Our gas meter and main cut-off valve ("ECV") are in the basement, one
each side of a partition wall. Due to some building work the valve was
turned off and the meter temporarily removed. Now the Corgi plumber
says he's not allowed to put the meter back where it was before and
that it has to go next to the valve -- the reason he gives is that he
has to carry out his safety checks and this involves turning valve on/
off/etc and looking at the meter (surely this could be done by 2
people in this case?). Unfortunately this would place the meter in
the basement bedroom rather than in the utility room, which would not
be very good.

Is there any regulation which says that the meter has to be next to
the valve, as opposed to 1-2 metres away on the other side of a wall?

Vince.

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:28:00 -0800, vince.darley wrote:

Our gas meter and main cut-off valve ("ECV") are in the basement, one
each side of a partition wall. Due to some building work the valve was
turned off and the meter temporarily removed. Now the Corgi plumber says
he's not allowed to put the meter back where it was before and that it
has to go next to the valve -- the reason he gives is that he has to
carry out his safety checks and this involves turning valve on/ off/etc
and looking at the meter (surely this could be done by 2 people in this
case?). Unfortunately this would place the meter in the basement
bedroom rather than in the utility room, which would not be very good.

Is there any regulation which says that the meter has to be next to the
valve, as opposed to 1-2 metres away on the other side of a wall?

Vince.

Sure.

The meter and control valve must be next to each other.

If this means that the ECV (Emergency Cutoff Valve) is inaccessible to
the gas user than a secondary cut off valve must be provided which is
accessible, usually at the point where gas enter your flat.

If the issue is one of being able to read the meter then a secondary
meter can be installed. This does not have to have a valve, but it must
state where the main meter and valve are.


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
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