Welding/cutting in room with gas meter

[Kayos]

We ch

We checked large & small installations in the same way.
RonA

I didn’t work on generalisations & applied the same safety standards to all installations where I worked.
RonA

But that's not following procedures, we have set procedures and scopes so everybody works to the same standard.

If I double the time of a tightness test am I being twice as careful? Doubt it would make the slightest difference

 

[RonA]

But that's not following procedures, we have set procedures and scopes so everybody works to the same standard.

If I double the time of a tightness test am I being twice as careful? Doubt it would make the slightest difference

You’re probably right, 20 mins as opposed to 10 mins but extend it to 24 hours & safety factor definitely goes up.
RonA

 

[Tochnia]

Thank you for your replies!
Now I feel I bit more confident with doing work in same room as gas meter.
Bough detector as recommended by DAPPH and will build cupboard around meter.
Only question is should I leave vents/holes on top to avoid building gas inside cupboard?

 

[Screwdriver]

Thank you for your replies!
Now I feel I bit more confident with doing work in same room as gas meter.
Bough detector as recommended by DAPPH and will build cupboard around meter.
Only question is should I leave vents/holes on top to avoid building gas inside cupboard?

I doubt if there will ever be an issue with it unless you bang into it with something. OTOH, the only question mark I put on modifying the environment is; can your home insurance company use whatever you did to wriggle out of a claim. Hence my philosophy is to find out if there is a code of practice and follow that.

 

[waddycall]

Put some soffit vents in the side (1 top, 1 bottom) just to keep some air flow through. Help avoid any condensation/damp/rust issues.

 

[Kayos]

Thank you for your replies!
Now I feel I bit more confident with doing work in same room as gas meter.
Bough detector as recommended by DAPPH and will build cupboard around meter.
Only question is should I leave vents/holes on top to avoid building gas inside cupboard?

Dont box the gas meter in, it will do nothing because you will need to ventilate it, so if you have a leak you have just wasted your time boxing it on

 

[Screwdriver]

Dont box the gas meter in, it will do nothing because you will need to ventilate it, so if you have a leak you have just wasted your time boxing it on

Crash bars and a line of sight grinding spark shield? <if it's anywhere near the bench vice>

 

[waddycall]

 

[Screwdriver]

Ow my neck...

 

[waddycall]

I’d put something round it for protection only. My temper gets the better of me at times (flying tools)!

 

[Tochnia]

As per info which waddycall have provided: Meters should be installed in ventilated areas, boxes or housing.
So maybe cupboard wouldn't be so good idea in end.
And also question of home insurance company if anything happen and they saw cupboard.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

And also question of home insurance company if anything happen and they saw cupboard

If anything did happen, I doubt there'd be much left of any enclosure/cupboard for them to see.

 

[daleyd]

I'm not a gas fitter (Though I did do the Commercial Gas ACOPS many years ago now...)but I do work with some pretty big furnaces/oxidisers/dryers etc - I don't think I've ever seen pipework pressure tested for 24 hours? Maybe it's different for high pressure pipework but I never got involved with that...

 

[the artfull-codger]

And why are they inadequate?

Also recommending using washing up liquid is really bad advice as the chemicals attack copper, only proper LDF must be used as it doesn't attack the copper, but it must still be wiped off

I'm curious to know what washing up liquid does to the copper? having built & helped students to build more than 24 model boilers over the years, after silver brazing them & cleaned
in dilute sulphuric acid we initionally tested them on compressed air & washing up liquid every time before the hydraulic test, they all appear sound to date.
Graham.

 

[Kayos]

I'm curious to know what washing up liquid does to the copper? having built & helped students to build more than 24 model boilers over the years, after silver brazing them & cleaned
in dilute sulphuric acid we initionally tested them on compressed air & washing up liquid every time before the hydraulic test, they all appear sound to date.
Graham.

Ammonia in the washing up liquid attacks the pipe.
I suspect in your application they were cleaned thoroughly, not always possible on a pipe. It is also not an approved method of finding a leak, it's for location confirmation only
Many documented cases of pipe pin holding and washing up liquid was always the cause

The Gas Safety (installation and use) regulations forbid its use so it's a non argument anyway, a big bottle of LDF is £4, I always have a couple in my box

 

[brightspark]

think il just stick to mild washing up liquid wiped clean with a bit of scotchpad and cloth will be fine which I would do on any joint as a lot of fluxes are acid based. more chance of that knacking the pipe as it goes green and most plumbers are 2 lazy or sloppy to clean it off

 

[Kayos]

think il just stick to mild washing up liquid wiped clean with a bit of scotchpad and cloth will be fine which I would do on any joint as a lot of fluxes are acid based. more chance of that knacking the pipe as it goes green and most plumbers are 2 lazy or sloppy to clean it off

Big difference between a plumber and a gas engineer in my experience

 

[brightspark]

Big difference between a plumber and a gas engineer in my experience

if u saw the totally crap soldered joint on a gas pipe I saw that leaked and he blobbed a load more on top there isn't a difference and he is gas safe registered. I wouldn't have some of them in my house working even if it was free . ive seen some right ropey work in 50 years and by so called registered electricians as well

 

[Kayos]

if u saw the totally crap soldered joint on a gas pipe I saw that leaked and he blobbed a load more on top there isn't a difference and he is gas safe registered. I wouldn't have some of them in my house working even if it was free . ive seen some right ropey work in 50 years and by so called registered electricians as well

So have I, but I know how to do it properly and always do.

I found a full gas run with every joint just fluxed once, it held on test but obviously not checked. The firm that did it claimed to be the best in the area, well a RIDDOR says otherwise

 

[reb78]

I’m sure grandfather told me he used to test for leaks in gas line with a flame! He used to work on the gas holders for british gas (or whatever it used to be) from the end of the war through to the late 70’s.