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A domestic Gas Standard pre-payment Meter was exchanged for a Gas Smart Meter (SM) and then connected to the pre-existing pliable/semi-rigid/anacondas.
I believe this is illegal and breaks laws and regulations when this was done on 30 March 2017.
But my Utility company who had the Gas SM installed state that the:-
“the pipework did not need to be changed at the point of installation of the gas SMART meter and that the attending engineer completed the work in a compliant manner”. (FULL Response at end)
This came to my attention when later I had a gas leak from the Gas Smart Meter.
So Emergency (Cadent) called who made safe and stated in Notice that “Gas leak from corroded stainless steel anaconda flexible pipe after meter”.
1-Gas SM BEFORE - Exchanged Standard Meter to SM.jpeg
2-Gas SM AFTER - Changed Outlet Flexi to Rigid pipe.jpeg
1. 2.
I believe how the Gas SM was originally fitted is Not Compliant to laws and regulations.
Who is right - me or the Utility company?
If I am, I need your help in how to say to them what laws and regulations have been broken by them fitting the Gas SM as they did.
From what I have found from different forums and as I can not access website gas safe register, when a Gas meter is EXCHANGED - not Temporarily Removed and Refitted or Repositioned or Relocated - if two anacondas exist, then the Outlet one has to be replaced by a Fixed pipe.
(1) Legal requirements
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR)
- Any other Laws?
(2) National Standards
- BS 6400-1:2016
- Technical Bulletin TB 084 : The prohibition of two pliable connectors on a domestic gas meter installation
- Any other Standards?
Found this quoted in a forum, but there may be an updated one for 30 March 2017:-
TB084 22/09/10 states "The requirements of Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure(GIUSP)
Where an existing meter installation is encountered with two pliable connections fitted, the installation should be classified as "Not to Current Standards" (NCS) in accordance with the procedure detailed in the current GIUSP (TB001). The Gas user/responsible person should be advised to contact their gas supplier in order to rectify the matter."
In my case, is not the installer the gas supplier?
(3)Operational / Management / Codes
Ofgen, SMICoP, MAMCoP
Is not an Ofgem Approved Meter Installer (OAMI), who is working on behalf of a meter asset manager (MAM), required to renew the outlet with rigid pipework if they do a meter exchange?
- Any other Codes?
Has the Utility company broken the law?
Or is what they did just NCS or AR?
Or should I just stop complaining?
I hope advice can be given to me as I believe the Utility company’s work put lives at risk - I thank you in advance, Ines.
Utility Company Response in Full:-
“Your complaint is in relation to the gas meter pipework. I have been in contact with the Compliance Manager of the installing company regarding the original installation appointment. The Compliance Manager has confirmed that the pipework did not need to be changed at the point of installation of the gas and electricity SMART meters and that the attending engineer completed the work in a compliant manner.
I appreciate you having provided a report from a British Gas engineer, however this report is inconclusive to the nature of this facet of your complaint. Furthermore, I am unable to comment on any conversations you have had with an engineer with whom we have no affiliation. Therefore, based on this information, this facet of the complaint will not be upheld.”
I believe this is illegal and breaks laws and regulations when this was done on 30 March 2017.
But my Utility company who had the Gas SM installed state that the:-
“the pipework did not need to be changed at the point of installation of the gas SMART meter and that the attending engineer completed the work in a compliant manner”. (FULL Response at end)
This came to my attention when later I had a gas leak from the Gas Smart Meter.
So Emergency (Cadent) called who made safe and stated in Notice that “Gas leak from corroded stainless steel anaconda flexible pipe after meter”.
1-Gas SM BEFORE - Exchanged Standard Meter to SM.jpeg
2-Gas SM AFTER - Changed Outlet Flexi to Rigid pipe.jpeg
1. 2.
I believe how the Gas SM was originally fitted is Not Compliant to laws and regulations.
Who is right - me or the Utility company?
If I am, I need your help in how to say to them what laws and regulations have been broken by them fitting the Gas SM as they did.
From what I have found from different forums and as I can not access website gas safe register, when a Gas meter is EXCHANGED - not Temporarily Removed and Refitted or Repositioned or Relocated - if two anacondas exist, then the Outlet one has to be replaced by a Fixed pipe.
(1) Legal requirements
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR)
- Any other Laws?
(2) National Standards
- BS 6400-1:2016
- Technical Bulletin TB 084 : The prohibition of two pliable connectors on a domestic gas meter installation
- Any other Standards?
Found this quoted in a forum, but there may be an updated one for 30 March 2017:-
TB084 22/09/10 states "The requirements of Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure(GIUSP)
Where an existing meter installation is encountered with two pliable connections fitted, the installation should be classified as "Not to Current Standards" (NCS) in accordance with the procedure detailed in the current GIUSP (TB001). The Gas user/responsible person should be advised to contact their gas supplier in order to rectify the matter."
In my case, is not the installer the gas supplier?
(3)Operational / Management / Codes
Ofgen, SMICoP, MAMCoP
Is not an Ofgem Approved Meter Installer (OAMI), who is working on behalf of a meter asset manager (MAM), required to renew the outlet with rigid pipework if they do a meter exchange?
- Any other Codes?
Has the Utility company broken the law?
Or is what they did just NCS or AR?
Or should I just stop complaining?
I hope advice can be given to me as I believe the Utility company’s work put lives at risk - I thank you in advance, Ines.
Utility Company Response in Full:-
“Your complaint is in relation to the gas meter pipework. I have been in contact with the Compliance Manager of the installing company regarding the original installation appointment. The Compliance Manager has confirmed that the pipework did not need to be changed at the point of installation of the gas and electricity SMART meters and that the attending engineer completed the work in a compliant manner.
I appreciate you having provided a report from a British Gas engineer, however this report is inconclusive to the nature of this facet of your complaint. Furthermore, I am unable to comment on any conversations you have had with an engineer with whom we have no affiliation. Therefore, based on this information, this facet of the complaint will not be upheld.”