Gas and safety

[Nigel Watts]

When I had the mock Georgian wooden surround plus gas fire removed from my living room and replaced by an original 1840 cast iron grate and marble mantlepiece the gas fitter, contrary to my instructions, left a live gas pipe leading to the fireplace. This pokes out at floor level at the back of the grate - ie at the back of the area where the ash would fall from the fire - and ends in a tap.

I want to light real fires in the fireplace and am wondering if there are any safety issues with this confirguration, or whether I need to get the gas cut off further upstream.

 

[MdB]

I want to light real fires in the fireplace and am wondering if there are any safety issues with this confirguration,

Can you say "Boom"?

 

[Ian Bond]

I wouldn't be happy with that.

I had all the gas pipes running to my hearths removed. The only live gas pipe will be a short surface mounted run to the CH boiler (if I ever get it done).

 

[Flyfisher]

A gas tap somewhere near the fireplace can be useful of you ever want to light the fire with a gas poker, but I'd be very surprised if the arrangement you describe is either legal or entirely safe.

I could imagine a properly capped off pipe being OK but I would guess that anything involving a gas-tap would be susceptible to the sort of temperatures likely to be encountered as described. But it is only a guess.

Personally, I would have the pipe capped at some convenient place away from the fireplace. I wouldn't think it's necessary to actually remove the, then redundant, pipe from the rear of the fireplace if it would involve any difficult dismantling of the fireplace etc.

 

[Raylea]

Hi,

I would get the gas fitter back, I am pretty sure heat, flames and gas make a happy combo, not to mention I would be worring the life out of my self with the set up you have.

Raylea :shock:

 

[grays85]

oops..? did you tell the chap your intent to use the fire place with a "real fire" I've been asked to cap off gas fires, where they never intend to use the fireplace again, which is okay when you wish to re fit another gas fire.

In this instance you should have made clear your intent that you are going to have a real fire and in that case you should have the gas pipe cut back to out side the area of heat source. call him back and have the pipe ,oved safely out of the area of direct heat source. also any pipework within a chimney area should be protected from moisture and soot as this causes a chemical reaction similar to an acid and can damage any unprotected copper pipes within a chimney area... 8)