Is white PTFE tape allowed on gas fittings these days?

[Application]

Ex gas fitter here. I haven't worked on gas for at least a decade so I'm not up to speed on any changes there may have been since I last worked in the industry.

However, I have recently gone to a family members house who has had a new kitchen fitted. I couldn't help but notice that the gas cooker bayonet fitting she's just had refitted has white tape on it rather than yellow gas rated tape I used to use.

Before I tell her to make a complaint, can any of you gas safe guys tell me if the regs have changed and are you now allowed to use white tape on gas fittings?

I've attached a photo of the fitting so you can see what I saw.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Best]

Are you sure it is ordinary thin ptfe tape?
Gas tape is white but just thicker, - isn’t it?

 

[Scott_D]

Gas ptfe can be white
Why are you removing a cooker in a new kitchen? Smells fishy

 

[Application]

I can't be sure if it's thin or thick. But I always thought the whole point of there being a colour distinction between the two types of tapes was to stop gas fitters putting water rated tape on gas pipework by mistake.

 

[Application]

Gas ptfe can be white
Why are you removing a cooker in a new kitchen? Smells fishy

Scott d. I haven't removed any cooker. In fact, right now there is no cooker. The previous cooker was taken out and scrapped by the same gas safe registered fitter who refitted this bayonet. He had to do this because the existing pipework needed to be moved to allow the electrician to run some trunking.

The new cooker is being delivered next week and she has paid £85 to have it fitted by a gsr fitter via John Lewis.

I can assure you that there will be no illegal gas work taking place in this property. I just want to know if this ptfe is safe, or if she's had a cowboy take a short cut. Because when I worked in the industry it was a definite no no to use white tape on gas fittings.

 

[Darren Jackson]

As previously stated gas PTFE is white nowadays but a lot thicker than ordinary PTFE. It is in a yellow dispenser though so as to not get confused and stated for gas use or at least what I use is from my local merchants is anyway.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You can use normal just takes more / double ish

 

[kozak1968]

I've seen a similar thing with Loctite 55 in the early days. It looked like someone had put hawkwhite and hemp on barrel pipework. The supervisor confirmed it was Loctite 55 and not hemp.

 

[Application]

As previously stated gas PTFE is white nowadays but a lot thicker than ordinary PTFE. It is in a yellow dispenser though so as to not get confused and stated for gas use or at least what I use is from my local merchants is anyway.

Ok that's good to know. However, I still have some concerns. On closer inspection this tape does look like thin water only rated tape that has been wrapped around the thread multiple times.

I mean it's probably safe enough. I've seen the paperwork and it's passed the tightness test. But when I was in the industry the thicker yellow gas tape was only ever wrapped one and a half times around the thread. This thread has been wrapped multiple times, which would indicate to me that it's not gas rated PTFE.

 

[Application]

You can use normal just takes more / double ish

Is that legal, to use water only rated PTFE tape on a gas fitting, as long as it's wrapped around the thread more? Because that seems to be what he's done here.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

its ptfe and ptfe is approved gas tape is recommened but aslong as it seals and you do the tests i wouldnt have a problem with it

hell we used to use string

 

[Scott_D]

What about the bayonet being left unplugged for how ever many days!

 

[Application]

What about the bayonet being left unplugged for how ever many days!

If it's a permanent move to an electric cooker then I'm sure it's best to have it capped off, but isn't a self sealing bayonet ok? At least in the short term?

 

[Scott_D]

If it's a permanent move to an electric cooker then I'm sure it's best to have it capped off, but isn't a self sealing bayonet ok? At least in the short term?

That’s not what it’s meant for. It’s for short term removal and refitting eg cleaning behind the cooker.
A decent Gas safe registered person would leave it like that.

 

[Application]

That’s not what it’s meant for. It’s for short term removal and refitting eg cleaning behind the cooker.
A decent Gas safe registered person would leave it like that.

Define short term? And if a gas cooker has been removed and a new one is to be installed the following week, is there an actual regulation that says that a self sealing bayonet isn't ok for this purpose? Im not arguing. I just want ammunition, because I'm not happy either.

 

[Scott_D]

The best thing you can do is call gas safe for an inspection
I don’t know what the waiting time is though.

 

[Aire]

If the white ptfe is suitable for gas, why does screwfix state that is isn't? I don't use ptfe on gas anyway but I was always under the impression that only the yellow gas tape was suitable for gas, after reading this thread I'm now not sure.

 

[Scott_D]

If the white ptfe is suitable for gas, why does screwfix state that is isn't? I don't use ptfe on gas anyway but I was always under the impression that only the yellow gas tape was suitable for gas, after reading this thread I'm now not sure.

Don’t Screwfix state their end feed fittings are not suitable for gas?

 

[gmartine]

 

[Aire]

Don’t Screwfix state their end feed fittings are not suitable for gas?

Just says suitable for hot and cold systems, doesn't specify whether they are suitable for gas or not. They do specifically state though that their ptfe isn't

 

[hammers4spanner]

That’s not what it’s meant for. It’s for short term removal and refitting eg cleaning behind the cooker.
A decent Gas safe registered person would leave it like that.

See that left like that all the time here , also when I was on site never use to see gas tape ptfe .
Saying that no one was gas registered yet we all fitted boilers lol

 

[richard978]

If it's a permanent move to an electric cooker then I'm sure it's best to have it capped off, but isn't a self sealing bayonet ok? At least in the short term?

Not really I've seen loads of them leak. If I find that I'm meant to cap it off, pretty sure it's in the book as well.

They get dirt on the bearing and it's stop them fully sealing. Even tiny leaks will cause smells in confined places. The other more concerning issue what if it totally fails while away on holiday. If your a plumber working for a landlord then it would be capped off when the tenant moves out. It's designed to allow cleaning not so people can fit their own cookers.

As for PTFE the colour has always been white and the difference is thickness. It's designed to seal the thread so one wrap is enough for gas. I've seen a few where people have wrapped it that much and ended up splitting the back plate.

 

[Application]

Not really I've seen loads of them leak. If I find that I'm meant to cap it off, pretty sure it's in the book as well.

They get dirt on the bearing and it's stop them fully sealing. Even tiny leaks will cause smells in confined places. The other more concerning issue what if it totally fails while away on holiday.

All valid points, but if the system has been tested via tightness test and the bayonet has been tested with leak detection fluid and no issues have been found, then shouldn't that suffice? At least in the short term if a new gas cooker is going to be installed the following week. Are there any specific regulations that state otherwise?

 

[Sharp Point]

What about micropoint adapter plates( look like a single white pattress), that are permanently attached inside and cannot be wound out to plug off. That’s the same principal as it’s big brother.... sprung sealed shut. I certainly wouldn’t get excited about a bayonet fitting left in the wall.

 

[Riley]

See both sides of this. Leaving the bayonet fitting on is working on the assumption that it’s passed a TT and it’s not just someone removing oven to replace with electric or they’ve moved out. Always TT