Extending gas meter inlet

B

Brightonguy

Have a gas meter under the stairs. Ideally I wold like it in a cupboard in the kitchen with the combi, etc. This would mean extending the gas meter inlet about 1 to 1.5 metres. The idea is to have a the maintap in the existing location where the mains pipe enters the house, where it always has been. Extend the inlet in iron pipe, in case of fire, to the cupboard then fit another maintap at the new meter location, as per a normal gas meter fitting. The extended inlet would be very clipped.

Apart from a foot or so of mains pipe into the property, as is the case for all gas meters, all the gas pipe in the house is controlled in that all can be isolated. Also the gas meter is away from under the stairs which is a bad spot to have a gas meter in case of fire. It would save digging the ground up outside and extending the gas main pipe under the ground. From a safety point of view I can't see anything that is wrong with it. Would the Gas people allow this?

Of course qualified men would do it. I need to know for the design side of the renovation.

ta.
 
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Why is the meter any safer from a fire outside the cupboard under the stairs?

You still have to scrabble around in the cupboard to get to the ECV.
 
If there is a fire at the meter it is under the stairs preventing a quick exit. Having rigid well clipped pipes reduces the possibility.
 
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Ever seen a melted gas meter in a fire? I have. I got out enough to it. Common sense wold tell you that meter under stairs is a not a good thing. That is why you do not see them under stairs in new houses.
 
That is why you do not see them under stairs in new houses.

Is that the only reason?

Do you like having flame throwers under stairs preventing a fast exit in case of fire? :rolleyes: Do you like trapping people upstairs in case of fires?

The meter gives greater safety in a cupboard in the kitchen. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure all this out.
 
Why is the meter any safer from a fire outside the cupboard under the stairs?

You still have to scrabble around in the cupboard to get to the ECV.

There will be an ECV at the meter as well. In case of fire people do not run to the meter and turn off the gas. They run out the house ASAP. It is best not to have a flame thrower under the stairs (the meter) which can prevent a fast exit, trapping people upstairs while the flames are all around. If there are flames under the stairs, the likelihood of melting an iron pipe is very slim.

That is why you do not see gas meters under stairs any longer.
 
You have not answered the question on why you don't want to have the meter relocated to OUTSIDE which is the safest place and where all new builds fit it.

It is also rather questionable if the gas transporters agree that anyone should extend the pipework BEFORE the meter as they are responsible for maintaining that pipework!

Tony
 
perfectly ok for someone with proper qualifications to do exactly what you want and additional main tap will need labeled to say where original is .

As for your thoughts on fire hazard on what is usually the only exit out of a house you are correct . And is the reason why meters should never be fitted under stairs when there is more than a 2 storeys in a house
 
perfectly ok for someone with proper qualifications to do exactly what you want and additional main tap will need labeled to say where original is .

As for your thoughts on fire hazard on what is usually the only exit out of a house you are correct . And is the reason why meters should never be fitted under stairs when there is more than a 2 storeys in a house

Thank you gas112. I was beginning to think I was the only sane person on this forum when safety came into it. The last time I saw meters fitted under stairs was in houses built around the in the 1960s. All I have seen built since have been in other locations. Are there standard labels available to hang on the secondary maintap? Or juts a one printed out on a computer and in say in a plastic cover?

Mr Agile, having the meter outside of the house is not an option.
 
Gas112, I was wondering and I not going to do this as my house is not being converted into flats. It is permissible to extend a gas meter inlet and put the meter in another location using two maintaps. In a situation where a house is being converted into two flats, is it permissible to tee off the extended pipe and rise to a flat above and fix a credit meter position in the new upper floor flat? Of course the pipe would rise in a fireproof duct sealed running the floorspace. This would prevent having all those ugly iron gas pipes you see on the sides of buildings.

ta.
 

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