Asbestos under Gas meter

QrizB

Boohoo said:

Installer came and looked and within 10 secs said asbestos and you have to remove it and pay.
Fair play to the lad he knocked on the door and said he spoke to his supervisor and gave me a number of our local energy supply company (not sure if that's correct) which I think was UK power network.
Called and explained and they came out and done a survey and arranged another date to remove and replace. This was done and then I called my then electric company to fit smart meter.

OP has said already:

zepps said:

A British Gas resolver said the asbestos plate was the house owners responsibility and we would need to contact Cadent.

Cadent are likely to be the local gas distribution network operator, but OP hasn't mentioned contacting them yet.

Boohoo

QrizB said:

Boohoo said:

Installer came and looked and within 10 secs said asbestos and you have to remove it and pay.
Fair play to the lad he knocked on the door and said he spoke to his supervisor and gave me a number of our local energy supply company (not sure if that's correct) which I think was UK power network.
Called and explained and they came out and done a survey and arranged another date to remove and replace. This was done and then I called my then electric company to fit smart meter.

OP has said already:

zepps said:

A British Gas resolver said the asbestos plate was the house owners responsibility and we would need to contact Cadent.

Cadent are likely to be the local gas distribution network operator, but OP hasn't mentioned contacting them yet.

OP hasn't mentioned (sorry if I missed it)if the smart meter that's to be fitted to the meter board  also maybe asbestos.

If Cadent come out to do the gas meter plate removal when the new gas meter and smart meter coms are fitted they won't be able to do it if the board is found to be asbestos and that then will have to be removed.

All this is guessing but the OP can update us.

zepps

Only the gas meter has this suspected asbestos.

Cadent is the gas distribution contractors eco manage the network.

Let's clarify 

First email from BG resolver said it was home owners responsibility and said I should call Cadent .

After sending photo of the meter which sits on the suspected asbestos plate which doesn't look that old and the date of the meter installion of 1998 the second reply back from them didn't even mention the asbestos they simply asked me to go back to BG messaging system again or I could raise a complaint which I might do. 

The electric is with a different supplier and is not effected by any asbestos.

QrizB

zepps said:
First email from BG resolver said it was home owners responsibility and said I should call Cadent .

Have you contacted Cadent?

zepps said:
Cadent is the gas distribution contractors eco manage the network.

Really?

Which region of that map are you in?

zepps

QrizB said:

zepps said:
First email from BG resolver said it was home owners responsibility and said I should call Cadent .

Have you contacted Cadent?

zepps said:
Cadent is the gas distribution contractors eco manage the network.

Really?

Which region of that map are you in?

I've not contacted Cadent yet as BG engineer said I was on a waiting list as most of the streets in my area have the same issue and thus a very long list.

I'm in the Midlands (Birmingham)

lohr500

Is the meter just sitting on top of the plate and is the plate just sitting lose on the base below? 

I wouldn't recommend you to do this, but if the above is the case and it was in my house I would :

Prepare a replacement piece of non asbestos plate cut to the same size.
Dampen down the existing plate with a fine mist of water.
Slide out the old plate whilst someone carefully supports the meter.
Slide in the pre-prepared replacement plate.
Double bag the removed plate whilst still damp.
Dispose of the old plate at our local council waste recycling centre who accept double bagged asbestos.

Prepares to be shot down in flames!!!

MeteredOut

lohr500 said:

Is the meter just sitting on top of the plate and is the plate just sitting lose on the base below? 

I wouldn't recommend you to do this, but if the above is the case and it was in my house I would :

Prepare a replacement piece of non asbestos plate cut to the same size.
Dampen down the existing plate with a fine mist of water.
Slide out the old plate whilst someone carefully supports the meter.
Slide in the pre-prepared replacement plate.
Double bag the removed plate whilst still damp.
Dispose of the old plate at our local council waste recycling centre who accept double bagged asbestos.

Prepares to be shot down in flames!!!

This is exactly what I was thinking, but I'd also investigate getting appropriate PPE for everyone in close proximity.

zepps

I have raised a email complaint with BG so let's see what happens.

Swipe

lohr500 said:

Is the meter just sitting on top of the plate and is the plate just sitting lose on the base below? 

I wouldn't recommend you to do this, but if the above is the case and it was in my house I would :

Prepare a replacement piece of non asbestos plate cut to the same size.
Dampen down the existing plate with a fine mist of water.
Slide out the old plate whilst someone carefully supports the meter.
Slide in the pre-prepared replacement plate.
Double bag the removed plate whilst still damp.
Dispose of the old plate at our local council waste recycling centre who accept double bagged asbestos.

Prepares to be shot down in flames!!!

Last step, wait 30 years to see if you were successful 

QrizB

Swipe said:

lohr500 said:

...
Prepares to be shot down in flames!!!

Last step, wait 30 years to see if you were successful 

Very much off-topic, but it's occurred to me several times that asbestos removal would make a good part-time job for retirees. Typically it's fairly light, low-skilled manual work and the chance of suffering long-term health consequences from it if you're in your 60s or 70s is much lower than if you're in your 20s or 30s.