Can I refuse the installation of an outside white gas meter with exposed pipes?

Bugsy007

Gas board has been working for weeks in the surrounding streets to upgrade gas pipes and install white meter boxes on people's outside walls with an array of copper pipes just installed on outside walls. Our meter is under our stairs and we are quite happy with this, we do not want 1) an ugly box on the front of our house and 2) we don't think it would be safe to have an exposed pipe anywhere (depending on where they will fix the pipe, we have a van that we take in and out of the drive  a lot and we could accidentally catch the pipe plus in a few years time we might decide to have a bigger drive and then the cost will de down to us to move whatever they have installed) .

So my question is are we within our rights to refuse and request that the pipes are below ground (like they are at the moment)? would love to know my rights before starting a battle but can't find anything on line....
Many thanks.

[Deleted User]

I believe that the short answer is ‘no’. The gas transporter (either Cadent or an independent contractor) is responsible for maintaining a SAFE supply of gas to your home in accordance with the latest Regulations. By all means have a discussion with them but they are unlikely to agree to something that present Regulations may not permit. They may also want to charge you for any extra work involved.

Carrot007

Any pipes after the meter are yours and you can do whatever you want with them (at your cost).

Anything up to the meters is the transporters repsonsibility and the only choice you will have is to either choose not to have a gas supply if you don't like it, or offer to pay them to do it how you want (they do not have to agree and if they are doing a mass upgrade will likely not).

theoretica

I would suggest that when you ask if they can do something different for your property you make all your request about things which are specific to your property.  They will not agree that exposed pipes are dangerous in general, as that would feel like admitting they did wrong about the rest of the area.

Hasbeen

Bugsy007 said:

Gas board has been working for weeks in the surrounding streets to upgrade gas pipes and install white meter boxes on people's outside walls with an array of copper pipes just installed on outside walls. Our meter is under our stairs and we are quite happy with this, we do not want 1) an ugly box on the front of our house and 2) we don't think it would be safe to have an exposed pipe anywhere (depending on where they will fix the pipe, we have a van that we take in and out of the drive  a lot and we could accidentally catch the pipe plus in a few years time we might decide to have a bigger drive and then the cost will de down to us to move whatever they have installed) .

So my question is are we within our rights to refuse and request that the pipes are below ground (like they are at the moment)? would love to know my rights before starting a battle but can't find anything on line....
Many thanks.

Paint it and pipes a nice colour with a couple  of small pot plants on top .

rp1974

General upgrades like this are done on the basis of safety and security of supply,not on the whims and wants of random members of the public.
If what your asking them to do is outwith regulations then they aren't obliged to connect the supply.
Might well come down to your call at the end of the day,having a gas supply or not.

jefaz07

It’s the pipeline safety regulations 1996…probably regulation 13 of this. 

They won’t leave substandard materials in your property, and it will be getting relaid in plastic. 

I know if they could get her back to the main via slotting the service back to the main they would, it’s so much easier to do that. So either they’re already slotted and have pressure issues, the services are 3/4 and they can’t serviflex or put 17.5mm in there. Or they have knuckle bends and can’t slot. 

The DSP’s will be doing the work if it’s a big scheme. And as they’re paid off the networks, they want to be as quick and as easy as possible…so they’re must be a reason they can’t leave as is. 

If you don’t want it they will leave you off gas.