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Emergency controls
9.
- (1) No person shall for the first time enable gas to be supplied for use in any premises unless there is provided an appropriately sited emergency control to which there is adequate access.
(2) Any person installing an emergency control shall ensure that -
(a) any key, lever or hand-wheel of the control is securely attached to the operating spindle of the control;
(b) any such key or lever is attached so that -
(i) the key or lever is parallel to the axis of the pipe in which the control is installed when the control is in the open position; and
(ii) where the key or lever is not attached so as to move only horizontally, gas cannot pass beyond the control when the key or lever has been moved as far as possible downwards;
(c) either the means of operating the key or lever is clearly and permanently marked or a notice in permanent form is prominently displayed near such means so as to indicate when the control is open and when the control is shut; and
(d) any hand-wheel indicates the direction of opening or closing of the control.
(3) Where a person installs an emergency control which is not adjacent to a primary meter, he shall immediately thereafter prominently display on or near the means of operating the control a suitably worded notice in permanent form indicating the procedure to be followed in the event of an escape of gas.
(4) Where any person first supplies gas to premises where an emergency control is installed, he shall ensure that the notice required by paragraph (3) above remains suitably worded or shall, where necessary, forthwith amend or replace that notice so as to give effect to the provisions of that paragraph.
(5) This regulation shall not apply where gas is supplied in a refillable cylinder except where two or more cylinders are connected by means of an automatic change-over device.
Maintaining electrical continuity
10.
In any case where it is necessary to prevent danger, no person shall carry out work in relation to a gas fitting without using a suitable bond to maintain electrical continuity until the work is completed and permanent electrical continuity has been restored.
PART C
METERS AND REGULATORS
Interpretation of Part C
11.
In this Part -
"meter box" means a receptacle or compartment designed and constructed to contain a meter with its associated fittings;
"meter compound" means an area or room designed and constructed to contain one or more meters with their associated fittings;
"secondary meter" means a meter, other than a primary meter, for ascertaining the quantity of gas provided by a person for use by another person.
Meters - general provisions
12.
- (1) No person shall install a meter in any premises unless the site where it is to be installed is such as to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that the means of escape from those premises in the event of fire is not adversely affected.
(2) No person shall install a meter in any premises unless it is of sound construction adequate to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that in the event of fire gas is not able to escape in hazardous quantities, save that this paragraph shall not apply to any meter installed in non-domestic premises to which gas is supplied through a readily accessible service valve.
(3) No person shall install a meter unless the installation is so placed as to ensure that there is no risk of damage to it from electrical apparatus.
(4) No person shall install a meter except in a readily accessible position for inspection and maintenance.
(5) Where a meter has bosses or side pipes attached to the meter by a soldered joint only, no person shall make rigid pipe connections to the meter.
(6) Where a person installs a meter and the pipes and other gas fittings associated with it, he shall ensure that -
(a) immediately thereafter they are adequately tested to verify that they are gas tight and examined to verify that they have been installed in accordance with these Regulations; and
(b) immediately after such testing and examination, purging is carried out throughout the meter and every other gas fitting through which gas can then flow so as to remove safely all air and gas other than the gas to be supplied.
Meter housings
13.
- (1) Where a meter is housed in a meter box or meter compound attached to or built into the external face of the outside wall of any premises, the meter box or meter compound shall be so constructed and installed that any gas escaping within the box or compound cannot enter the premises or any cavity in the wall but must disperse to the external air.
(2) No person shall knowingly store readily combustible materials in any meter box or meter compound.
(3) No person shall install a meter in a meter box provided with a lock, unless the consumer has been provided with a suitably labelled key to that lock.
(4) No person shall install a meter within a meter compound which is capable of being secured unless the consumer has been provided with a suitably labelled key for that compound.
Regulators
14.
- (1) No person shall install a primary meter or meter by pass used in connection with a primary meter unless -
(a) there is a regulator controlling the pressure of gas supplied through the meter or the by pass, as the case may be, which provides adequate automatic means for preventing the gas fittings connected to the downstream side of the regulator from being subjected to a pressure greater than that for which they were designed;
(b) where the normal pressure of the gas supply is 75 millibars or more at the inlet to the regulator, there are also adequate automatic means for preventing, in case the regulator should fail, those gas fittings from being subjected to such a greater pressure; and
(c) where the regulator contains a relief valve or liquid seal, such valve or seal is connected to a vent pipe of adequate size and so installed that it is capable of venting safely.
