Where shall I stick my gas meter?

Snakey

The gas pipes are being replaced in our block, and this means the meter will be moved. This is happening next week.

Great! Because right now it's literally in the middle of the wall. There is a full-length cupboard there at the moment, but I want a new kitchen at some point soonish and the meter was going to be one of the things I'd have had to really work around.

The gas men were in for about thirty seconds and said we could discuss the details on the day - there was the implication that I would have some level of choice about location.

I can imagine there's going to be a conflict of interests in that they're going to want to do whatever's quickest and easiest for them - they have a lot of flats to get through - while I want it in the best place for me. So, if you'll excuse the Jeremy Kyle attitude for a minute, I need to "know my rights" so I don't get 'bullied' (wrong word, but you know) into letting them do whatever they want and then spend the next ten years sulking because I missed my chance to have it somewhere more convenient.

I understand it's going to depend a bit on where the new pipe comes in to the flat. But within that constraint, are there any rules about where it must be located or where it cannot be located? I think the pipes are going to run horizontally along the outside of the kitchen above the window/near the ceiling, and presumably come in through the empty space in the corner of my kitchen, behind the boiler. (It's not empty, it's got some kind of big vertical pipe in it and it's all boxed off from the kitchen proper. I rather doubt I can have the meter in there - I can only access that area below worktop level, and that is full of little cavity wall insulation balls - although I will ask since I assume they'll have to go in there anyway to get the pipes through.)

The existing meter isn't flat against the wall - there's a gap of about 10cm and it's at an angle as if someone's just attached it any old how. It is sitting on a shelf, but there's also a metal bracket up the back - it's not too easy for me to see exactly what it is that's holding it in place (the shelf, the bracket, the actual pipe?).

Is it allowed for it to be on (near) a wall if there are already pipes there? That would be ideal, as I have a narrow floor cupboard which already has e.g. water pipes, radiator pipes etc in it (horizontally parallel to the wall and vertically up towards the boiler) - can it sit in there, on the floor, not directly adjacent to the wall (say 10cm away)? Or does it need a completely empty area of wall space?

The only other place I can think of, if it can't be fitted in among other pipes, is right up near the ceiling - so the meter wouldn't be in the way of a potential future worktop space or white good. Is there a reason that can't be done/isn't advisable?

If it isn't going to be on the floor, does there need to be a shelf to hold it up or can it be attached to the wall (whether at a distance or otherwise) by some kind of bracket?

Sorry for long and waffly post, and thanks for reading!

shaun_from_Africa

There are a couple of regular posters on here who are Gas Safe registered but to save waiting for one of them, why not sign up and post your query here:
https://www.plumbersforums.net/forums/gas-engineers-forum.22/