Gas in new build flats?

[mogga]

Someone's been told by 3 developers that "the building regs won't let them put them in new build flats"

Is that true?

[sm_jamieson]

Thats all very vague. I think you may have to explain a bit more. If you mean, gas not allowed to be piped into new-build flats, it clearly must be nonsense. Simon.

[Christian McArdle]

I have not been able to find any reference to a gas installation ban for tall buildings anywhere in the building regulations or the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.

What I have found out, is that after the Ronan Point collapse, tall buildings (over 5 stories) had two options. They either had to be able to cope with explosions of 5psi, or alternatively, cope with explosions of

2.5psi and have the gas supply removed.

I can find nothing to suggest (and plenty to suggest otherwise) that new build flats can't have a gas supply, provided that any building over 5 storeys meets the 5psi explosion resistance requirement. I believe the option to survive only 2.5psi and have no gas might only be applicable to existing buildings (in 1968).

Christian.

[mogga]

Yes having a gas supply - so you could have central heating. This geezer said they all had storage heaters.

[Christian McArdle]

I get the impression that the Ronan Point collapse, which led to thousands of gas systems being stripped out of high rise blocks throughout the country (either because of the 5psi requirement, or due to resident's concerns), has led to an urban myth that gas installations in flats are not allowed.

Of course, there might be a restriction that I haven't heard of, but I doubt it.

Christian.

[Rexx Magnus]

We had gas specified for a block of 3 storey flats, and it all went through the building regs fine.

[Londoncityslicker]

I live on the tenth floor of a newish build (6 years old) and we've got gas fired central heating and cooking.

I suspect that it's more to do with reducing the developers costs. Putting in storage heaters is cheaper and easier. Simple as that.

A.

[Guy King]

The message from "Londoncityslicker" contains these words:

And considerably nastier. There's an offshoot of the estate where I live that has no gas supply. The houses are considerably cheaper!

[Dave Liquorice]

Not to mention that building to 5psi over pressure will be more expensive than 2.5psi over pressure. I used to live in a flat with gas heating but it was only 4 floors (basement, ground 1st & 2nd), it was also a conversion with thick stone walls.

[Owain]

It's usually *a* storage heater in the lounge. Storage heaters are £100-200 each (for a decent fan assisted one), panel heaters in the bedrooms £20 each. Of course, no gas supply is where the money is saved.

Owain

[Guy King]

The message from Owain contains these words:

For flats I'd expect the cost of laying on a gas supply to disappear compared to the cost of installing dozens of individual central heating systems.