(2) Without prejudice to the requirements of paragraph (1), no person shall cause gas to be supplied from a gas storage vessel (other than a re-fillable cylinder or a cylinder or cartridge designed to be disposed of when empty) to any service pipework or gas fitting unless -
(a) there is a regulator installed which controls the nominal operating pressure of the gas;
(b) there is adequate automatic means for preventing the installation pipework and gas fittings downstream of the regulator from being subjected to a pressure different from that for which they were designed; and
(c) there is an adequate alternative automatic means for preventing the service pipework from being subjected to a greater pressure than that for which it was designed should the regulator referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above fail.
(3) No person shall cause gas to be supplied through an installation consisting of one or more re-fillable cylinders unless the supply of gas passes through a regulator which controls the nominal operating pressure of the gas.
(4) Without prejudice to paragraph (3) above, no person shall cause gas to be supplied through an installation consisting of four or more re-fillable cylinders connected to an automatic change-over device unless there is an adequate alternative means for preventing the installation pipework and any gas fitting downstream of the regulator from being subjected to a greater pressure than that for which it was designed should the regulator fail.
(5) Where a person installs a regulator for controlling the pressure of gas through a primary meter, a meter by pass used in connection with a primary meter or from a gas storage vessel, or installs a gas appliance itself fitted with a regulator for controlling the pressure of gas to that appliance, he shall immediately thereafter ensure, in either case, that the regulator is adequately sealed so as to prevent its setting from being interfered with without breaking of the seal.
(6) In relation to -
(a) gas from a distribution main, no person except the transporter or a person authorised to act on his behalf;
(b) gas from a gas storage vessel, no person except the supplier or a person authorised to act on his behalf,
shall break a seal applied under paragraph (5) above other than a seal applied to a regulator for controlling the pressure of gas to the appliance to which that regulator is fitted.
(7) A person who breaks a seal applied under paragraph (5) shall apply as soon as is practicable a new seal which is adequate to prevent the setting of the regulator from being interfered with without breaking such seal.
Meters - emergency notices
15.
- (1) No person shall supply gas through a primary meter installed after the coming into force of these Regulations or for the first time supply gas through an existing primary meter after the coming into force of these Regulations unless he ensures that a suitably worded notice in permanent form is prominently displayed on or near the meter indicating the procedure to be followed in the event of an escape of gas.
(2) Where a meter is installed or relocated in any premises in either case at a distance of more than 2 metres from, or out of sight of, the nearest upstream emergency control in the premises, no person shall supply or provide gas for the first time through that meter unless he ensures that a suitably worded notice in permanent form is prominently displayed on or near the meter indicating the position of that control.
Primary meters
16.
- (1) No person shall install a prepayment meter as a primary meter through which gas passes to a secondary meter.
(2) Any person -
(a) who first provides gas through any service pipe or service pipework after the coming into force of these Regulations to more than one primary meter; or
(b) who subsequently makes any modification which affects the number of primary meters so provided,
shall ensure that a notice in permanent form is prominently displayed on or near each primary meter indicating that more than one primary meter is provided with gas through that service pipe or service pipework.
(3) Where a primary meter is removed, the person who last supplied gas through the meter before removal shall -
(a) where the meter is not forthwith re-installed or replaced by another meter -
(i) close any service valve which controlled the supply of gas to that meter and did not control the supply of gas to any other primary meter; and
(ii) seal the outlet of the emergency control with an appropriate fitting; and
(iii) clearly mark any live gas pipe in the premises in which the meter was installed to the effect that the pipe contains gas; and
(b) where the meter has not been re-installed or replaced by another meter before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of removal of the meter and there is no such service valve as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)(i) above, ensure that the service pipe or service pipework for those premises is disconnected as near as is reasonably practicable to the main or storage vessel and that any part of the pipe or pipework which is not removed is sealed at both ends with the appropriate fitting.
(4) Where a person proposes to remove a primary meter he shall give sufficient notice of it to the person supplying gas through the meter to enable him to comply with paragraph (3).
Secondary meters
17.
- (1) Any person supplying or permitting the supply of gas through a primary meter to a secondary meter shall ensure that a line diagram in permanent form is prominently displayed on or near the primary meter or gas storage vessel and on or near all emergency controls connected to the primary meter showing the configuration of all meters, installation pipework and emergency controls.
(2) Any person who changes the configuration of any meter, installation pipework or emergency control so that the accuracy of the line diagram referred to in paragraph (1) is affected shall ensure that the line diagram is amended so as to show the altered configuration.
PART D
INSTALLATION PIPEWORK
Safe use of pipes
18.
- (1) No person shall install any installation pipework in any position in which it cannot be used with safety having regard to the position of other pipes, pipe supports, drains, sewers, cables, conduits and electrical apparatus and to any parts of the structure of any premises in which it is installed which might affect its safe use.
