Gas, Water, electric

I have 3 questions covering the 3 necesseties in a property, i.e. water, gas and electrics. Hopefullt some of you on here can shed some light on these

Currently the main water pipe comes into the house in the middle of the kitchen along side an extrenal wall, which is where the stopcock is (I think that's the right term) After I get my extension done the external wall will cease to exist as I will be opening the kitchen out. Question is what can I do with the main water feed? can I run some pipe off it to a more suitable location?, can the pipe be buried at ground level and tiled over?

Along similar lines, my main gas feed into the house is again through an external wall but is currently concealed in the garage, after the garage is converted into a living area it willbe a meter in (due to planning consent) and so the gas pipe will be outside, does this have to be boxed in or will it be ok on the outside of the property.

Lastly, I have been told that from January, it will be necessary for all electricians to be certified and belong to some kind of body/institution, is this correct, are there new regs/laws coming out covering electricians.

Any comments/thoughts appreciated

Regards MG

Reply to
Gaffar
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Your saying that the incoming gas service is currently in the garage but will be external once the work has been completed?

If so thats fine and the earlier internal position was in contravention of regs. Gas services (incoming gas main) should always be at the building perimeter and not in or under the building.

Reply to
tarquinlinbin

AIUI, it should be buried deeper than immediately under the surface. Try contacting the Water Resources Advisory Service

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They have a technical help line and should be able to tell you what the correct depth and rules are.

Others will be along shortly to help you with that one.

Yes and no.

There is a new part P to the Building Regulations becoming active in January - details at

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This means that for substantial electrical work such as new circuits or work in a kitchen, the work becomes "controlled" in terms of the Building Regulations.

There are then two approaches that can be taken.

a) You can employ an electrician who is a member of one of the self certifying orgnaisations listed - NICEIC and about four others. These people can do the work and sign it off as being compliant with the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and conforming to the Building Regulations.

b) You or AN Other can do the work and raise a Building Notice at the local authority - you will pay for this of course. The work will be inspected and signed off (or not).

Unlike gas, it won't be illegal for AN Other Electrician to do electrical work for money, but the legal requirement will be there to then go for option (b)

Of course the government hopes that electricians will all join a trade association, thus keeping tabs on them for tax and other purposes. The cover story is that this will result in greater electrical safety etc. even though there is scant evidence to demonstrate that.

In practical terms will it make a difference? Probably not. Almost everyt time I go to a heating merchant I hear conversations between tradespeople who are installing heating and openly admit to not having CORGI membership. I am sure that the same will be true in the electrician's world as well.

Reply to
Andy Hall

Correct

I think it has always been on an external wall, it's just been concealed by a makeshift garage recently, which has an actual garage door but the walls are the 2 external walls of 2 side by side houses. Anyway, it seems all should be ok after the works completed.

Thanks for the advice.

MG

Reply to
Gaffar

Thanks for the comments, I had a quick look at the website and it looks interesting, will go back when I have a bit more time.

with regards to the electrics, hopefully I should be covered either way, i.e. either a NICEIC engineer will complete the work or if not the building officer will be notified anyway for the other building work that is being carried out.

Regards MG

Reply to
Gaffar

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