Drilled through metal pipe in the wall

[Howardflynn]

Hello.
No idea if this ended up in the right category.

Anyway, I just moved into an apartment building that was built in 2010.

Today I was about to put up some shelves and needed to use metal expanders as the walls are made of plasterboard.
I discovered that there were quite a few metal studs that were fine to drill through.
On another wall, the same thing happened, I thought I could just drill on, but a bit of air hissed out for 5 seconds, without any smell. I didn’t notice any more air coming out. I put a screw in the small hole in the metal I drilled through and patched it up.

Now, in hindsight, I wonder what it could have been.

The building has a passive ventilation system. Something with the ventilation?

I called around to some friends who are in the carpentry business who say I would have noticed if it was something to worry about, but I still can’t stop thinking about it.
What do you think?

I'm completely clueless in this area..

Grateful for tips

Regards

 

[BirgitS]

Welcome to the forum!

I suggest you contact the board because they should know if there might be any significant pipes in that wall.

 

[Farstatjej90]

Are you sure that everything else you've drilled into is metal studs? How did you find out that there were metal studs there?

 

[Howardflynn]

Welcome to the forum!

I suggest that you contact the board because they should know if there could be any significant pipes in that wall.

Yes, maybe it's the smartest.
Just thought if it was something obvious to someone else.
Thanks for the tip.

 

[Howardflynn]

Are you sure that everything else you've drilled into are metal studs? How did you find out that there were metal studs there?

Yes, absolutely sure. It went through quite easily and a friend of mine who's a carpenter was here helping me in that particular room. In the other room, it was just me and I thought the same thing, ''yeah, just another metal stud'', but I don't think it was.

I’ve been keeping an eye on it today and everything seems to be working normally, no strange smells and no leakage around the area.

I'll check with the board.

 

[Cruzze]

Hi.
No idea if this ended up in the right category.

Anyway, just moved into a multi-family house built in 2010.

Today, I was setting up some shelves, etc., and needed to use metal expanders since the walls are plasterboard.
I discovered there were quite a few metal studs that were fine to drill through.
On another wall, it was the same, thought it was just to drill on, but a little air came out for 5 seconds that didn't smell. I couldn't notice any more air. Put a screw in the small hole in the metal I drilled through and plastered it over.

Now afterward, I'm wondering what it could have been.

The house has a passive ventilation system. Something to do with the ventilation?

Called around to some friends who are in the carpentry business who say I would have noticed if it was anything to worry about, but I still can't stop thinking about it.
What do you think?

I'm completely unknowledgeable in this area...

Grateful for tips

Best regards

Asking mostly because I'm not fully versed in different ventilation techniques, but do you mean that the passive ventilation means there is natural airflow in the building?

 

[Pasjostrom]

Yes, completely sure. It went through quite easily and a friend of mine who's a carpenter was here helping me in that room. In the other room, it was just me, and I thought the same thing, "eh, just another metal stud," but I don't think it was that.

I've kept an eye on it today, and everything works as usual, no strange smells and no leaks around the area.

I'll check with the board.

Was it an exterior wall? Maybe a long shot, but could it be that you drilled through the vapor barrier (plastic foil) and simultaneously a metal stud in the wall and that's why a little air came out of the hole? Doesn't sound entirely plausible to me, but oh well...

 

[Howardflynn]

Asking mostly because I'm not completely familiar with different ventilation techniques, but do you mean that the passive ventilation means that there is natural draft in the building?

To be completely honest, I also have a poor understanding of how it works. We always have a draft here at home with fresh air, and the heat comes on when the temperature drops below a certain level.
It's intended to be energy-efficient.
That's all that's been explained to me.

 

[Howardflynn]

Was it an exterior wall? Maybe a long shot but could it be that you drilled through the vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) and at the same time a metal stud in the wall and that's why a bit of air came out of the hole? Doesn't sound entirely reasonable to me but oh well...

It wasn't an exterior wall. A wall in the hallway where the other side of the wall is one of the smaller bedrooms.

 

[mojjen]

It wasn't an exterior wall. A wall in the hallway where the other side of the wall is one of the smaller bedrooms. How thick is the wall? If it's a thinner wall, 10-12cm including plasterboard, it's unlikely there is ventilation. Conversely, if it’s an unusually thick wall for being an interior wall, then it's quite likely that it's ventilation. If one can conclude that it is ventilation, I wouldn't alarm the board.

 

[trojlee]

Is there underfloor heating in the property?

 

[Howardflynn]

And if it is vent, which I also believe. Is there any danger now afterward? If I also plugged it as best as I could with the stuff I had at home?

 

[Howardflynn]

Is there underfloor heating in the property?

Nope, no underfloor heating except in the bathroom.

 

[BirgitS]

How thick is the wall?
Ventilation pipes are thick, approx. 10 cm, so they do not fit in walls that are 12 cm thick.

Ventilation pipes are the responsibility of the association, so if you damage one, you must inform the association, otherwise it may come back to bite you later. They must be completely sealed.