Gas meter problems

[Andy Brown]

Got a visit from my Gas provider today. Previous correspondence from him has hinted that my meter may need some modification as the gas feed goes directly into the house from the meter as opposed to coming out of the meter and then going into the house. My house was built 10 years ago and all our meters are the same on an estate with approx 500 houses. Can he cut me off if he thinks my meter does not meet current standards?

I have talked to 2 local gas fitters who think mine is OK as it has been sealed correctly when the pipe travels through the cavity. But does he have the authority to cut off my supply even though other fitters think it is probably OK.

The gas provider has used an outside gas firm to visit houses. I get the feeling that they may be in it to get extra revenue from possible additional work that they can frighten out of householders.

Can I tell him I am not having the gas switched off even if he says it should go off.

 

[emerald]

post a little picture of it, i think he can shut it off if its immediatly dangerous, but it doesnt sound like it, and like you say if all 500 houses are the same then it should probably go back to the people who built them

 

[andyg0507]

im with emrald, if its at risk/immedietly dangerous he has the power to turn it off, but if all other houses are like it cant see them doing that, they may contact the people who built the houses and make them bring them up to current standards if nessacary.

 

[JamesC]

As above.
Otherwise the only other reason it shouldn't go directly into the house off the meter is if its a medium pressure supply to the meter.
Put up a pic so we can see whats going on.

 

[Mbear]

If it's ncs only then no he can't cut ur supply, if it's At Risk then he can turn off ur supply with YOUR PERMISSION, ie if you say no then he can't turn it off. If it's classified as Immediately Dangerous then he can cap ur supply with ur permission however If u don't give permission he would then have a duty to get transco out to disconnect u from the street Gas mains at a cost to u, u would also be charged to reinstate the gas after any remedial work is carried out in this situation. This is also a very expensive option if it gets that far.

What I have written above is the correct procedure under the GSIUR unsafe situation regs.

The only anomalies come into play when different engineers class different unsafe situations as different classifications, if that makes sense. Even though we should all be classing things the same, some engineers tend to over-classify and make things to be worse than they actually are.

Hope this helps u

 

[Toddyplumb]

Sounds like medium pressure , they changed the way pipes enter the building.
So for debate if it was put in to the correct standards at the time it could be NCS. But if its changed because the previous standard has been found to be dangerous could be ID. If 500 are ID they are ID and should be capped

 

[Mbear]

Put it another way....

If the meter install is ID then it would be capped off by now, he has a responsibility to cap it there and then if it is ID. If he classed as ID and did not act accordingly then he leaves himself wide open to prosecution by the Health and safety authority.

 

[Toddyplumb]

MBear , I absolutely agree

 

[Andy Brown]

The man has been and gone. He has left us with a notice to get some work done as the gas meter is 'at risk'

We have to have the pipe redirected from the meter, out of the box and then through the wall. This can be done however in our own time.

Seems to be some fairly new rules.

 

[Toddyplumb]

Yes they are newish rules/changes . These changes are not communicated to the people on the coal face in an accountable way.
If you did your ACS 4 years ago you may not have even known about the change !
I think all changes should be notified to individual gas operatives who should have to sign to say they have read and understood the change.

 

[Mbear]

The man has been and gone. He has left us with a notice to get some work done as the gas meter is 'at risk'

We have to have the pipe redirected from the meter, out of the box and then through the wall. This can be done however in our own time.

Seems to be some fairly new rules.

Who's paying for the rework?

If I was in ur shoes I certainly wouldn't be paying for it