New boiler and high pressure cylinder installed a couple of years back. Both are installed on the gable end vertically in line with the meter housed under the stairs on the ground floor - so pretty much centre of the gable end. The gas pipe between the meter and boiler was routed on the outside wall - not a pretty sight! We are now building a single storey side extension meaning the gas pipe is slap bang in the way.
There seems to be two solutions:
1. NationalGrid connect a new section of pipe to the current outside wall, so it sits inside the new garage section of the extension and within 2m of the front wall (per the guidance), One postcode digit means that rather than a £500 quote for NationalGrid (used to be Transco) to connect under 2m of new pipe (that's without the separate cost of Corgi chap to move and connect meter + run new pipe to boiler), my apparent 'London' area increases the quote to £1500. If I lived 5 miles in the other direction I would 'save' £1k. NationalGrid no longer offer any discount for those self-excavating to make the job easier/quicker/cheaper, despite we have already exposed the pipe and excavated the mere 500mm to the wall where the meter could be placed.
2. duct/box in the gas pipe in it's current location and up/out of what will be the new tiled roof.
So my question is whether it's really viable to run a gas pipe out through the roof of our single storey extension where it will continue up alongside the outside wall to the loft. This option would certainly involve less bends in the pipe, whereas option 1 would probably mean upsizing because of the number of detours to get to the loft. Does a 'flashing' product exist that would enable us to run such a small diameter pipe through a rooftile and not breach the water tightness of the property? Not an ideal solution, but heck £1500 for 2 metres of pipe and an elbow bend!
As an aside the small section of existing pipe in the ground that we have uncovered looks as rotten as a pear. I imagine it's steel (property was built in 1965)? Would NG have a responsibility to change the pipe anyway if it is indeed 'unsafe'? Given the new extension will be sitting over the top of this supply pipe doesn't fill me with much confidence. Is it usual practice to replace pipe in the ground if it's going to be under a new extension?
Any suggestions most welcome. Thank you.
There seems to be two solutions:
1. NationalGrid connect a new section of pipe to the current outside wall, so it sits inside the new garage section of the extension and within 2m of the front wall (per the guidance), One postcode digit means that rather than a £500 quote for NationalGrid (used to be Transco) to connect under 2m of new pipe (that's without the separate cost of Corgi chap to move and connect meter + run new pipe to boiler), my apparent 'London' area increases the quote to £1500. If I lived 5 miles in the other direction I would 'save' £1k. NationalGrid no longer offer any discount for those self-excavating to make the job easier/quicker/cheaper, despite we have already exposed the pipe and excavated the mere 500mm to the wall where the meter could be placed.
2. duct/box in the gas pipe in it's current location and up/out of what will be the new tiled roof.
So my question is whether it's really viable to run a gas pipe out through the roof of our single storey extension where it will continue up alongside the outside wall to the loft. This option would certainly involve less bends in the pipe, whereas option 1 would probably mean upsizing because of the number of detours to get to the loft. Does a 'flashing' product exist that would enable us to run such a small diameter pipe through a rooftile and not breach the water tightness of the property? Not an ideal solution, but heck £1500 for 2 metres of pipe and an elbow bend!
As an aside the small section of existing pipe in the ground that we have uncovered looks as rotten as a pear. I imagine it's steel (property was built in 1965)? Would NG have a responsibility to change the pipe anyway if it is indeed 'unsafe'? Given the new extension will be sitting over the top of this supply pipe doesn't fill me with much confidence. Is it usual practice to replace pipe in the ground if it's going to be under a new extension?
Any suggestions most welcome. Thank you.
