Domestic installation in a commercial property

[Matthew Score]

Hi,

I have been a gas engineer since 2003 but I have been off the tools in management since 2010 so a little rusty with changers to the regs.

I have a situation for the company I work for which is as follows:

The building is classed as a commercial property, it has 3 combi boilers installed all fed from there own u6 meter and individual gas supplies.

Our usual heating contractor says he can't swap them as they are classified as commercial and they only have domestic engineers.

My understanding was the switch between domestic and commercial was to do with system volume, anything greater than 0.035m3 is commercial anything less domestic.

It just seems strange a company would turn work away.

I have my ACOPS renewal later in the year, which will be difficult as I have managed a gas contract for over 3 years just domestic repairs

 

[ShaunCorbs]

whats the building?

 

[Matthew Score]

whats the building?

It's our head office, it's a very large old house that has a boiler on each floor that provides the heating and hot water on each floor, 3 x 28kw Baxi Duo Tecs

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Dom only required as there fed by a u6 meter so

If they were working supply / fed side com

 

[Harvest Fields]

Does each meter have it’s on gas inlet pipe or are they linked?

 

[Matthew Score]

Does each meter have it’s on gas inlet pipe or are they linked?

Each meter has its own supply?

That's why I am totally confused, also the guy I work with has just redone his ACOPS and he agrees that a commercial engineer is required.

Going to ring gas safe tomorrow.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

ask him why he thinks that?

if they have there own supply defo dom

sorry i through you meant they were fed off a bigger meter eg u40

 

[Matthew Score]

ask him why he thinks that?

if they have there own supply defo dom

sorry i through you meant they were fed off a bigger meter eg u40

He says there was a question similar in his test which he got wrong on his first go at the question, he says he doesn't agree but that's what he was told, when he questioned it.

It doesn't make sense at all as the regulations only talk about system volume as far as I can see.

He also said it's the same if a boiler is classed as commercial by the manufacturer.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Yes if manufacturering classes as com the needs com engy

 

[Last Plumber]

IGEM/UP/1B
Tightness testing and direct purging of small Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Air, Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas installations
This Standard covers tightness testing and direct purging of pipework containing either LPG/Air, NG or LPG and applies to any section of pipework, including meters, having the following:

• MOP at the outlet of the emergency control valve not exceeding 2 bar for NG and LPG/Air and
• A nominal bore of not greater than 35 mm and
• A maximum badged capacity through the primary meter of not exceeding 16 m3 h-1 and
• A maximum installation volume supplying an individual dwelling or non domestic premises of 0.035 m3 (this volume includes the Meter)

That's the bit you're asking about I think, hope it helps!

 

[Millsy 82]

If it's a domestic meter and a domestic boiler then it's a domestic installation.

I've done many boilers in factories, offices, pubs etc I spoke to gas safe about it as we were not sure but they were happy with it.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Surely each installation falls in to domestic as there is separated gas lines and meters.
So each is a stand alone installation? Just my take.

 

[Matthew Score]

Surely each installation falls in to domestic as there is separated gas lines and meters.
So each is a stand alone installation? Just my take.

Yes each is a stand alone installation

 

[Last Plumber]

If they are independent primary meters serving domestic gas appliances and fit in with IGE/UP 1B criteria, I would say it is domestic.

 

[Aire]

Only issue I could see would be whether the contractors insurance covers them to work on commercial premises.

 

[Last Plumber]

Only issue I could see would be whether the contractors insurance covers them to work on commercial premises.

Worth checking.