What is law on position of gas meter?

C_Mababejive

Gas escapes are infinitely variable. There are many paths for leaking gas. It could migrate under the floor,into wall cavities,via cavities into the loft space. There could be a sudden failure of a corroded pipe,perhaps when the house is uninhabited.

lemontart

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmcomloc/1851/1851vw18.htm

and

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/sm/metering/crf/metrology/am/mamcop/Documents1/19%20November%202010%20-%20TB%20003%20-%20Built-over%20gas%20services-service%20pipework%20-%20Safety%20concern.pdf

[Deleted User]

Its a very common thing to see with porches and garages , extensions etc built over existing gas meters.People just leave them where they are after finding out the cost of shifting meters,( approx £350 gas £500 electric ) I see them every day. £900 is far to much for a short move back outside.

C_Mababejive

lemontart wrote: »

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmcomloc/1851/1851vw18.htm

and

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/sm/metering/crf/metrology/am/mamcop/Documents1/19%20November%202010%20-%20TB%20003%20-%20Built-over%20gas%20services-service%20pipework%20-%20Safety%20concern.pdf

Indeed...i know of a nice estate of executive homes where the developer,obviously thinking of his profit,squeezed a detached home right on the end of the development such that it was built only a few feet away from a main running at elevated pressure. The main ran through the back garden of the house and down the side of it. One hopes it never fails or they never propose an extension. When the people moved in from new, there was a concrete pipeline marker in their back garden. It had been in the field since long before the site had been developed. A month or so later,it had been ripped out and discarded !

jalexa

sacsquacco wrote: »

Its a very common thing to see with porches and garages , extensions etc built over existing gas meters.People just leave them where they are after finding out the cost of shifting meters,( approx £350 gas £500 electric ) I see them every day. £900 is far to much for a short move back outside.

Welcome back. Question for you, can you tell from the info on the handheld or inspection of the installation whether the service pipe is operating at MP or LP? Is there a procedure for entering a "built-over" status on the handheld and is it required that is done on every read?

C_Mababejive

jalexa wrote: »

Welcome back. Question for you, can you tell from the info on the handheld or inspection of the installation whether the service pipe is operating at MP or LP? Is there a procedure for entering a "built-over" status on the handheld and is it required that is done on every read?

If there is a meter fitted,you will be able to tell by the kind of regulator fitted. MP>LP regulators look considerably different. Also the ECV outlet thread may have a different thread. On MP it may not be BS746 washered. Chances are it will be labelled as such. Then again MP domestic supplies are more likely in semi rural/rural areas.

[Deleted User]

hi Jalexa , back from my hols now, no there is nothing on our hhcs at all to report about both lp and mp or if meters have been moved or built over. We can add reports in notes about these things, but nothing ever gets updated anyway about anything. I always report dangerous meters, but little ever gets done

spiro

C_Mababejive wrote: »

When the people moved in from new, there was a concrete pipeline marker in their back garden. It had been in the field since long before the site had been developed. A month or so later,it had been ripped out and discarded !

It is legal to remove these without the gas network's permission?

C_Mababejive

spiro wrote: »

It is legal to remove these without the gas network's permission?

Well its like everything else..no one cares...

rwilks13

Hi,
interested to read the thread. I have just spent all evening reading gas pipeline legislation !! in an effort to understand my rights....life is too short..

We had invited a gas safe engineer to inspect our boiler installation and he noticed an additional problem (not raised in our survey or gas inspection on purchasing the house) that there had been a conservatory built around the gas meter and over the pipe. He advised the supply was 'at risk' but was himself surprised when southern gas disconnected us the same day with no comeback. He said there is a Gas safe technical bulletin 004 (which I cant get access to on line) which supports his advice.

The reason stated by the gas network was due to the build around and because there was a plastic gas pipe (I think it was infact metal inside plastic) but presume the work needed doing-just not as a gas emergency as it had been like that for 3 years.

So we had no choice really other than to sign a waiver (with no quote supplied) to Southern gas moving our meter the next day . Then another 2 weeks without gas anyway as the plumber had to move the internal pipe.

6 weeks later we have a bill for £800 from the gas network and paid the plumber nearly £500.

I thought I would challenge the bill from the gas network to try and reduce the cost a bit. I found a web reference that the gas legislation may prevent me being liable to pay costs of moving gas pipe as the build preceeded me buying the house having scoured gas legislation I cant find any such reference...advice would be welcomed.


the 'quoted' pipeline safety regs 1996..as I say I cant actually find this in regs in order to challenge southern gas.

Construction and installation
9. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline (save for the purpose of testing it) unless it has been so constructed and installed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is sound and fit for the purpose for which it has been designed.

There are probably other elements which are contravened and it may even breach the Gas safety (installation & use) regs.

Within MSL1 there is a section dedicated to built over supplies. the cost to alter the suply is recoverable from you unless you can demonstrate that a previous owner built the extension, then under the Gas Act you cannot legally be charged.