Technical Bulletin 156 – Clarification around requirements for pipework support for gas metering installations

Developed by EDF Energy
Date issued: 6 December 2019

It is a requirement to ensure that all gas pipework is adequately supported. British Standard 6891: 2015 + A1 2019⁽¹⁾ sets out the requirements for adequate support. HSE has provided its guidance on what adequate means in the context of this British Standard.

Introduction

Adequately supporting pipework is important. Failure to provide support can cause problems that include an increased risk of a potential gas escape. EDF Energy is keen to share the guidance it has received from the HSE to ensure a consistent interpretation of the British Standard industry-wide by all gas operatives, and avoid the risk of certain gas operatives using an alternative interpretation of the standard, which might not be correct.

Industry Bulletin

The Technical Bulletin produced by EDF Energy is part of this Technical Bulletin as Appendix 1.

Note 1: For general information about the process behind the development of Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the expectations for all stakeholders, see TB 1000⁽²⁾ by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in

Appendix 1: Clarification around requirements for pipework support for gas metering installations

Gas Safety Risk – Industry Action Required
It is a legal requirement to ensure that all gas pipework is adequately supported. BS 6891: 2015 + A1 2019 sets out the requirements for adequate support. HSE has now provided additional clarification on what adequate means in the context of this British Standard. This is important because if pipework is not adequately supported, there is an increased risk of a potential gas escape.

EDF Energy is keen to share the clarification it has received from the HSE to ensure a consistent interpretation of the British Standard industry-wide by all gas operatives and avoid the risk of certain gas operatives using an alternative interpretation of BS 6891: 2015 + A1 2019, which might not be correct.

Pipe support
It is a legal requirement to ensure that all gas pipework is adequately supported. The support should be designed:

• To prevent the pipework from coming into contact with surfaces that are likely to cause corrosion; and
• To prevent movement where damage could occur.

Where pipe clips are required to provide support, they must be fixed to secure structures.

All pipework must be secured at each end using suitable clips and/or the meter bracket to provide support and to prevent movement. For long pipe sections, the maximum distances between pipe supports are shown in Table 1, which is an extract from BS 6891:2015 + A1 2019.

Although not expressly set out in BS 6891:2015 + A1 2019, this means that pipework that is shorter than the maximum distances in the table must still be adequately supported. In this respect, in considering the dimensions in the table, meter operatives should ensure that all pipework is rigidly secured at both ends using suitable clips and/or the meter bracket and treat the dimensions as only representing the maximum fixing distances between those rigidly secured ends. If a pipe end is free to move, it should also be secured against movement that may damage the pipe.

Where existing pipework is not adequately supported, the customer and/or responsible person on site must be advised.

If the gas network service pipe is found to be insecure, you must report the defect to the relevant Gas Network and obtain a reference number.

Note: Where any pipework alteration is carried out, the operative must ensure that the installation is secure, and adequate support is provided to restrict movement and ensure that no undue stress is applied to pipe, fittings or meter installation.

Where a flexible connection is incorporated within the meter installation, it is particularly important to ensure that installation pipework before and after where the flexible connection has been deployed is secure and adequately supported. It should be recognised that, in the absence of additional support, the flexible connection allows movement which may lead to the pipe extension being able to act as a lever on to its single fixed end. Where the inlet pipework is extended, it may be necessary to use pipe clips to provide adequate support.

Figure 1: Example of an adequately supported meter installation using rigid and flexible connections

Bibliography

(1) BS 6891: 2015 + A1 2019 Specification for the installation and maintenance of low pressure gas installation pipework of up to 35mm
(R1¼)

(2) TB 1000 – An introduction to Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins

Note: Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the Legislative, Normative & Informative Document List can be viewed by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in