Gsa Meter "built over"

jollyanna

Following a recent water main leak in my road, the contractors severed my gas supply and switched us off until the repair could be made. A gas chap came to the house to turn the supply off at the meter point and as the meter is in the garage which is attached to the house, he said "Did you inherit this?". I thought at first he was talking about my beautiful golden hair and blue eyes, but assumed he meant the actual meter, so I said yes, which is true, though strictly speaking , the housing is original and the meter itself was replaced by the gas company around 18 months ago. The house was built 30 years ago and the garage was added on ten years later. I've been here 7 years. Before he left the sight he produced a form with loads of big red writing which I had to sign to acknowledge he'd been and turned the gas off and marked his concern as "OTHER". He gave the impression that the meter was illegally or dangerously sited and would have to be moved ! My old man was away for the day and I should have had the savvy to get a thorough understanding of what the problem was and now I don't know what to expect!
I've done a search of the forums for my predicament and found it helpful but not completely answered my present query. Will the gas people decide the meter must be moved, rip up my drive and re-site in the front wall, and burrow inside my external wall to re-arrange the pipes to the interior, or wil they passs it over?
any comments gratefully received. Thanks, Jollyanna.

jollyanna

I mean Gas Meter (I did preview this, honest)

sunshine6650

Hiya, What was the form called? does it have a title,

espresso

jollyanna wrote: »

He gave the impression that the meter was illegally or dangerously sited and would have to be moved !

So who fitted this meter then? Surely if it was "replaced by the gas company 18 months ago", it was done to the current required standard at that time?

jollyanna

Hi, the top of the form, in red, says "this form concerns your safety", no other title.
When a new meter was fitted in the existing housing in the garage, several people up my road were done at the same time. I think it's some kind of rolling update that they do.
Thing is that now the gas main to the house rises up from under concrete (garage floor)as it has done for the last 20 years, whereas originally, if it was as our neighbours is, it would have been paving slabs.

dennis_the_menace_2

Hi, Jollyanna,
I can only assume that the Engineer is commenting about the Fact that the Gas meter which was previously on, or in a Box on the Outside Wall of your House is now inside the Garage. Whilst the Meter isn't a Problem, the Plastic (PE) Service Pipe is. As per the Building Regs. The issue here is that the Short Piece of Pipe between the Garage Floor and the Gas Meter Emergency Control Tap is Exposed PE protected only by a GRP Sleeve. Both the Sleeve and the Pipe offer no resistance to Fire, If a Fire was to Start in the Garage there is a possibility that the Pipe would Melt Causing Gas, at Mains Pressure to Escape. If this then Ignited it would accelerate the Fire, and, as the Point of Ignition is below the Emergency Valve there is no way of Shutting Down the Supply. The Engineer Left you a Safety Notice to Cover both himself and the Company as they have a Duty of Care. Some Regions insist on Remedial Action, others Choose to leave it with you. The Two Options are to either Re site the Gas Meter to another outside Location, or have the Service relaid in Steel. Both Chargeable Jobs. As an Engineering Officer for N/G. I have seen Many such Examples of what we Call Built Overs. The Only issue that I now see with this, is that now you have been Advised of the Unsafe situation is how this impacts on your House Insurance with regard to Material Fact. In reality there are thousands of Installations like it,even where people have chosen to ignore the Notice. However I need to point out that the Official Line is to recommend the Alteration. If I can help further please ask. The above opinions are mine and not those of N/G.
D.M.

espresso

dennis_the_menace wrote: »

The Two Options are to either Re site the Gas Meter to another outside Location, or have the Service relaid in Steel. Both Chargeable Jobs.

Surely if it is a plastic pipe within the garage, it simply need protecting from fire rather than replacing or relocating at a much greater expense!

Garz

Gas, or should I say H&S regulations do not care about the practicality or the cost im afraid. Like Dennis has put it, its common and frowned upon with a cloud of grey area for responsibility. The worst case scenario is your insurance might not be liable if the freak incident should occur.

jollyanna

Thanks for this information guys. I'm perplexed that this potential danger wasn't drawn to my attention at the time of purchase. How would the owners who constructed the garage in 1989 have got consent to build over the supply pipe?. Incidentally, I know the people who built it on but they are now elderly and I don't want to go asking questions for fear of causing them concern. How did I manage to get a mortgage and buildings insurance if it is dangerous? Anyone know?

jollyanna

Good point Al.

dennis_the_menace_2

Al_Mac wrote: »

Gas companies change the rules every thirty seconds. All of which involve telling the customer they aren't safe and need to spend money.



Frightening, but as the valve is after the breach, it wouldn't do any good switching it off. Or have I missed something?

No That is exactly my Point. The Gas would Continue to Escape either Lit or Unlit until a N/G Emergency Team Dug Down on the Service Pipe and Squeezed it Off. as there aren't any Valves on the Outside of Domestic Premises!