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Chris
 
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Default Gas meter regulations

I wonder whether anyone here knows about the requirements for the
position of domestic gas meters. I have a meter on the outside of my
(ex) garage wall. In 1989, the previous owner of the house built a
lean-to shed against the garage, enclosing the gas meter. At the same
time, the garage was coverted into a living room.

Recently, Transco came to change the gas meter because the previous
meter, though only a few years old, was being recalled. The Transco
person said that there were two issues:

1. He could not see that the electricity consumer unit was earthed to
the pipe from the gas meter. I know the earth connection is there but
it is on the other side of the wall, behind plasterboard.

2. He said that the gas meter should be moved outside the shed. The
plastic gas service pipe enters the shed under a concrete floor, then
rises about two feet to the meter on the wall.

Are there specific legal requirements for either of these features? I
have tried searching on the internet but can't find anything directly
referring to them.

I'd appreciate any help or pointers to relevant information.

Thanks, Chris
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Ed Sirett
 
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Default

On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 03:56:55 -0800, Chris wrote:

I wonder whether anyone here knows about the requirements for the
position of domestic gas meters. I have a meter on the outside of my
(ex) garage wall. In 1989, the previous owner of the house built a
lean-to shed against the garage, enclosing the gas meter. At the same
time, the garage was coverted into a living room.

Recently, Transco came to change the gas meter because the previous
meter, though only a few years old, was being recalled. The Transco
person said that there were two issues:

1. He could not see that the electricity consumer unit was earthed to
the pipe from the gas meter. I know the earth connection is there but
it is on the other side of the wall, behind plasterboard.


Electrical cross bonding is necessary. By the book he could draw up a
notice informing you of the need to have it checked/installed. The
connection should be made within the first 60cm of the gas pipework on the
outlet side.
If it is to standard that's the end of the matter.


2. He said that the gas meter should be moved outside the shed. The
plastic gas service pipe enters the shed under a concrete floor, then
rises about two feet to the meter on the wall.


The meter was installed outside it's now inside. The plastic pipe might
add to a fire in the shed (and the gas inside even more so!). I'm unsure
as to who would be responsible Most likely the freeholder rather than
Transco.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html


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IMM
 
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Default


"Ed Sirett" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 03:56:55 -0800, Chris wrote:

I wonder whether anyone here knows about the requirements for the
position of domestic gas meters. I have a meter on the outside of my
(ex) garage wall. In 1989, the previous owner of the house built a
lean-to shed against the garage, enclosing the gas meter. At the same
time, the garage was coverted into a living room.

Recently, Transco came to change the gas meter because the previous
meter, though only a few years old, was being recalled. The Transco
person said that there were two issues:

1. He could not see that the electricity consumer unit was earthed to
the pipe from the gas meter. I know the earth connection is there but
it is on the other side of the wall, behind plasterboard.


Electrical cross bonding is necessary. By the book he could draw up a
notice informing you of the need to have it checked/installed. The
connection should be made within the first 60cm of the gas pipework on the
outlet side.
If it is to standard that's the end of the matter.


2. He said that the gas meter should be moved outside the shed. The
plastic gas service pipe enters the shed under a concrete floor, then
rises about two feet to the meter on the wall.


The meter was installed outside it's now inside. The plastic pipe might
add to a fire in the shed (and the gas inside even more so!). I'm unsure
as to who would be responsible Most likely the freeholder rather than
Transco.


They may accept a removeable metal 3 sided trunking over the gas main pipe
up to the meter, open at the top when entering the meter cupboard, and the a
cupboard around the meter with a self closing door (sping on door).

Then the plastic main and meter are protected.



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Dave Stanton
 
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1. He could not see that the electricity consumer unit was earthed to the
pipe from the gas meter. I know the earth connection is there but it is on
the other side of the wall, behind plasterboard.


Thanks, Chris



Its called bonding and the gas supply pipe directly after the meter is
bonded to the consumer earth point, not the other way around. I believe it
is requirment that the connection is visible and marked as a safety earth.

HTH

Dave
--

Some people use windows, others have a life.

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Peter
 
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"Dave Stanton" wrote in message
news

1. He could not see that the electricity consumer unit was earthed to

the
pipe from the gas meter. I know the earth connection is there but it is

on
the other side of the wall, behind plasterboard.


Thanks, Chris



Its called bonding and the gas supply pipe directly after the meter is
bonded to the consumer earth point, not the other way around. I believe it
is requirment that the connection is visible and marked as a safety earth.


The cable is marked then as to which way round it goes ? only conducts one
way like a diode ?




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MikeS
 
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"Peter" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stanton" wrote in message
news

1. He could not see that the electricity consumer unit was earthed to

the
pipe from the gas meter. I know the earth connection is there but it is

on
the other side of the wall, behind plasterboard.


Thanks, Chris



Its called bonding and the gas supply pipe directly after the meter is
bonded to the consumer earth point, not the other way around. I believe
it
is requirment that the connection is visible and marked as a safety
earth.


The cable is marked then as to which way round it goes ? only conducts
one
way like a diode ?

Peter,


Where did you get this information and where can one purchase one way
continuity wire?!! I thought a diode is the component that rectifies
electricity not the cable and why is it necessary to rectify the earth
continuity? Also if the gas inspector wanted to know if the meter was wire
for earth continuity could he test it with a meter?

MikeS


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Bob Eager
 
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Default

On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 19:00:49 UTC, "Peter"
wrote:

Its called bonding and the gas supply pipe directly after the meter is
bonded to the consumer earth point, not the other way around. I believe it
is requirment that the connection is visible and marked as a safety earth.


The cable is marked then as to which way round it goes ? only conducts one
way like a diode ?


The point is...the gas pipe has to be bonded to the installation earth.
i.e. the gas pipe is bonded to the consumer earth point.

This is completely different to the situation where the entire
installation is earthed via the gas pipe (which is not allowed, anyway).

That's what he meant by 'the other way around'.

--
Bob Eager
begin a new life...dump Windows!
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Dave Stanton
 
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The point is...the gas pipe has to be bonded to the installation earth.
i.e. the gas pipe is bonded to the consumer earth point.

This is completely different to the situation where the entire
installation is earthed via the gas pipe (which is not allowed, anyway).

That's what he meant by 'the other way around'.


Thanks Bob

Dave

--

Some people use windows, others have a life.

  #10   Report Post  
Andy Wade
 
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Default

MikeS wrote:

[...] and where can one purchase one way continuity wire?!!


Any hi-fi shop, surely? :-0)

--
Andy


  #11   Report Post  
Chris
 
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Default

Thanks for this suggestion and thanks to everyone else who helped.
I'll keep searching for any regulations specific to this.
Chris
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Junior Member
 
Posts: 10
Default

Right-e-ho.

If your meter is bonded per the IEE regs and tested dont worry.

Plastic gas service pipes are not permitted inside a building.
Transco DO NOT enforce this but are obliged to make you aware that the service/meter needs relocating.

It is a contravention of building and fire regulations.

Ring Transco or your gas supplier and reuqest a "gas service alteration pack"
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