Gas Connection compensation

Boris1978

Hi all,

im looking for advice for compensation from SGN for a gas connection issue. 

The story (short version):

I am getting an extension to my property and on day 1, the foundations team found my neighbours gas connection pipe in my driveway. We didn’t know it was there, and the line search showed no utility supplies in my driveway (even though I knew about my own one already)

We’d had our driveway mono blocked about 6 years ago and we didn’t see the neighbours connection and we (me and the SGN guys who came out) think that the pipe is really deep and goes straight to the Gas main over the main road. 

So, this has obviously delayed the building works by approx 4 weeks and we have had the pipe moved (at my cost, convenient for them as otherwise the delay would be months if I didn’t pay them!!) already. SGN are also now delayed reconnecting my neighbour this morning (and now afternoon) too. (Should’ve been done yesterday). 

I am looking to get compensation for the costs for builders delay and the pipe move as the pipe should not be under my driveway as my neighbour has their own that runs parallel to mine. SGN engineers think it was done like this when the meters were changed about 20 years ago to save time by digging one driveway only. 

Has anyone else experienced this or have advice for a way forward. 

Thanks. 

BarelySentientAI

You won't get any compensation.

Eldi_Dos

Presumably the property owner agreed to this instal twenty years ago.

Hoenir

Eldi_Dos said:

Presumably the property owner agreed to this instal twenty years ago.

Pragmatic solution at the time no doubt in terms of minimising cost and disruption.  

Phones4Chris

@Boris1978 The existence of the pipe to your neighbour should have been correctly recorded and should therefore have shown up on searches when you bought the property. So somebody hasn't done their job properly.
You may not get any compensation, but one thing is for sure you won't if you don't try.
You need to investigate why the existence of the pipe wasn't correctly recorded, or if it was, why didn't a search reveal that it was there, assuming the solicitors did the job properly!

MysteryMe

Having just had Cadent on our estate replacing the metal mains gas pipes with plastic and where necessary move people's gas meters,  I can tell you that they had great difficulty finding where pipes leading to people's houses were. They were not all recorded on plans and I had two large holes dug in my driveway for 3 weeks to prove it, as did other neighbours.  Had the date the supply was going to be turned off to move the gas meter changed 4 times with less than 24 hours notice so welcome to the world of gas supply. It's their world and we just live in it.

Whenever people start digging new foundations there is always a possibility of coming across unexpected "obstacles" which cause delays. That's just how it is unfortunately. Experienced builders will know that, they will have seen it all before. Hopefully your build will soon be on track.

Phones4Chris

The OP was talking about a replacement pipe (20 years ago), not a prehistoric one that may not have been recorded.

jefaz07

No service pipes are recorded unless above 2”or 63mm

MysteryMe

Phones4Chris said:

The OP was talking about a replacement pipe (20 years ago), not a prehistoric one that may not have been recorded.

Eh? Where did I mention the gas pipes on the housing estate I live on were "prehistoric"?  I was correctly pointing out that that gas pipes are not all recorded.

Phones4Chris

MysteryMe said:

Phones4Chris said:

The OP was talking about a replacement pipe (20 years ago), not a prehistoric one that may not have been recorded.

Eh? Where did I mention the gas pipes on the housing estate I live on were "prehistoric"?  I was correctly pointing out that that gas pipes are not all recorded.

Eh indeed? My use of the word "prehistoric" was somewhat tongue in cheek. If you failed to appreciate that, oh dear. It was obviously meant to mean any old pipes that may not or were likely not to be recorded.
One might expect modern replacement pipes to be recorded - however -

jefaz07 said:

No service pipes are recorded unless above 2”or 63mm

I assume this is factual, if so where is this stated, what legislation covers it?
I would have expected the location of such "important" services but especially (replacement) gas pipes to be recorded with the Local Authority.

jefaz07

Phones4Chris said:

MysteryMe said:

Phones4Chris said:

The OP was talking about a replacement pipe (20 years ago), not a prehistoric one that may not have been recorded.

Eh? Where did I mention the gas pipes on the housing estate I live on were "prehistoric"?  I was correctly pointing out that that gas pipes are not all recorded.

Eh indeed? My use of the word "prehistoric" was somewhat tongue in cheek. If you failed to appreciate that, oh dear. It was obviously meant to mean any old pipes that may not or were likely not to be recorded.
One might expect modern replacement pipes to be recorded - however -

jefaz07 said:

No service pipes are recorded unless above 2”or 63mm

I assume this is factual, if so where is this stated, what legislation covers it?
I would have expected the location of such "important" services but especially (replacement) gas pipes to be recorded with the Local Authority.

It is factual. Sometimes on new estates the network maps don’t even show the main as they belong to a IGT (independent gas transporter) 
The maps show services above 2” or 63mm, all gas mains in every pressure regime, valves, governors and if done correctly, 2 distances from fixed positions. 

The gas pipes aren’t recorded with the local authority. The networks own them, you can, however, request a copy of the maps in your area for any work you need to carry out. 

With regards to services, there are ways to find them with using a Cat & Genny. PE services are harder to find as you cannot induce a signal into the plastic. These can be found using a cobra or a service camera.

There are quite a lot of services hit during works. 

As for legislation, the overarching regulations are the pipeline safety regulations 1996
Every network will then have their own internal documentation such as SL1 or ML4