EUSDSG3.13 Install and remove positive displacement gas meters and regulators

Overview

This standard is about installing, exchanging and removing positive displacement gas meters and regulators.  This could be for new installations, exchanging or replacing existing gas meters and regulators or for removing obsolete ones.  Meters can be:

  • primary or secondary
  • diaphragm or rotary displacement
  • from 5 to 1076m3/hr
  • on low pressure gas systems of up to 75mbar (medium pressure in Northern Ireland)
  • in domestic and non-domestic settings.

This standard covers all aspects of installing, exchanging, replacing and removing gas meters and regulators including the disconnection, de-commissioning and commissioning that is involved.  It can apply to any type of fuel gas or combinations of fuel gas.

This standard should be used in conjunction with:

  • EUSDSG3a Prepare to work on gas systems or appliances in domestic settings; and
  • EUSDSG3.6 Carry out gas tightness testing and direct purging in small settings

This standard is for gas first responders.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. Check existing installation for any unsafe appliances and system components and apply gas industry unsafe situation procedures when required
  2. Make sure installation plans take account of whether gas meters and regulators are primary or secondary meter installations
  3. Make sure the siting of the emergency control valve (ECV) and meter inlet valve (MIV) is accessible, correctly labelled and that they operate correctly
  4. Check the siting of any bypass valves, non-return valves, filters and pressure test points to ensure they are accessible, correctly labelled and the correct operation is achieved
  5. Confirm that the siting of meter housing and proximity distances of meter boxes and vent-discharges can be achieved and meets the manufacturers’ and industry standards’ requirements for location, siting and clearances
  6. Identify and make appropriate plans to deal with any effects the siting of the existing gas supply and it’s proximity to other services may have on installation requirements
  7. Check that conditions within gas and earthing systems will permit safe de-commissioning and re-commissioning
  8. Select and use the correct tools and equipment for all aspects of the work
  9. Use designated safe isolation methods, tests, and procedures to de- commission gas and earthing systems and components in line with requirements
  10. Take precautionary actions to ensure that temporarily de- commissioned appliances, systems, or components do not present a safety hazard
  11. Minimise damage to customer property and building features throughout all stages of work
  12. Disconnect and remove any gas meters, regulators, gas systems and components, and earthing system components in current use in line with installation plans
  13. Mark any live gas pipes with a notice to indicate they contain gas
  14. Carry out a visual check of new gas meters and regulators for any damage, that seals are intact, that all packaging is removed and that gas ways are clear
  15. Fabricate and assemble gas meter and regulator system components in line with installation requirements
  16. Position gas meters and regulators and confirm they meet location, siting and clearances required by manufacturers’ and industry standards’ specification
  17. Ensure that gas meters and regulators are protected against any potential mechanical damage in line with industry standards
  18. Cap, plug or valve off any unused tappings and vent or purge points
  19. Confirm that the provision of ventilation meets the gas meter and regulator manufacturers’ and industry standards’ requirements for the installation and system
  20. Ensure existing gas systems are clean and free of debris
  21. Fix and connect gas and earthing system components to gas meter and regulator installations in line with installation requirements
  22. Check and confirm that all pressure test records for gas system and components are complete
  23. Use tightness testing and purging procedures to confirm the integrity of installed gas meters and regulators and gas systems and the safe permanent de-commissioning when required
  24. Complete meter labelling to required industry standards
  25. Ensure there is continuity of gas supply for any installations with a meter bypass system
  26. Check and confirm the gas system operating pressures meet industry standards and are between 19 and 23 mbar
  27. Ensure that adjustments and resealing of meter regulators are performed by Ofgem Approved Meter Installers
  28. Confirm meter installation and operation complies with manufacturers’ specifications, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations
  29. Use electrical testing procedures to confirm the integrity of installed earthing systems and components in accordance with industry standards
  30. Complete all relevant documentation and paperwork in line with industry standards
  31. Instruct property occupiers on the correct operation of gas systems, valves and components and provide them with their copy of any literature
  32. Resolve problems within own area of responsibility and competence in accordance with approved procedures
  33. Advise of any delays to the work, unresolved problems, unsafe situations and required remedial actions to those who require the information
  34. Use warning notices to prevent unauthorised use of un-commissioned gas meters and regulators, gas appliances, gas systems and components
  35. Complete and attach emergency notices on or near meters or at ECVs if remote from primary meters

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. Regulations and guidance governing health and safety in the workplace, environmental protection and the use of risk assessments for domestic and non-domestic installations including safe access and working at heights
  2. Legislation covering your general responsibilities for your own safety and that of others
  3. The limits of your own autonomy and responsibility
  4. Gas industry unsafe situations procedures and how to isolate unsafe gas appliances, gas systems and components
  5. Potential hazards that could arise from all de-commissioning, installation and commissioning activities and checks to be carried out before work takes place
  6. How to access and interpret normative documents, industry standards guidance documents, manufacturers’ instructions, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations
  7. Industry standard practices for new installations, exchanging and replacing existing positive displacement gas meters and regulators or for removing obsolete ones
  8. Industry practices, work standards and safety precautions for location, siting, clearance and fixing of:
    • positive displacement gas meters, regulators, components, emergency control valves (ECV’s) and meter inlet valves (MIV’s)
    • positive displacement gas meters as primary or secondary installations with with or without meter housings
  9. Other services that may have an effect on the siting of installations including electrical switchgear, heating or process equipment
  10. Safe isolation methods, tests, and procedures for temporary and permanent de-commissioning of positive displacement gas meters, regulators, gas systems, components and earthing systems including use of temporary continuity bonds, Voltage sticks, Voltage indicators, Proving units, Multimeters
  11. Measures to prevent un-commissioned and de-commissioned positive displacement gas meters, regulators, gas systems and components being brought into operation
  12. Industry standards’ ventilation requirements for positive displacement gas meters and regulators
  13. How to measure and record installation and site details for prefabrication
  14. How to confirm that services and systems requirements are adequate for installation, extending the system or adding components of new positive displacement gas meter, regulator and components
  15. The procedures and work methods for connecting to input services including gas, earthing systems and ventilation
  16. Methods of working which protect building décor, customer property and existing systems and components
  17. Safe processes and procedures for applying tightness testing and purging and electrical testing to appliances, gas systems and components to ensure safe functioning
  18. The tools, equipment, materials and components required for the positive displacement gas meter and regulator system de-commission, installation and commission and how to secure and store them
  19. How to identify positive displacement gas meter installations that incorporate non-return valves and the manufacturers’ and industry standards’ installation requirements
  20. How to identify positive displacement meter installations that incorporate a meter bypass and how to ensure continuity of supply including checking bypass valves are opened prior to gas meter removal and recording the time that system is on bypass
  21. Assembly and installation requirements for positive displacement gas meters including oiling of rotary displacement meters
  22. Procedures for checking the correct and safe function, operation and performance of domestic and non-domestic positive displacement gas meters, regulators and components
  23. Procedures for checking and confirming gas system operating pressure is correct
  24. The procedures for adjusting meter regulators
  25. How to safely collect and dispose of system contents that may be hazardous to health or the environments
  26. The steps to take when problems arise with positive displacement gas meters, regulators, gas systems and components including defects, cannot be restored to full performance not meeting design requirements, incorrect system operating pressures or mbar range
  27. Job management structures and methods of reporting and recording job progress or problems delaying progress
  28. How to complete all installation and commissioning documentation and records to be left with the property including benchmarks, landlord/homeowner gas safety records, meter details, meter labels, emergency notices, ECV labels, pressure labels
  29. System handover procedures and how to demonstrate the operation of gas systems, valves and components to end users