M
Marco
Sorry for the long post, but sods law the first gas pipe replacement I get is far from straightforward….
I went to look at a job earlier this week where the homeowner moved in a few weeks ago and wants to replace a section of sagging lead gas pipe ready for new fire in future, and cap off a 2nd fire which is not required.
I went to measure up to price the job. Now done the calcs, but there are a few issues and no sure of next steps?
There’s an R5 Meter with around 300mm of 15mm copper off then ½” lead, with T’s off to following
Currently:
4 gas appliances-
cooker – 15mm gas supply
Fire 1 – T’s off from above cooker supply in ½” lead under floor (can’t access initially) then accessible in cellar. Badly clipped and this has propted call from customer.
Fire 2 – T’s off from ½:” lead supply to Fire 1 above accessible in celar.
Condensing boiler – fitted 15mths ago with 15mm gas supply against MI’s which state 22mm min required!
Customer wants:
cooker - leave alone
Fire 1 – replace lead with copper, capped off, ready for new fire in future
Fire 2 – cap off ready to be removed
Condensing boiler – leave alone.
ie set up ready for 3 appliances for sizing puposes.
Issues:
Cooker – 16.4Kw (1.48M3/hr), equivalent length 6.6M X 3 sections - 15mm copper pipe way under sized even if no other pipe T’s off it. NCS? AR? Then price to upgradeto 22mm
Fire 1 – He wanted the lead replacing in the cellar, but pipe sizing problem above. so either a) uprate supply to cooker to 22mm, then T off to the fire in 15mm.b) uprate supply to 22mm and run separate supply to fire 1 location. Currently NCS/AR
Fire 2 – to be capped off, but currently pipe under sized. Currently NCS/AR
Condensing boiler – New owner has receipt for boiler install and wants to take up the issue with the previous fitters! Currently NCS/AR
So what do I do next?!
I’m obviously off site now but multiple NCS (at best) so should cap off meter? Do I request access to do this? Not a good start though with a new customer! Speak to Gas Safe?
Meanwhile I want to give a price for the job, but am in limbo. Can I work on a section of the installation, leaving the boiler section alone until he agrees a way forward with the previous installer?
Final question – I’ve never worked on lead gas pipe before so a bit wary if a needed to cap off or join into the lead. The Corgi book says you can’t use compression fittings designed for water weight lead pipework. Does that rule out all leadlock type fittings? What’s the difference between 6lb and 7lb ½” lead pipe? Does that just leave a lead to copper pipe soldered joint? Help!
Cheers in advance
I went to look at a job earlier this week where the homeowner moved in a few weeks ago and wants to replace a section of sagging lead gas pipe ready for new fire in future, and cap off a 2nd fire which is not required.
I went to measure up to price the job. Now done the calcs, but there are a few issues and no sure of next steps?
There’s an R5 Meter with around 300mm of 15mm copper off then ½” lead, with T’s off to following
Currently:
4 gas appliances-
cooker – 15mm gas supply
Fire 1 – T’s off from above cooker supply in ½” lead under floor (can’t access initially) then accessible in cellar. Badly clipped and this has propted call from customer.
Fire 2 – T’s off from ½:” lead supply to Fire 1 above accessible in celar.
Condensing boiler – fitted 15mths ago with 15mm gas supply against MI’s which state 22mm min required!
Customer wants:
cooker - leave alone
Fire 1 – replace lead with copper, capped off, ready for new fire in future
Fire 2 – cap off ready to be removed
Condensing boiler – leave alone.
ie set up ready for 3 appliances for sizing puposes.
Issues:
Cooker – 16.4Kw (1.48M3/hr), equivalent length 6.6M X 3 sections - 15mm copper pipe way under sized even if no other pipe T’s off it. NCS? AR? Then price to upgradeto 22mm
Fire 1 – He wanted the lead replacing in the cellar, but pipe sizing problem above. so either a) uprate supply to cooker to 22mm, then T off to the fire in 15mm.b) uprate supply to 22mm and run separate supply to fire 1 location. Currently NCS/AR
Fire 2 – to be capped off, but currently pipe under sized. Currently NCS/AR
Condensing boiler – New owner has receipt for boiler install and wants to take up the issue with the previous fitters! Currently NCS/AR
So what do I do next?!
I’m obviously off site now but multiple NCS (at best) so should cap off meter? Do I request access to do this? Not a good start though with a new customer! Speak to Gas Safe?
Meanwhile I want to give a price for the job, but am in limbo. Can I work on a section of the installation, leaving the boiler section alone until he agrees a way forward with the previous installer?
Final question – I’ve never worked on lead gas pipe before so a bit wary if a needed to cap off or join into the lead. The Corgi book says you can’t use compression fittings designed for water weight lead pipework. Does that rule out all leadlock type fittings? What’s the difference between 6lb and 7lb ½” lead pipe? Does that just leave a lead to copper pipe soldered joint? Help!
Cheers in advance