The Law and Gas installation.

[GCarnegi]

Guys,
Quick question...

I am ripping out my kitchen units at the moment, and need to get my gas hob capped off so I can continue.

I can't get a plumber for the next 3-4 days and I was wondering if I can just switch off the gas at the meter box and fit a stop end (or gas rated ball valve) on the compression elbow under the floor. Are these just standard plumbing compression fittings or are there different types for gas?

I'm competent enough with compression fittings for plumbing, but just wondered what the legality of doing that was.

I understand that its against the law for anyone trading as an employed or self employed gas installer without being Corgi registered, but is it actually against the law (Scotland) for me to do this myself, without getting a Corgi registered technician to do it? I swear it'd be no more than two minutes work - probably less.

 

[Softus]

I don't know about the law in Scotland, but in England it would be legal for you do it IF you're competent.

Have you checked to see if the hob is just connected using a hose with a bayonet fitting? If so, you can just undo it without tools, without "doing work", and without having to be competent.

 

[GCarnegi]

Cheers,
I guess the law is all about competency, and the Corgi certification is just the official way to PROVE that you're competent - right.

Scotland is usually more forgiving than England in this kind of matters - such as notification for electrical work.

The hob is fitted with a rigid copper pipe which goes down through a concrete floor to a compression elbow underneath.

 

[Agile]

I do hope that the hob is not connected with a hose!

It would be easy for the OP to do what he suggests but the danger comes because he is not trained to test for gas leaks.

If he left the emergency control at the meter OFF until the CORGI comes then that would not be a problem but he will not do that because he will want gas for water heating one assumes.

I really dont believe that all CORGIs in the area cannot spare just 30 minutes for three days!

Tony

 

[Softus]

I guess the law is all about competency, and the Corgi certification is just the official way to PROVE that you're competent - right.

Well, yes, but it's also about accountability.

I do hope that the hob is not connected with a hose!

Well I do hope you're not addressing me, since you've previously made it abundantly clear that you don't entertain gas-based discussions with non-RGIs.

It would be easy for the OP to do what he suggests but the danger comes because he is not trained to test for gas leaks.

Oh. You are.

If he left the emergency control at the meter OFF until the CORGI comes then that would not be a problem but he will not do that because he will want gas for water heating one assumes.

Only fools assume.

I really dont believe that all CORGIs in the area cannot spare just 30 minutes for three days!

In case anyone is taken in by this drivel, it couldn't possibly be a 30 minute job, since it would involve travel, capping off, testing, more travel, invoicing, banking, and accounting. And, if the soundness check revealed a problem, then more work, more reporting, and more paperwork.

 

[GCarnegi]

If I left the emergency control valve at off then what would be the point of me capping off the pipe at all?

I agree that I wouldn't have the equipment to check for leaks (apartr from my nose! and that is my main concern. Out of interest, how many fitters actually do find leaks on connections that they have just made up? Especially if the job involves only fitting a stop end to an existing compression fitting.

If it's one in ten, I'd worry, if it's one in a hundred then I'll take my chances, if it's one in a thousand then where's the risk?

Don't get me wrong, I have every respect for trained professionals, but would you take a car to a garage to have a wheelnut tightened? If your wheel came off then you could wipe out a crowd of people.

I probably could get someone if I searched further afield, but I'm also loathed to spend £50 for someone to cap it, and then another £50 for someone to reconnect it later - for a total of ten minutes in the house.

 

[Softus]

If I left the emergency control valve at off then what would be the point of me capping off the pipe at all?

Because you would have an open pipe and would be relying only on the emergency shut off, which isn't wise, and isn't legal in England and Wales.

I agree that I wouldn't have the equipment to check for leaks (apartr from my nose! and that is my main concern. Out of interest, how many fitters actually do find leaks on connections that they have just made up? Especially if the job involves only fitting a stop end to an existing compression fitting.

You're not going to find out the answer to that.

If it's one in ten, I'd worry, if it's one in a hundred then I'll take my chances, if it's one in a thousand then where's the risk?

That's an easy one - one in a thousand.

Don't get me wrong, I have every respect for trained professionals, but would you take a car to a garage to have a wheelnut tightened? If your wheel came off then you could wipe out a crowd of people.

You're heading way off track - this is about gas safety and the law, and the risks are entirely different.

I probably could get someone if I searched further afield, but I'm also loathed to spend £50 for someone to cap it, and then another £50 for someone to reconnect it later - for a total of ten minutes in the house.

A tip: don't belittle the work that's involved when you're consulting the very people who do that work for a living.

 

[denso13]

If you are competent then go ahead.

I'm competent enough with compression fittings for plumbing

Have you ever had a leak on a fitting?

I agree that I wouldn't have the equipment to check for leaks (apartr from my nose!

So how will you test it?

if it's one in a thousand then where's the risk

The risk would be that one in a thousand times you would leave a gas leak below a floor which could end in disaster for you, anyone else in the house and quite possibly neighbours as well.

 

[GCarnegi]

Yeah, scary isn't it. Maybe I should invest in a second hand gas manometer, or a can of aerosol leak spray - it's certainly cheaper than registering for Corgi every year.

Apologies, I didn't mean to belittle anyone - as I mentioned I have every respect for those who do this work for a living.

It's just that this seems to "little old me" to be a bit less of a job than replacing a central heating system - so I guess I am belittling this particular job - just like a garage mechanic might belittle tightening a wheel nut for someone - especially if they get called out to do it - but certanily not the people as they do some very important work.

I don't have any problem paying someone a reasonable sum for doing good work. I do have a problem when I don't get value for money - whether it's meals, car servicing or plumbing.


I do appreciate your help though, that as a rule, gas connections rarely - if ever - leak, assuming they're made up tight - and that it's perfectly within the law for a competent DIY'er to do it themselves.

To assume that DIY'ers by their nature, cannot be competent is to belittle the very people who make use of this DIY website.

cheers,
Guy

 

[Softus]

Apologies, I didn't mean to belittle anyone - as I mentioned I have every respect for those who do this work for a living.

Well, it isn't 10 minutes work, so I have to take the view that there's a shortfall in respect.

And since you seem intent on pressing forward with the wheelnut analogy, I'm out of here.

One day, when you have to engage an accountant, buy insurance, buy, maintain and calibrate tools, get trained, get registered, learn the regulations, acquire the patience to deal with people who think they know it all, and buy a satnav and/or maps to get to everywhere you need to get to (on time), you might just understand. In the meantime, I wish you the best of luck.

 

[denso13]

I do appreciate your help though, that as a rule, gas connections rarely - if ever - leak,
cheers,
Guy

Who said that?

You can do it if you are competent. I'd say being unable to check properly for leaks means you are not competent therefore carrying out the work would be illegal.

 

[bripl]

if the hob was fitted correctly in the first place their should be isolation on it,or just beside it.

 

[grimly ffeendish]

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foolish post deleted
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[corgiman]

if the hob was fitted correctly in the first place their should be isolation on it,or just beside it.

The hob feed would still need to be capped off

To the OP IMO if you are asking these questions I would really wait three days to ensure that it is done properly

Also Agile why not use a cooker hose for a hob, as long as it is not touching a hot surface??

 

[Softus]

Yeah, scary isn't it. Maybe I should invest in a second hand gas manometer, or a can of aerosol leak spray - it's certainly cheaper than registering for Corgi every year.

That's a monumentally stupid observation.

To assume that DIY'ers by their nature, cannot be competent is to belittle the very people who make use of this DIY website.

Please explain where anyone wrote or implied such a thing.