Boiler flue positioning relative to gas meter

[Tim+]

Looking into possibly relocating my daughter's boiler to give more options in the kitchen refit. It's currently fitted very awkwardly in a corner cupboard that is appalling for access and messes up the wall line for any sort of sensible kitchen re-fit.

The only other site I can think of puts it relatively close to the outside meter cabinet. It's a rather scabby lean-to extension and you can just make out the meter box. I would like to put the boiler on the wall with the flue exiting above the iron hand-rail (just around the corner from the meter).

Is this a problem? Is there a minimum distance twixt flue and meter?

Tim

[Bob Minchin]

My W_B installation book had a multi-purpose diagram with all the minimum distances marked on it. I certainly don't recall any specifically to do with a meter, just openings, gutters and other obstructions were shown.

There might be a similar diagram in the building regs although it is a moot point if the re-siting of an old boiler needs to comply with any new regs or just the ones that applied when it was installed.

[Capitol]

Can't see any problems here apart from the necessity to reroute the drain pipe. Looks like a felted roof. Heat problems in summer?

[Tim+]

The flue would exit below the gutter and above the rail and to the left of the down pipe so no re-routing required.

It's north facing. Heat hasn't been a problem inside or are you referring to problems with the felting?

The whole structure is pretty nasty and of dubious quality. A new roof wouldn't go amiss but will have to wait for now.

Tim

[Capitol]

The felting may not like local heating?

[John Rumm]

Most of the boiler manuals seem to lift the diagrams direct from BS

5440-1 "Installation and maintenance of flues and ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70 kW net (1st, 2nd and 3rd family gases) Part 1: Specification for installation and maintenance of flues". There is no mention of meter cupboards there I can see.

(generally, moving a boiler counts as a new install IIRC)

[Capitol]

Only if you tell someone!

[The Natural Philosopher]

I installed a balanced flue boiler flue less than a meter away from a meter cupboard with no probs,. not from building control or anyone.

[John Rumm]

Indeed.

You may have difficulty getting a GS installer to shift a boiler if its a non condenser, and the install does not meet the exemptions for fitting that type of boiler. Other than that, nothing in the way of regulation that has changed regarding sighting...

[Tim+]

John Rumm

Gotcha. So as long as nobody from GS sees it, it's okay? ;-)

Tim

[John Rumm]

Even if they did, so long as its done right there is not going to be a problem - there is no need to advertise its not in its original location or was moved after the efficiency limits were raised.

[Tim+]

I was actually just poking fun at your use of "sighting" vs "siting". ;-)

It's probably going to be a bit much for me to be honest. The proposed boiler position is handy for the gas but a bit of a pain for everything else. The extension has a solid floor and is below ground level so I really don't fancy trying to lay pipes under/through it. The only other viable alternative is to run them along the rather low ceiling or in the "loft space" of the extension. Basically up from boiler, across ceiling, down wall on other side to floor level, then through stone wall into the kitchen. Condensate drainage either needs to go straight outside (with heating to prevent freezing) which would be easy or a convoluted route to another internal drain.

All in all, a bit of a pain, but I hate the current position of the boiler. ;-)

Tim

[Geo]

British gas (or their contractor) fitted my external meter box years after the boiler was installed. Vertical distance from top of box to bottom of boiler is about 28" (70cm)