andrewpreece wrote:
I was wondering whether gas pipes can be run behind plasterboard
studding? I know that gas pipes penetrating a cavity wall need to be
sleeved, with one end vented, but am not aware of such a requirement
for use within studding. Of course the consequences of a gas leak
there are not so severe - a gas leak into a cavity wall could be
disastrous, whereas a gas leak into a studding wall would not cause
stuctural collapse ( if ignited ), but I thought I'd ask about any
regs/best practise,

According to Ed Sirett's FAQ
(http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html)

"Pipes may be run inside partition walls provided they are corrosion
protected with anti-corrosion tape" (although I don't know whether that
refers to stud partitions or solid brick ones? Not sure why you'd need
the tape inside a stud partition?)

It also says: "There is a stack of rules governing pipes buried in
floors, walls, ducts, passing between buildings, and between floors of
flats."

I do find this whole area very confusing - AIUI you can't run gas pipes
in enclosed spaces where a build-up of leaked gas would be very
dangerous; inside a cavity wall would be as bad an example of this as
any, as you say.

Presumably under the floorboards doesn't count as an enclosed space -
is that because any leaking gas will soon pervade the rooms and make its
presence known, rather than building up, undetected, to a dangerous
level in an otherwise sealed space? If that's the case, then providing
there's plenty of air gaps connecting the inside of the stud partition
with the ceiling void above, then *presumably* it would be OK?
I stress this is just my supposition, not an informed answer -
IANACORGI! Hopefully Ed or someone will be along shortly with a
definitive answer...

David