Plastering over gas pipe in wall

forgottendreams77

After getting an electric fireplace installed, I recently had an old exposed gas fireplace pipe cut back, which has left a messy hole in the wall. The gas engineer who cut the pipe wasn't able to give any advice (possibly a bad sign!), but is it safe to just repair the hole so the pipe is covered, or does it need some sort of protection from corrosion and/or a vent in case of leaks? Thank you.

ThisIsWeird

Good lawd.
That pipe can surely be capped off at an earlier stage where it'll remain safely obvious and not hidden?
I don't know what the regs say, but it must surely forbid a live gas pipe being concealed in a wall! I'm pretty sure an such enclosure would also require to be ventilated.
If the pipe can't be isolated further back (really?), then I suspect the only option would be to fit an obvious and removable cover over that, and one that's ventilated.
Can't wait to see what our forum GS's say about this

FreeBear

Plaster and cement can corrode copper pipe over time - It may take 15-20 years depending on the quality of the metal. The last thing you want is a pipe quietly leaking gas unseen.

If the pipe can be disconnected at the meter, it would make sense to do it there. Else have the pipe isolated from where it branches (that may be difficult if it is under a floor).

grumbler

ThisIsWeird said:

I don't know what the regs say, but it must surely forbid a live gas pipe being concealed in a wall! I'm pretty sure an such enclosure would also require to be ventilated.

In my kitchen (mid 90s house) gas pipe for a hob (blanked now) sticks out of the party wall. The one for the gas fire goes down from the first floor hidden in the wall. Not sure if they are ventilated, but the walls are dot&dab.

That said, I remember searching the web once - it's not allowed to put a gas pipe inside a cavity wall.

ThisIsWeird

Pretty sure that any cavities need to be ventilated. That's why, for example, if passing through a wall, only one end should be sealed. You only have to imagine a slow leak, and the gas building up in the first void it can escape to.

FreeBear

ThisIsWeird said:

Pretty sure that any cavities need to be ventilated. That's why, for example, if passing through a wall, only one end should be sealed. You only have to imagine a slow leak, and the gas building up in the first void it can escape to.

The legislation requires any gas pipe running through a wall to take the shortest route possible and be sleeved in a gas tight material. The sleeving and gas pipe should be sealed with an appropriate mastic on the inside only to allow for any gas to vent to the outside. Search for "Gas safe register BS 6891:2015" and have a read of page 31.

Also worth noting 8.3.10 on page 24 -

8.3.10 Where any pipework is no longer required, the pipework shall be disconnected as close to the point of connection to the live gas supply as practicable. In all circumstances, any exposed gas ways shall be sealed with an appropriate fitting and any part of the installation that might contain gas shall be labelled as such.

 

ThisIsWeird

forgottendreams77 said:

Is that pipe coming all the way down that wall?!!

forgottendreams77

ThisIsWeird said:

Is that pipe coming all the way down that wall?!!

Yep it looks like it. Based on what you've said, should I be getting a gas engineer to remove the pipe entirely from the wall? And assuming it's going into the floor of the room above, would it also be bad to cap it in the floor? Thank you.

FreeBear

Once the pipe has been disconnected at the tee from the main pipe, it can be left buried in the wall.

ThisIsWeird

forgottendreams77 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Is that pipe coming all the way down that wall?!!

Yep it looks like it. Based on what you've said, should I be getting a gas engineer to remove the pipe entirely from the wall? And assuming it's going into the floor of the room above, would it also be bad to cap it in the floor? Thank you.

As FB says, once 'dead', no need to remove it.

Ok, you know where your gas meter is. Trace the pipe - where does it go to? 

forgottendreams77

ThisIsWeird said:

forgottendreams77 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Is that pipe coming all the way down that wall?!!

Yep it looks like it. Based on what you've said, should I be getting a gas engineer to remove the pipe entirely from the wall? And assuming it's going into the floor of the room above, would it also be bad to cap it in the floor? Thank you.

As FB says, once 'dead', no need to remove it.

Ok, you know where your gas meter is. Trace the pipe - where does it go to? 

It looks like it goes into the downstairs loo, then up to the first floor through some boxing. Then I'm not sure, but I presume it goes under the floor (either under the bathroom floor or under the landing floor) to an airing cupboard on the landing, as there is a gas pipe in there (behind the hot water tank!) going up to the boiler in the loft.

This fireplace pipe is coming down the far wall in the bedroom next to the airing cupboard/hot water tank, but it's not in a straight line from the pipe going up to the loft. I guess it could be branching under the floor on the landing, under the bathroom, or under the water heater. I'm not competent enough to lift floorboards (without damaging them!)