building over gas supply

[nice sax]

about 4 years ago I had an extension built at the back of my property.which meant that the gas meter that was on the outside wall of the existing building ended up in the extension built into a cupboard. The architect drew up the plans saying meter must be incorporated in a cupboard and the plans were submitted to the local council.
the council approved the plans and during building supervised the building including viewing the exposed service pipes before the base was laid. when the extension was complete they issued a completion certificate saying the building was in compliance with all building regulations.
I recently had a suspected gas leak and when the emergency gas people arrived they said there was not a leak but when they asked to see my meter told me that the extension should not have been built over gas supply.

I have recently had a letter from national grid headed"BUILT OVER GAS SERVICE PIPE" saying that the service must be diverted to ensure that it is sound and fit for purpose and that I may be charged for the work.

I have spoken to the archichtect , builder and local council who all say that every part of the buiding was carried out within regulations.

Where do I stand in buiding law? any help will be appreciated.

[scotman]

I agree with Zac but also state that when I worked for a gas services company about 2 years ago we were all told that NO construction was allowed over any type of gas pipe.

[Marcw]

Construction and installation
Hi

The supply you have is polyethylene within a sleeve is designed purely for external use. The only time plastic can be used within a premise is if it is inserted into a carrier pipe (old steel gas pipe) and the annulus sealed with a fore proof sealant. The service pipe within the building shouod therefore be steel and there should be no buried joints. The breach is actually of the Pipeline safety Regs 1996.

These regs govern materials and construction of pipelines. Here is an extract which wil help explain:

9. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline (save for the purpose of testing it) unless it has been so constructed and installed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is sound and fit for the purpose for which it has been designed.

As your pipe is now inside it is no longer deemed fit for purpose. The gas companies have internal procedures to comply with PSR96 namely MSL1. This document has a section on built over services.

the work can be charged to you or your gas supply isolated on dafety grounds, however if a previous owner built the extension then under the Gas Act you cannot be charged.

[Marcw]

Hi


The supply was laid in accordance with the national grid procedure MSL1. The materials used are Polyethylene within a preformed sleeve and are designed for external use only. MSL1 is written to ensure compliance with the Pipeline Safety regs 1996 (PSR96).

It is these regs which you've breached by rendering the gas service pipe not fit for pupose. the onlt time PE can be used inside is when it's inserted into the old steel gas pipe and the annuluus sealed to give fire protection. here is an extract from the PSR:

Construction and installation
9. The operator shall ensure that no fluid is conveyed in a pipeline (save for the purpose of testing it) unless it has been so constructed and installed that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is sound and fit for the purpose for which it has been designed.

There are probably other elements which are contravened and it may even breach the Gas safety (installation & use) regs.

Within MSL1 there is a section dedicated to built over supplies. the cost to alter the suply is recoverable from you unless you can demonstrate that a previous owner built the extension, then under the Gas Act you cannot legally be charged.