1canhelp, can you tell me where it states that you CAN use 6mm2 earth on a gas installation please. i would like to forward that onto my assessor. obviously you know everything about everything so this shouldnt be too hard for you.
from a foot pump it shoulnt take many pumps to get the vessell up to 1 bar from flat, so its either your vessell or your pump which is knackard, if you completely remove the vessell and then pump it you will soon see.
If you have tried recharging with a foot pump and not building any pressure then the vessell is probably knackard - split balloon, yur just pumping up the complete system!
The valve in front of your cylinder is a bypass valve, its looks like your system is a 'y plan' so providing you have atleast 1 rad with no trv this should remain closed.
You may want to jump in the loft to check your f&e tank (the small one) to make sure its full, you may have a stuck ball...
Right the pump is actually under the floor boards, that picture is a bit confusing!!! on the zone valve there is a little lever on 1 side when the heating is on can you move the lever with no resistance?? (checking to see if valve is opening)
Did the system work before you carried out the work? i would twist the pump round a bit so that the pump head is horrizontal rather than vertical for a start, is that the only zone valve you have??
Is your cold feed clear?? have you vented all rads and bleed points?
Has the pic of your pump been turned or is that the orientation of the pump in your a/c