9.
- (1) No person shall for the first time enable gas to be supplied for use in any premises unless there is provided an appropriately sited emergency control to which there is adequate access.
(2) Any person installing an emergency control shall ensure that -
(a) any key, lever or hand-wheel of the control is securely attached to the operating spindle of the control;
(b) any such key or lever is attached so that -
(i) the key or lever is parallel to the axis of the pipe in which the control is installed when the control is in the open position; and
(ii) where the key or lever is not attached so as to move only horizontally, gas cannot pass beyond the control when the key or lever has been moved as far as possible downwards;
(c) either the means of operating the key or lever is clearly and permanently marked or a notice in permanent form is prominently displayed near such means so as to indicate when the control is open and when the control is shut; and
(d) any hand-wheel indicates the direction of opening or closing of the control.
(3) Where a person installs an emergency control which is not adjacent to a primary meter, he shall immediately thereafter prominently display on or near the means of operating the control a suitably worded notice in permanent form indicating the procedure to be followed in the event of an escape of gas.
(4) Where any person first supplies gas to premises where an emergency control is installed, he shall ensure that the notice required by paragraph (3) above remains suitably worded or shall, where necessary, forthwith amend or replace that notice so as to give effect to the provisions of that paragraph.
(5) This regulation shall not apply where gas is supplied in a refillable cylinder except where two or more cylinders are connected by means of an automatic change-over device.
Maintaining electrical continuity
14.
- (1) No person shall install a primary meter or meter by pass used in connection with a primary meter unless -
(a) there is a regulator controlling the pressure of gas supplied through the meter or the by pass, as the case may be, which provides adequate automatic means for preventing the gas fittings connected to the downstream side of the regulator from being subjected to a pressure greater than that for which they were designed;
(b) where the normal pressure of the gas supply is 75 millibars or more at the inlet to the regulator, there are also adequate automatic means for preventing, in case the regulator should fail, those gas fittings from being subjected to such a greater pressure; and
(c) where the regulator contains a relief valve or liquid seal, such valve or seal is connected to a vent pipe of adequate size and so installed that it is capable of venting safely.
(2) Without prejudice to the requirements of paragraph (1), no person shall cause gas to be supplied from a gas storage vessel (other than a re-fillable cylinder or a cylinder or cartridge designed to be disposed of when empty) to any service pipework or gas fitting unless -
(a) there is a regulator installed which controls the nominal operating pressure of the gas;
(b) there is adequate automatic means for preventing the installation pipework and gas fittings downstream of the regulator from being subjected to a pressure different from that for which they were designed; and
(c) there is an adequate alternative automatic means for preventing the service pipework from being subjected to a greater pressure than that for which it was designed should the regulator referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above fail.
(3) No person shall cause gas to be supplied through an installation consisting of one or more re-fillable cylinders unless the supply of gas passes through a regulator which controls the nominal operating pressure of the gas.
(4) Without prejudice to paragraph (3) above, no person shall cause gas to be supplied through an installation consisting of four or more re-fillable cylinders connected to an automatic change-over device unless there is an adequate alternative means for preventing the installation pipework and any gas fitting downstream of the regulator from being subjected to a greater pressure than that for which it was designed should the regulator fail.
(5) Where a person installs a regulator for controlling the pressure of gas through a primary meter, a meter by pass used in connection with a primary meter or from a gas storage vessel, or installs a gas appliance itself fitted with a regulator for controlling the pressure of gas to that appliance, he shall immediately thereafter ensure, in either case, that the regulator is adequately sealed so as to prevent its setting from being interfered with without breaking of the seal.
(6) In relation to -
(a) gas from a distribution main, no person except the transporter or a person authorised to act on his behalf;
(b) gas from a gas storage vessel, no person except the supplier or a person authorised to act on his behalf,
shall break a seal applied under paragraph (5) above other than a seal applied to a regulator for controlling the pressure of gas to the appliance to which that regulator is fitted.
(7) A person who breaks a seal applied under paragraph (5) shall apply as soon as is practicable a new seal which is adequate to prevent the setting of the regulator from being interfered with without breaking such seal.
Meters - emergency notices
16.
- (1) No person shall install a prepayment meter as a primary meter through which gas passes to a secondary meter.
(2) Any person -
(a) who first provides gas through any service pipe or service pipework after the coming into force of these Regulations to more than one primary meter; or
(b) who subsequently makes any modification which affects the number of primary meters so provided,
shall ensure that a notice in permanent form is prominently displayed on or near each primary meter indicating that more than one primary meter is provided with gas through that service pipe or service pipework.
(3) Where a primary meter is removed, the person who last supplied gas through the meter before removal shall -
(a) where the meter is not forthwith re-installed or replaced by another meter -
(i) close any service valve which controlled the supply of gas to that meter and did not control the supply of gas to any other primary meter; and
(ii) seal the outlet of the emergency control with an appropriate fitting; and
(iii) clearly mark any live gas pipe in the premises in which the meter was installed to the effect that the pipe contains gas; and
(b) where the meter has not been re-installed or replaced by another meter before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of removal of the meter and there is no such service valve as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)(i) above, ensure that the service pipe or service pipework for those premises is disconnected as near as is reasonably practicable to the main or storage vessel and that any part of the pipe or pipework which is not removed is sealed at both ends with the appropriate fitting.
(4) Where a person proposes to remove a primary meter he shall give sufficient notice of it to the person supplying gas through the meter to enable him to comply with paragraph (3).
Secondary meters
19.
- (1) No person shall install any part of any installation pipework in a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction unless it is so constructed and installed as to be protected against failure caused by the movement of the wall, the floor or the standing as the case may be.
(2) No person shall install any installation pipework so as to pass through a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction (whether or not it contains any cavity) from one side to the other unless -
(a) any part of the pipe within such wall, floor or standing as the case may be takes the shortest practicable route; and
(b) adequate means are provided to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any escape of gas from the pipework passing through the wall, floor or standing from entering any cavity in the wall, floor or standing.
(3) No person shall, subject to paragraph (4), install any part of any installation pipework in the cavity of a cavity wall unless the pipe is to pass through the wall from one side to the other.
(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to the installation of installation pipework connected to a living flame effect gas fire provided that the pipework in the cavity is as short as is reasonably practicable, is enclosed in a gas tight sleeve and sealed at the joint at which the pipework enters the fire; and in this paragraph a "living flame effect gas fire" means a gas fire -
(a) designed to simulate the effect of a solid fuel fire;
(b) designed to operate with a fanned flue system; and
(c) installed within the inner leaf of a cavity wall.
(5) No person shall install any installation pipework or any service pipework under the foundations of a building or in the ground under the base of a wall or footings unless adequate steps are taken to prevent damage to the installation pipework or service pipework in the event of the movement of those structures or the ground.
(6) Where any installation pipework is not itself contained in a ventilated duct, no person shall install any installation pipework in any shaft, duct or void which is not adequately ventilated.
Protection of buildings
