Gas pipework in communal areas

[jasper]

I have been doing some research and am aware that in the communal areas of flats if new install or amendment of existing then the gas pipework must be enclosed in a fire resisting enclosure with sufficient ventilation. The thing I cannot find is if the pipes are the original ones in an old building, would this be classed as compliant?

[wee brian]

Where does it say they should be enclosed? I thought it was more a case that if they are enclosed then the enclosure should be ventilated. but I've been wrong before (according to her in doors this is a regular occurance)

[kurnal]

  ADB 2006 says this:

Gas Service and installation pipes in protected stairways
2.42 Gas service and installation pipes or associated meters should not be incorporated within a protected stairway unless the gas installation is in accordance with the requirements for installation and connection set out in the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996, SI 1996
No 825 and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 SI 1998 No 2451 (see also paragraph 8.40).

Wee B If you wish you could let me have your wife's email address  so I can tell her to get off your back - you are clearly right sometimes. I am sure that would help no end.

[Dinnertime Dave]

I have been doing some research and am aware that in the communal areas of flats if new install or amendment of existing then the gas pipework must be enclosed in a fire resisting enclosure with sufficient ventilation. The thing I cannot find is if the pipes are the original ones in an old building, would this be classed as compliant?

Just to confuse things - LACORS says


Gas or electric meters and/or distribution boards should ideally not be sited in escape routes. However, it should be possible to relax this providing any gas meter is installed in accordance with the gas safety regulations and any electric meter is installed and sited in accordance with current IEE regulations. It is considered best practice to enclose such equipment in fire-resisting construction.

ideally and best practice jump out. 

As a discussion point, whatever you do you will only have one escape route. Enclose your risk in FR and when the fire eventually breaks through you've lost your escape route. Or ventilate the cupboard and have detection nearby. Is it more likely that you will still have a useable escape route or less likely.

[wee brian]

Given that any gas installation should be in accordance with the gas safety regs it doesn't really say much.

What do the gas regs say about enclosure?

[kurnal]

Weasel words as ever from LACORS as you point out DD, though applicable more to meters than pipe runs.. The unspecified gas safety regulations are simple laziness and it appears that in their view gas compliance does not have to be to current standards. But they require that electricity installation has to conform to the current regulations? Does this mean upgraded when standards are  updated? I wonder where they stand with plastic consumer units, the recent legislation outlawing these only applied to domestic premises .....here we go.

In response to your discussion point Dave I would suggest the safest and most robust  option would be the  combination of FR construction and detection always provided there is an evacuation strategy and the response of the occupants can be assured.

In answer to Wee B I think that when I researched this yonks ago the outcome was that where a gas pipe is enclosed in a duct then ventilation points have to be provided. This was in connection with a housing association who wanted to tidy up their installations in sheltered housing schemes  by enclosing them in box work. They had used circular plastic inserts as vents. Several were completed before I pointed out that they had actually introduced  more combustibles in protected routes etc. Then Lakenal House happened and such work was suspended.

[wee brian]

Like I said, I'm pretty sure you dont have to enclose them, but if you do then you need to ventilate the enclosure (to avoid a build up of gas from a leak.)

[Tom Sutton]

In accordance with ADB, a pipe carrying flammable gas through a protected area (e.g. a dwelling) must be of screwed steel or of all welded steel construction.
However, a gas pipe is not considered to be within that protected area if that pipe is completely separated from the protected area by fire-resisting construction, such as a ventilated duct.

Copper pipe with soldered joints may be routed through or in that protected area,provided that it is encased within its own duct/shaft of a similar fire rating for the protected area.

I would think it depends on what the gas pipe is made of if it's steel then OK if its copper it needs enclosing.

[wee brian]

Yes, Para 8.40 seems to do the job.

Not convinced its entirely necessary though.

Maybe something to raise in this
http://surveys.ribaenterprises.com/wh/s.asp?k=145200527201

[Tom Sutton]

I have been doing some research and am aware that in the communal areas of flats if new install or amendment of existing then the gas pipework must be enclosed in a fire resisting enclosure with sufficient ventilation. The thing I cannot find is if the pipes are the original ones in an old building, would this be classed as compliant?

I do not think it would matter if pipes were original of new if there are copper,lead or tracpipe and not steel then they would need enclosing in a FR ventilated duct.