Attic problem

[louisxiv]

Hi again. 2nd newbie query of the day....

An attic question now! I want to floor a small attic space which has various pipes and valves sticking up way above floor level. I've been advised by a joiner I know to put 50 x 50 runners on the joists to clear the worst of the piping and put down chipboard, cutting holes for any valves which need clearance..

Picture 1:

Picture 2: There is an old (cold?) water tank with a white pipe running to it. The whole system has been replaced with a combi boiler and I think this is now redundant but the white pipe in picture 1 seems to run to it (se Picture 2) and I think has water in it as it gurgles when I shake it. I'd like to remove the tank (and the pipe if possible) but am really wary of touching it. Can I cap it off or something so I can remove the tank?

I'm also slightly concerned re the smaller metal pipe. This is lagged which suggests to me that it has water in it and may be to do with the central heating. it runs along the top of one of the joists. Is it going to be safe to 'tease' it off the joist onto the floor so I can screw runners onto it? I think there's leeway but i'm scared it might be a gas pipe!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

xiv

[Codswallop]

I don't think that a gas pipe would be lagged! Is there any way of tracing these pipes down through the attic floor to find their source? If they originally went to an old heating system (boiler or hot water tank, and maybe taps) the original items may have been removed when the new boiler was installed. The water supply to the water tank has either been turned off somewhere or disconnected completely, so presumably you could cut the water supply pipe at floor level then remove the tank.