LGSC if meter but no appliances?

[steadyon]

I was doing an inventory for a flat today. Its in an old multi-storey purpose built block. There is a gas meter installed (but facing a wall so it cannot be read), and an ECV (in the off position). There are no gas appliances.

Can anyone tell me if this installation should have a gas safety certificate. I have no way of telling if the meter itself has been capped off, and saw no signs of gas pipes with caps on them.

 

[kirkgas]

I was doing an inventory for a flat today. Its in an old multi-storey purpose built block. There is a gas meter installed (but facing a wall so it cannot be read), and an ECV (in the off position). There are no gas appliances.

Can anyone tell me if this installation should have a gas safety certificate. I have no way of telling if the meter itself has been capped off, and saw no signs of gas pipes with caps on them.

the landlord has a duty to confirm the gas pipework is safe, whether it has appliances or not, so the starting point is to find out if the supply is live, then whether there is a pipe connected to the outlet, (as there are no appliances it would be ok to cap the outlet, but i would still suggest an annual check to confirm the meter hasnt been re-connected)
a concern is the meter facing the wall with no access to read it or test it, if there are no appliances then the best option would be to get the meter removed and the supply properly capped (the gas supplier will need to do this) you then get the landlord to write to the tenant advising them he is aware the gas supply is capped and the tenant MUST inform the landlord in writing if they intend to get the supply put back on so that the landlord can arrange an annual visit to check for safety, the reality is the tenant may get a new supply and not advise him, but the landlord has invoked CYA by lettering them so if anything goes wrong the landlord is covered

 

[tamz]

Meters don't get fitted facing a wall so it cannot be read. Maybe some previous tenant has been at the fiddle?

Other than that follow Kirks advice and get it checked. It can't be a money thing as there are some doing them for about 30 bob.

 

[REDSAW]

i would a.r. the meter on the landlords cert and call the supplier.
would i be wrong?.

 

[kirkgas]

i would a.r. the meter on the landlords cert and call the supplier.
would i be wrong?.

AR is a potential for a problem what is the potential problem if no appliances connected

 

[tamz]

The only potential for a problem here is if it has an open end (not capped). ID.

Other than that, maybe AR of a row with the supplier

 

[REDSAW]

AR is a potential for a problem what is the potential problem if no appliances connected

the potential problem is that the meter is installed incorrectly (facing a wall), it is not accessible therefore and not serviceable, how do you know if the test nipple is in place when the r/person turns on supply for e.g. (thats an open end)?.
the installation does not comply with the gas safety installation and use regulation 1998
it does not need to have an appliance connected to warrant at risk, or does it kirk?.

 

[dhgas]

Are you sure that the connections on the meter are the right way round, and that the meter is not facing the wall because some tenant has decided to try and run the meter backwards. If it is turn it round the right way, cap the meter, tightness test & away you go. Inform responsible person of findings.

 

[steadyon]

Thanks to you all for the replies.

The meter is the wrong way round viewed from inside the flat. It is in a cupboard, the back of which (which the meter faces) is in MDF, and on the other side of the MDF is the communal corridor. I think that perhaps originally the meter could be read from outside the flat, but, perhaps for fire safety reasons, an attempt has been made to stop up potential fire passages from one flat to another.

I will add the concerns expressed to the inventory, draw the landlord's attention to the potential dangers and point out that they have a responsibility to ensure the installation is safe. I am not in a position to check whether or not the pipework is "live".

 

[metaldust9]

think if it was me i would cap it at the ecv and ring transco for advice,if am wrong nothing lost an ive made it safe

 

[kirkgas]

Thanks to you all for the replies.

The meter is the wrong way round viewed from inside the flat. It is in a cupboard, the back of which (which the meter faces) is in MDF, and on the other side of the MDF is the communal corridor. I think that perhaps originally the meter could be read from outside the flat, but, perhaps for fire safety reasons, an attempt has been made to stop up potential fire passages from one flat to another.

I will add the concerns expressed to the inventory, draw the landlord's attention to the potential dangers and point out that they have a responsibility to ensure the installation is safe. I am not in a position to check whether or not the pipework is "live".

haha now we are getting some useful info, back to basics then, get a gas engineer to confirm if the supply is live and/or needed, then speak to the landlord about whether he wants to get the meter removed