What is a black pipe BS1972 we have found 4 inches below ground in our garden?

[happle26]

Hi,
Please could someone provide any advice on what a black pipe with Tenaplas Ltd BS1972 on it, could be? Do you think it is a water pipe, rather than any other utilities? (e.g. telephone, electricity, etc...)
We have found it 4in below our garden (we haven't unearthed all of it yet), so don't know where it starts or ends....who can we contact to obtain information on what this is for, is it still in use, and how can we move it?
Hope this all makes sense - I have posted a photo of it, in case this helps identify it.
Thank you for any advice anyone can give.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Could be elec

Garden shed outside lights?

 

[happle26]

Could be elec

Garden shed outside lights?

thank you for your quick reply.....I really don't know - we moved into the house 2 years ago and am not aware of any electrics going outside...we want to build an extension - hence why we have started to clear the ground.
I've put in a request to SEB to take a look as well. When I have googled BS1972 I see lots about it being a water pipe - so thats why I thought maybe someone on here may have seen this before.
Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Rob Foster]

Hi,
Please could someone provide any advice on what a black pipe with Tenaplas Ltd BS1972 on it, could be? Do you think it is a water pipe, rather than any other utilities? (e.g. telephone, electricity, etc...)
We have found it 4in below our garden (we haven't unearthed all of it yet), so don't know where it starts or ends....who can we contact to obtain information on what this is for, is it still in use, and how can we move it?
Hope this all makes sense - I have posted a photo of it, in case this helps identify it.
Thank you for any advice anyone can give.
View attachment 39138
View attachment 39139

You were quite right to contact
UKPF we always try to help
This is probably not a water or gas pipe. I would lift the exposed section higher and see if you can make it break, it might be brittle. turn you lecky off and break into it. In situations like this I would just turn lecky off and then set fire to it and see what happens
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

 

[firemant]

Quick Google says:

BS. 1972 is for above ground or pipe and cold services.

 

[happle26]

Quick Google says:

BS. 1972 is for above ground or pipe and cold services.

Thank you - yes that is what I have found...

"BS 1972: Polythene pipe (Type 32) for above ground use for cold water services"

"This pipe is coloured black for above ground use only and conforms to imperial sizes. The standard has effectively been replaced by BS 6730 and may be withdrawn"

Well this definitely wasn't above ground - or at least it isn't now...it may have started it's life as above ground and someone thought it would be useful to bury it??

Who would manage 'cold water services'?

 

[happle26]

You were quite right to contact
UKPF we always try to help
This is probably not a water or gas pipe. I would lift the exposed section higher and see if you can make it break, it might be brittle. turn you lecky off and break into it. In situations like this I would just turn lecky off and then set fire to it and see what happens
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

Thanks for your advice - I'm not sure I feel comfortable enough to just turn the electrics off,break it and set fire to it and see what happens - but thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Burger]

Hello happle26,

This is what I have found:
Alkathene Pipe Fittings | Information Page | Stevenson Plumbing & Electrical Supplies

It could be an old service that has been left, it could still be a live service. Cold water services are managed by plumbers and local water undertakers. Are you able to trace it to anywhere? Outside wc perhaps, or see what pipe your incoming mains water is piped up in?

 

[happle26]

Hello happle26,

This is what I have found:
Alkathene Pipe Fittings | Information Page | Stevenson Plumbing & Electrical Supplies

It could be an old service that has been left, it could still be a live service. Cold water services are managed by plumbers and local water undertakers. Are you able to trace it to anywhere? Outside wc perhaps, or see what pipe your incoming mains water is piped up in?

Thanks - am just about to go out and brave the rain for a bit and try and trace it out a bit more....am hoping that I'll come to a deadend where it has been cut at some point and just left in the ground....fingers crossed, will let you all know if I find anything else

 

[Stigster]

I'm fairly certain it's what's called Black Alkathene which is marked with that standard. It was used a lot for water services where I am and also commonly used to sleeve sections of underground oil lines too.

 

[Murdoch]

What is in either direction of the ends ?

Going back in time people thought it was a good idea to use such pipes to run twin and earth in!

 

[Best]

I'm fairly certain it's what's called Black Alkathene which is marked with that standard. It was used a lot for water services where I am and also commonly used to sleeve sections of underground oil lines too.

