Permissible gas meter location

thrifty_pete

I'm in the process of buying a house which currently has no gas connection. There is a live gas pipe capped off in a large walk-in cupboard under the stairs, which we want to convert to a downstairs toilet. The pipe is a good 30 cm away from the nearest wall, so I don't think there is any option of keeping it where it is. 
I propose to move the connection (using the service provided by SGN) but I am not sure where would be a permitted location. The SGN guys who came out to go the "dead or alive" test on the pipe didn't know what the rules were. The house is 1930s with solid walls so I don't think a flush meter box is allowed / possible (box would stick out into the room, which would be cold in winter anyway).
Currently it is just 2 storeys but we might do a loft conversion. I think this would mean having the meter inside anywhere near the stairs or hallway wouldn't be allowed in future? There is another understairs cupboard, but it is only about a metre tall, so probably no allowed as meters have to be "in a readily accessible position for inspection and maintenance" 
I don't want an external box on the side of the house as getting the car down the side to the garage is already difficult. Another 21 cm for a wall-mount box or 29 cm for a unibox would make it even worse. I think the meter box has to be within 2 metres of the front wall of the house, which means having it at the back of the house isn't possible? Could I get a long pipe installed down the side of the house and enter in the kitchen? A meter in the kitchen with gas hob and boiler might not be allowed either?
Could I put a built-in meter box into the bay window perhaps - hide the back of the box with a block wall and turn it into a seat on the inside? The floors are all traditional suspended wood floors, the boiler installer said that is fine for gas pipes to run under. 
Any ideas gratefully received! 

dogshome

Talk to SGN - The guys who came out to check if the pipe was 'Live' are paid to do just that, the routing of pipework will be a different team.

Depending how long ago this pipe was installed, it's likely that it is too small to supply the Gas demand of a Central Heating & Hot Water system, and will have to be upgraded back to the street

Ectophile

You can always get SGN out to do a survey.  SGN moved my meter a little while back, to the side of the house.  It's only within 2m of the front of the house if you ignore the front porch.

jefaz07

It will be outside. A bolt on box or semi sub. 

However, if you can get down the side they may be able to install a riser, bring it into the cupboard where the old service is. Providing its in a gable. The service will be plastic so cannot go into your house. 

A meter in the kitchen is fine too. 

Hard to give proper advice due to not seeing what site conditions are like. 

thrifty_pete

dogshome said:

Talk to SGN - The guys who came out to check if the pipe was 'Live' are paid to do just that, the routing of pipework will be a different team.

Do you mean a subcontractor? I would have expected some familiarity with the pipes that SGN owns and is responsible for (up to the safety isolation value). 

jefaz07

thrifty_pete said:

dogshome said:

Talk to SGN - The guys who came out to check if the pipe was 'Live' are paid to do just that, the routing of pipework will be a different team.

Do you mean a subcontractor? I would have expected some familiarity with the pipes that SGN owns and is responsible for (up to the safety isolation value). 

No. There are 2 sets of staff if you like. The teams who do the digging, repairs and service relays
Then the chaps who come to your house if you smell gas and ring the emergency number. 

Same company, 2 differently qualified sets of people 

thrifty_pete

jefaz07 said:

No. There are 2 sets of staff if you like. The teams who do the digging, repairs and service relays
Then the chaps who come to your house if you smell gas and ring the emergency number. 

Same company, 2 differently qualified sets of people 

Today I spoke to another bloke who is more on the ball who wanted the names of the previous guys to "have a word with them". It is all one team apparently, which is good. Apparently they can poke a plastic pipe inside the metal one to upgrade it. 

Ectophile

So long as your existing metal pipe hasn't been squashed or kinked, they should be able to draw a plastic liner through it to meet modern standards.

If it has been squashed or kinked, then you will be back to working out where a box can go on the outside of the house - and that's why I now have one.

There's nothing to stop the meter being on the front of the house, with a pipe running around the side to wherever you need it to go in.

thrifty_pete

Ectophile said:

There's nothing to stop the meter being on the front of the house, with a pipe running around the side to wherever you need it to go in.

OK, thanks for the advice. Do you know if running a gas pipe under a suspended floor is OK? 

Ectophile

thrifty_pete said:

Ectophile said:

There's nothing to stop the meter being on the front of the house, with a pipe running around the side to wherever you need it to go in.

OK, thanks for the advice. Do you know if running a gas pipe under a suspended floor is OK? 

You'd have to ask a qualified gas fitter.  I don't see why not.  But you'll have to arrange for someone to actually do the job.

KittenChops

thrifty_pete said:

Ectophile said:

There's nothing to stop the meter being on the front of the house, with a pipe running around the side to wherever you need it to go in.

OK, thanks for the advice. Do you know if running a gas pipe under a suspended floor is OK? 

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking, so please feel free to ignore if it's not!

Our gas meter is outside, just along from the front door, attached to a wall (not part of the house).  The pipe enters the house under the front door and runs directly to the boiler which is on the rear wall of the cellar.  The cellar ceiling / ground floor is a suspended timber floor & in the cellar, I can see the entirety of the gas pipe.
Someone else commented about the size of the pipe, so I'll just add that shortly after moving in, I had the boiler replaced - the old pipe was half inch diameter and had to be replaced to one that was three quarters of an inch diameter.