Do I Have To Have This Gas Work Done?

norm27

Hello. On a recent boiler service the British Gas engineer inspected my gas meter which is located in my garage on the wall about 18" above floor level. The garage was built onto the side of the house about 20 years ago. The meter box was originally on the external wall of the house but as this wall  became an internal wall by the addition of the garage, it has not moved but is now on an internal wall.

The engineer advised me that with changes in rules and regulations over the years the service pipe which feeds gas to the meter does not now meet current standards. It is satisfactory for an externally mounted location but not for an internal location which means that the quality of the service pipe ought to be improved. This would be achieved either by relocating the meter across the garage to it's outside wall and providing a new supply to it or by replacing the existing service pipe from the meter to the point where the gas supply enters the house. I am assuming that either of these would cost me a considerable amount of money in accommodation works as the garage has a concrete floor and the gas supply feed to the house is some distance from the meter.

I asked the engineer whether the work is a strict legal requirement and he was rather vague on this, saying that because the responsibilty for the service pipe up to it's connection point with the meter is that of Northern Gas Network and not British Gas he could only advise me of it and whether I did it was up to me. He left a piece of paper headed "Safety Warning Note" on which he had written " Service gas pipe in the garage - Please contact Northern Gas Network for a quote to move gas meter to safe location". The meter is right in the corner of the garage and the offending service pipe is hidden behind and protected by some central heating pipes and therefore highly unlikely to be damaged by impact. It has not been affected in the 20 years it has been in situ.

My question is - am I legally required to have this work done now that it has been drawn to my attention; can they apply the requirements retrospectively?

If there is anyone out there who can advise me it would be appreciated.

Thankyou.

 

Albermarle

Presumably the garage is still a garage and not part of the house? Is there a door from the house directly into the garage? If so is it a proper external door?
I have no idea of the legalities but I would say if it is still a garage separated from the house, then the meter is not really internally situated, although I guess it is an arguable point.

onejrmmrj

I would think (maybe wrongly) that the meter and the service pipe are the gas supplier's property (whatever Transco are called these days) and any works required to meet safety regulations would be at their discretion and their expense.

Eldi_Dos

norm27 said:

My question is - am I legally required to have this work done now that it has been drawn to my attention; can they apply the requirements retrospectively?

 

Now you have been informed of it, how would it effect your insurance if you do not deal with it ?

norm27

1. Sorry if I didn't explain clearly. The garage is a brick extension with a bedroom above built onto the left hand side of the house as you look at it from the front.. There is no access to it other than by going out of the front door of the house, then opening the up and over garage door. The meter is on the right hand wall at the back of the garage, this wall being the original outside wall before the garage was built.

2. Yes my first reaction was if the supply to the meter is their responsibilty then they are responsible for meeting all requirements. Then I thought they could argue that it wasn't their doing that caused the meter to go from a satisfactory external wall to an inadequate internal, it was me building the extension that caused it. So I'm not sure.

Lorian

The garage will have been built over the supply pipe I presume. A year or so ago I had cadent move my meter to the other side of the wall for a similar reason. It took about a month I saw at least 8 different people from cadent and they were very professional. The move was APPX 1m. They did the digging and refilling and the copper pipe extension internally. The only downside was I recall it was £850. I'd been nagged with a few warning notices before I did it, it was a city gas supply so there was never a threat to cap it or anything.
They don't rerun any CPC (earth) to the meter in that price. I didn't need one.

Lorian

If supply is from cadent they have a tool online to do an initial quote. I guess others might too

TELLIT01

norm27 said:

2. Yes my first reaction was if the supply to the meter is their responsibilty then they are responsible for meeting all requirements. Then I thought they could argue that it wasn't their doing that caused the meter to go from a satisfactory external wall to an inadequate internal, it was me building the extension that caused it. So I'm not sure.

The meter did meet all requirements when installed.  It was actions taken by the householder which have resulted in the pipework potentially now not being compliant with regs.  I don't see how that is the fault of the supply company, nor can I see them doing work to make it compliant without charging for the work.

Slinky

We nearly bought a house where the external grade gas meter was now in the conservatory. I looked into it and we would have been responsible for the costs of moving it to an external position to comply with the regulations.

jefaz07

norm27 said:

1. Sorry if I didn't explain clearly. The garage is a brick extension with a bedroom above built onto the left hand side of the house as you look at it from the front.. There is no access to it other than by going out of the front door of the house, then opening the up and over garage door. The meter is on the right hand wall at the back of the garage, this wall being the original outside wall before the garage was built.

2. Yes my first reaction was if the supply to the meter is their responsibilty then they are responsible for meeting all requirements. Then I thought they could argue that it wasn't their doing that caused the meter to go from a satisfactory external wall to an inadequate internal, it was me building the extension that caused it. So I'm not sure.

You will be liable. The service will be plastic and when it was on the outside wall it was to regs. 

You have made it non compliant so I’m not sure why you think they’re still liable. It’s a chargeable job to move a service for an extension. Not bothering doesn’t mean you now get it for free. You’re right in that the service is their responsibility and they can cut it off if it’s dangerous. 

It’s classified as ‘At Risk No Action’
But ultimately, yes, it needs done. 

Albermarle

You will be liable. The service will be plastic and when it was on the outside wall it was to regs. 

Not sure though the fact that it is plastic is the issue.

We have just had all the old gas mains and service pipes in the street replaced by plastic ( yellow MDPE to be technical). The service pipe that comes into the house is now plastic, and  is connected directly to an internal meter. All done by Cadent and checked by a gas safe engineer.