(2) Any person who connects any installation pipework to a primary meter shall, in any case where electrical equipotential bonding may be necessary, inform the responsible person that such bonding should be carried out by a competent person.
Enclosed pipes
19.
- (1) No person shall install any part of any installation pipework in a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction unless it is so constructed and installed as to be protected against failure caused by the movement of the wall, the floor or the standing as the case may be.
(2) No person shall install any installation pipework so as to pass through a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction (whether or not it contains any cavity) from one side to the other unless -
(a) any part of the pipe within such wall, floor or standing as the case may be takes the shortest practicable route; and
(b) adequate means are provided to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any escape of gas from the pipework passing through the wall, floor or standing from entering any cavity in the wall, floor or standing.
(3) No person shall, subject to paragraph (4), install any part of any installation pipework in the cavity of a cavity wall unless the pipe is to pass through the wall from one side to the other.
(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to the installation of installation pipework connected to a living flame effect gas fire provided that the pipework in the cavity is as short as is reasonably practicable, is enclosed in a gas tight sleeve and sealed at the joint at which the pipework enters the fire; and in this paragraph a "living flame effect gas fire" means a gas fire -
(a) designed to simulate the effect of a solid fuel fire;
(b) designed to operate with a fanned flue system; and
(c) installed within the inner leaf of a cavity wall.
(5) No person shall install any installation pipework or any service pipework under the foundations of a building or in the ground under the base of a wall or footings unless adequate steps are taken to prevent damage to the installation pipework or service pipework in the event of the movement of those structures or the ground.
(6) Where any installation pipework is not itself contained in a ventilated duct, no person shall install any installation pipework in any shaft, duct or void which is not adequately ventilated.
Protection of buildings
20.
No person shall install any installation pipework in a way which would impair the structure of a building or impair the fire resistance of any part of its structure.
Clogging precautions
21.
No person shall install any installation pipework in which deposition of liquid or solid matter is likely to occur unless a suitable vessel for the reception of any deposit which may form is fixed to the pipe in a conspicuous and readily accessible position and safe means are provided for the removal of the deposit.
Testing and purging of pipes
22.
- (1) Where a person carries out work in relation to any installation pipework which might affect the gastightness of any part of it, he shall immediately thereafter ensure that -
(a) that part is adequately tested to verify that it is gastight and examined to verify that it has been installed in accordance with these Regulations; and
(b) after such testing and examination, any necessary protective coating is applied to the joints of that part.
(2) Where gas is being supplied to any premises in which any installation pipework is installed and a person carries out work in relation to the pipework, he shall also ensure that
(a) immediately after complying with the provisions of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) above, purging is carried out throughout all installation pipework through which gas can then flow so as to remove safely all air and gas other than the gas to be supplied;
(b) immediately after such purging, if the pipework is not to be put into immediate use, it is sealed off at every outlet with the appropriate fitting;
(c) if such purging has been carried out through a loosened connection, the connection is retested for gastightness after it has been retightened; and
(d) every seal fitted after such purging is tested for gastightness.
(3) Where gas is not being supplied to any premises in which any installation pipework is installed -
(a) no person shall permit gas to pass into the installation pipework unless he has caused such purging, testing and other work as is specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph (2) above to be carried out;
(b) a person who provides a gas supply to those premises shall, unless he complies with sub-paragraph (a) above, ensure that the supply is sealed off with an appropriate fitting.
Marking of pipes
23.
- (1) Any person installing, elsewhere than in any premises or part of premises used only as a dwelling or for living accommodation, a part of any installation pipework which is accessible to inspection shall permanently mark that part in such a manner that it is readily recognisable as part of a pipe for conveying gas.
(2) The responsible person for the premises in which any such part is situated shall ensure that the part continues to be so recognisable so long as it is used for conveying gas.
Large consumers
24.
- (1) Where the service pipe to any building having two or more floors to which gas is supplied or (whether or not it has more than one floor) a floor having areas with a separate supply of gas has an internal diameter of 50 mm or more, no person shall install any incoming installation pipework supplying gas to any of those floors or areas, as the case may be, unless -
(a) a valve is installed in the pipe in a conspicuous and readily accessible position; and
(b) a line diagram in permanent form is attached to the building in a readily accessible position as near as practicable to -
(i) the primary meter or where there is no primary meter, the emergency control, or
(ii) the gas storage vessel,
indicating the position of all installation pipework of internal diameter of 25 mm or more, meters, emergency controls, valves and pressure test points of the gas supply systems in the building.
(2) Paragraph (1) above shall apply to service pipework as it applies to a service pipe except that reference therein to "50 mm or more" is to be reference to "30 mm or more".
(3) In paragraph (1)(b) above "pressure test point" means a gas fitting to which a pressure gauge can be connected.
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