That is also what I was thinking.
The 3/8” black alkathene was perfect for sleeving 10mm copper oil lines

 

[chris watkins]

How old is the house ?
Approx what direction is the pipe running i.e. to or from the house ?

At that sort of depth it is unlikely to be mains water as it would be subject to freezing.

Could be an old temporary supply for the building site is house in not that old.

 

[firemant]

You were quite right to contact
UKPF we always try to help
This is probably not a water or gas pipe. I would lift the exposed section higher and see if you can make it break, it might be brittle. turn you lecky off and break into it. In situations like this I would just turn lecky off and then set fire to it and see what happens
Rob Foster aka centralheatking

Are you actually serious ?- you didn't add a smiley

 

[happle26]

Hi,
Please could someone provide any advice on what a black pipe with Tenaplas Ltd BS1972 on it, could be? Do you think it is a water pipe, rather than any other utilities? (e.g. telephone, electricity, etc...)
We have found it 4in below our garden (we haven't unearthed all of it yet), so don't know where it starts or ends....who can we contact to obtain information on what this is for, is it still in use, and how can we move it?
Hope this all makes sense - I have posted a photo of it, in case this helps identify it.
Thank you for any advice anyone can give.
View attachment 39138
View attachment 39139

So I tried to unearth some more but it just kept going so I called the SEB to say we had found this pipe/cable after digging. The lady then went into panic mode and said that she was treating it as a damaged electrical cable and would send an engineer this afternoon and to ensure that everyone stays more than 5m from it!! (I suppose better to be safe than sorry). Anyway a lovely man came out and as soon as he looked at it, he said that is not one of ours. He also put a CAT over it and confirmed there are no electric cables nearby for us to worry about. He has suggested it was an old water pipe that is probably not used anymore (which I know others have suggested), he has also suggested that we just cut a hole in the top so we can see. So think that will be our next step - hopefully it is redundant and we can ignor/remove it and continue with our building work.

Will let you all know once we’ve cut into it.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice.

 

[happle26]

How old is the house ?
Approx what direction is the pipe running i.e. to or from the house ?

At that sort of depth it is unlikely to be mains water as it would be subject to freezing.

Could be an old temporary supply for the building site is house in not that old.

Our house is around 1950’s but we think the strip of land that the pipe is on, didn’t use to be part of the land of the house and maybe was used when they built the 30 odd house down the road that runs the other side of our house...so maybe? Hoping it is an old disused pipe/cable. Will cut a hole to see

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Get a alk cap end ready just incase

 

[chris watkins]

Our house is around 1950’s but we think the strip of land that the pipe is on, didn’t use to be part of the land of the house and maybe was used when they built the 30 odd house down the road that runs the other side of our house...so maybe? Hoping it is an old disused pipe/cable. Will cut a hole to see

If it doesn't look like it is running to/from your house then chances are it is an old temporary water supply. If it was a live mains supply it should be a minimum of 750mm below ground for frost protection.

 

[chris watkins]

Get a alk cap end ready just incase

If it is under pressure you won't get the cap on.
I would nick the top of the pipe with a hacksaw but after you have put a jubilee clip loosely on the pipe close by & find a piece of rubber such as bike inner tube to slide under it if water comes out. Then tighten it down onto the cut to stop the flow.
or buy one of these - Universal Pipe Clamp - 10487 - Leak Repair Kits | BES.co.uk

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If it is under pressure you won't get the cap on.
I would nick the top of the pipe with a hacksaw but after you have put a jubilee clip loosely on the pipe close by & find a piece of rubber such as bike inner tube to slide under it if water comes out. Then tighten it down onto the cut to stop the flow.
or buy one of these - Universal Pipe Clamp - 10487 - Leak Repair Kits | BES.co.uk

Depends on the pressure

 

[chris watkins]

Depends on the pressure

Depends on how strong your arms are but nick & clip with rubber wins ever time (& nothing sexual about that just read my previous post)

 

[Frankie]

This is ALKATHENE pipe for cold water . I have this pipe half inch for my water supply . Being imperial size and plastic. What could be used for a stop valve on it. It is easy accessible under my foundation.