Gas install regs

[Vijay]

Morning,

 

Has anyone ever come across any official new gas install rules and regs? I'm having an absolute headache with the gas companies who've gone from telling me it's no problem, to there's no gas line to my serviced plot, to now there's a gas line but you might need an upgrade. Finally on Friday I spoke to a lady in British Gas who has pushed things forward for me and got an engineer to call me and is coming to site this week. He was very friendly and helpful on the phone but when I asked him if there were any documents he could send me or give me a link to, he said it's what he knows from working in the field for 20 years.

 

One guy told me I would need to upgrade from a U6 meter to a U16 because it's a large house - but that can't be right as it's got to be down to how much equipment you run on gas surely. I'm hoping my new home will use a hell of a lot less than my current house due to insulation and build.

 

Next guy told me I would need the upgrade if it's over 23m from the mains gas line to the meter as the max output of a U6 meter is 60KW and would loose pressure over 23m.

 

Could anyone shine any light on this as I don't want to be "sold" an upgraded meter if I don't need it. I only plan to have a gas boiler (which is there for a backup really) and hob will be induction.

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

[PeterW]

Have you used the estimating tool on the website ..?

 

BG can’t install infrastructure so you need  that sorting first. From the sounds of it your neighbours had a 63mm lateral main fitted and you’re now at the mercy of its capacity. 

 

Do  you really need gas ...??

[Vijay]

Morning Peter,

 

I wasn't aware of one but just Googled it - did you mean this? https://www.britishgas.co.uk/consumption-calculator.html

 

That's been half the problem, BG have bounced it to Fulcum who deal with the install who tell me there's no gas pipe (even though BG paid them to do it and it is there). Fulcrum then bounce it back to BG - and there's my continuous circle

 

I believe there is a 63mm pipe which I have been told would be a mains gas line (paid for by the developer). That is then branched off to the 4 plots and that's the connection I'm trying to deal with.

 

Maybe not but I would like to get ducting in place in case I do, which as I said would only be for a combi boiler. I think it makes sense at this point to install ducting cos I wouldn't want to pull up the drive

[PeterW]

Are you subbing to Fulcrum for everything then ..?? They are a multi utility service provider. 

 

This is the link to the connection calculator - should show all the pipes nearby. 

 

https://nggasb2c.natgrid.co.uk/ngcpt-service/index.html#/b2c/connection/theproperty

 

hmm just checked and Cadent don’t do your area but there is a supply address listed as Plots 1-4 r/o etc etc

Edited October 1, 2017 by PeterW
Added info

[Vijay]

No, BG subbed it out to Fulcrum.

 

Yep, that's exactly what I found when I looked at the calculator.  Plot 3 is mine in the 1-4...... 

[Nickfromwales]

I have just had a chip shop, and two flats with 24kw combis connected by our local gas transporters WWU. 

They came out and surveyed and the guy shook his head gently......."oh, that's a 2" galv pipe mate, were going to have to dig the road up as the main is in the opposite pavement".

 

Ok.?

 

Full road closure booked for a Sunday as the shop traded on Saturday and the guys ( all two of them ) duly arrive at 8:00. They go over the road and find the pipe the other side of the road, which is 32mm . They then tell me the screwed galv pipe was cut off and used as a conduit with a 32mm mdpe pushed down it to upgrade yesteryear.

 

Again, ok. ?

 

So so they make a 63mm manifold feeding a new u16 for the chip shop on 63mm pipework, and 2 x 25mm branches coming off it going to 2x u6 domestic metres for the flats. 

I ask,  bearing in mind they've charged £1800 for the roadworks and manifold ( but could not charge any more for the pipe replacement as it's their responsibility to upgrade steel pipe for free under current legislation ),  when are they going to dig the road up and hook up the new 63mm pipe? They say "no need, we'll just hook the new 63mm emergency tap in the pavement to the 32mm and it'll be fine". Wtf. 

 

New manifold with the 63mm red handled isolation. 

 

Teed off for 2x u6's

 

New 63mm EGC in the pavement 

 

And a bloody 32x63mm reducer back to front. 

 

 

One rule for them and another for the payment line ??

 

 

[SteamyTea]

Should have put an electric range in, much more reliable.

I know of one for sale

[Temp]

Dual fuel cooker works well for us. Electric oven and LPG hob. A 47kg cylinder is expensive per kWH but the absolute cost is low because a cylinder lasts us at least 18 months. 

[Nickfromwales]

5 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

Should have put an electric range in, much more reliable.

I know of one for sale

Existing gas ranges . Meter was in the basement and had to be relocated, plus adding the 2 u6's meant the above shake up. Big hoo-haa which resulted in just adding unnecessary cost .