Fitting a secondary gas ECV to old pipework

[reubs007]

Hi all,

I am a homeowner, please accept my apologies if this forum is trade-only or I am asking a question covered elsewhere (I had a good look first).

Basically, British Gas came to service the boiler recently in my flat. The engineer wanted to check the meter but when I told him it was locked away in my neighbour's cellar, he said I had to either move the meter or get an emergency control valve fitted in my flat.

The good news is that there's an access panel where the gas pipework comes into my flat. The bad news according to the engineer was that it was old style pipework and therefore very difficult to fit this valve.

Can you advise if this job is doable? Any idea of how complex? Do I need a gas safe engineer with a particular skill/qualification?

National Grid want somewhere in the region of £1500 to relocate the meter to an external wall! Gas supplier said they could move it 2m on the same wall but that's not much use in this situation.

Many thanks in advance for your help, apologies if this is a daft question.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Do you know what material is the pipe in the boxing is made of ?

And any chance of a few pics ?

The bg is right in regards to you needing an extra valve

 

[reubs007]

Do you know what material is the pipe in the boxing is made of ?

And any chance of a few pics ?

The bg is right in regards to you needing an extra valve

Hi Shaun,

Thanks for replying. It looks like a fairly thick black metal pipe to me. I will certainly take some pics tonight and post them up.

Thanks again!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Hi Shaun,

Thanks for replying. It looks like a fairly thick black metal pipe to me. I will certainly take some pics tonight and post them up.

Thanks again!

That's fine it's not impossible but it's not easy

But still can be done, that boxing might need to be removed and then put back after a valve is fitted

 

[Alex Knight]

Probably cheaper to get a key cut for your neighbours cellar...

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Probably cheaper to get a key cut for your neighbours cellar...

Still need one as in locked room also depending on distance may still need one

 

[reubs007]

Probably cheaper to get a key cut for your neighbours cellar...

Unfortunately she is not keen on that idea!

 

[Last Plumber]

Unfortunately she is not keen on that idea!

You need to get a GSR Engineer to price for Valve and test point that's all. Should be pretty straight forward. You do need it for your own sake. If your neighbour is out you can't do much in an emergency !

 

[mfgs]

They are right, you do need one fitted. You could be left with an uncontrolled gas escape should thee worst happen and you cant gain access to the meter to isolate. Having one fitted internally will almost certainly be cheaper than the £1500 quoted to move the meter

 

[reubs007]

Here are some photos. Can you advise what a test point is?

Thanks again for the help! Cheers

 

[reubs007]

View attachment 28721View attachment 28722View attachment 28723

Here are some photos. Can you advise what a test point is?

Thanks again for the help! Cheers

 

[Gasmk1]

Won't be too easy as pipe needs to be cut and then threaded either side then your isolation tap with gas pressure test point fitted so your internals can be tested.

 

[Darren Jackson]

As above a bit fiddly but well do-able and a darn sight cheaper than the alternative. You need a test point for tightness testing and measuring the Working/Standing pressures etc. It is just a test nipple fitted to the pipe upstream to the new ECV so a gsr engineer can attach their U gauge/manometer to it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Looks not bad but easy for the right engy to do

 

[Last Plumber]

I can't see pics properly but I advise you to have the appliance working pressure tested before any work is done. I don't know how far the run is but from what I can see, it looks like 3/4" iron. you need to make sure it is big enough. It might very well be but it's best to get it checked.