has been made on what, if any, remedial action is required.

Please note: the CSCC does not carry out any routine inspection or testing of bolts within the CSCC Anchor Placement Scheme. This policy is in line with the BCA statement on the testing of anchors.
Further, the CSCC view is that individual cavers should satisfy themselves that the anchors they are proposing to use are safe.

Thank you,
Faye Litherland
CSCC Equipment Officer

 

[SamT]

Rhino discussions removed - remember, this thread is purely for posting notices about current issues. Please keep discussions to separate threads. 

 

[russporter]

Tynings Barrows Swallet October 23rd 2010

Bad air and very strong smell of diesel/heating oil.

Bad air experienced throughout cave.

Diesel/heating oil smell starting from about 45 meters down stream of Pyramid Pot.

Russ Porter

 

[Darkstar]

The following anchors in Rhino Rift have been replaced:
    First anchor on the traverse line to the second pitch
    Two anchors of the second y hang on the second pitch

All anchors on the first and second pitches have been inspected and although in some cases the rock resin bond has started to fail, as can be seen from the slight rotation (less than 1mm),  it is my opinion and that of others in the working party that they are safe to use and do not require immediate replacement.  The anchors where the rock resin bond is starting to fail have been identified for future replacement.

Please note: the CSCC does not carry out any routine inspection or testing of bolts within the CSCC Anchor Placement Scheme. This policy is in line with the BCA statement on the testing of anchors.
Further, the CSCC view is that individual cavers should satisfy themselves that the anchors they are proposing to use are safe.

The proposed chain on the head of the first pitch has not yet been fitted.  A suitable vendor has been identified and I will update here when the chain is in place.

Thank you,
Faye Litherland
CSCC Equipment Officer

 

[Darkstar]

The following fixed aid in GB has been reported defective and is under investigation by CSCC:
    Chain up to ladder dig extensions

CSCC is investigating this report and you will be notified again when a CSCC appointed person has inspected the fixed aid and a decision has been made on what, if any, remedial action is required.

Please note: the CSCC does not carry out any routine inspection or testing of fixed aids in caves.
Further, the CSCC view is that individual cavers should satisfy themselves that the fixed aids they are proposing to use are safe.

Thank you,
Faye Litherland
CSCC Equipment Officer

 

[whitelackington]

The following anchors in Rhino Rift have been replaced:
    First anchor on the traverse line to the second pitch
    Two anchors of the second y hang on the second pitch

All anchors on the first and second pitches have been inspected and although in some cases the rock resin bond has started to fail, as can be seen from the slight rotation (less than 1mm),  it is my opinion and that of others in the working party that they are safe to use and do not require immediate replacement.  The anchors where the rock resin bond is starting to fail have been identified for future replacement.

Please note: the CSCC does not carry out any routine inspection or testing of bolts within the CSCC Anchor Placement Scheme. This policy is in line with the BCA statement on the testing of anchors.
Further, the CSCC view is that individual cavers should satisfy themselves that the anchors they are proposing to use are safe.

The proposed chain on the head of the first pitch has not yet been fitted.  A suitable vendor has been identified and I will update here when the chain is in place.

Thank you,
Faye Litherland
CSCC Equipment Officer

Has the proposed chain at the head of the first pitch
been fitted yet?
Cheers.

 

[mikem]

Another loose bolt in Rhino: http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=10841.25

Mike

 

[Darkstar]

The following anchor in Rhino Rift has been reported defective and is under investigation by CSCC:
Right hand bolt on third pitch Y Hang

CSCC is investigating this report and you will be notified again when a CSCC appointed person has inspected the anchor and a decision has been made on what, if any, remedial action is required.

Please note: the CSCC does not carry out any routine inspection or testing of bolts within the CSCC Anchor Placement Scheme. This policy is in line with the BCA statement on the testing of anchors.
Further, the CSCC view is that individual cavers should satisfy themselves that the anchors they are proposing to use are safe.

Thank you,
Faye Litherland
CSCC Equipment Officer

 

[Aubrey]

The air in Cuckoo is again not good with high levels of CO2 = typical for this time of year.
The winter is obviously the best time to visit this cave.

Some other Mendip caves know for bad air are probably also affected.
The CSCC web site contains some useful information:

http://cscc.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=news:start#co2_levels_in_caves

 

[Les W]

Rhino Rift

There have been reports about instability of the boulders that make up the top of the third pitch. The pitch head appears unstable and it is advised that you take great care here and better still don't use the direct hang but instead use the ?Right Hand Route? third pitch. Do not congregate below this area and be aware that it is possible (probable) that any further collapse here could (would) block the way on (or out) from the rest of the lower cave.

 

[Les W]

Rhino Rift Again

The boulders at the top of the third pitch have moved. Several have fallen down the pitch, including one of about 4 Tonnes! There are still boulders perched precariously at the pitch head, including one extremely large boulder that appears to have no visible means of support. You are advised to avoid going below the top of the third pitch and also to stay away from the pitch head. Although the ?Right Hand Route? will avoid the instability, you wouldn't want to be below the top of Pitch 3 at the moment. It is almost certain that the way on to the rest of the lower cave is currently blocked.

It is planned to leave the pitch head alone for the winter to see if it stabalises or otherwise, so you are advised to restrict any caving to the first two pitches for now.

 

[phil]

Tynings Swallet 19/09/2012

Has anyone been down Tynings recently and noticed bad air? 

Very short trip yesterday down Tynings.  Appeared to be traces of bad air throughout the cave.  Stopped at top of Pyramid Pot to get breath back... which took far too long. 

On return air very bad round the chamber before Pyramid Pot.