Compression fitting

[Billygoat]

Hi Guys,

Quick question, if a compression fitting is behind a kitchen unit ...say behind the back of a cupboard ...would that be classified as inaccessible?

I know you can't have them under floor boards....is this not the same ...just seen this on a job where the gas pipe has come into the kitchen along a wall and joined with a compression and then a length of pipe all the way along up until the shut off tap for the cooker.

Cheers

 

[secret squirrel]

don't know about the gas but if you can't get to the fitting I would say its inaccessable and I would try a soldered joint or pushfit.

 

[kirkgas]

i would say if behind the back panel of a kitchen unit it is inaccessible, some argue that a fitting behind an oven is also inaccessible but i would argue/discuss that we know there are fittings behind the oven and they are designed to be fitted/terminated that way, but a pipe behind a unit with a comp fitting could be unwittingly disturbed without being able to be vissually inspected and will be a nightmare to find

 

[Billygoat]

Thanks Kirkgas, that was my gut feeling.

 

[kirkgas]

Thanks Kirkgas, that was my gut feeling.

haha just because you and i agree aint gonna make it right!!!!!!!! i'm sure an expert will along soon to keep us right:behead:

 

[Billygoat]

just had a look in me book and it says they needed to be accessible and not buried in the building structure

 

[dontknowitall]

I didn't think gas supplies could have compression fittings except at the meter and boiler. But then I'm not GasSafe so perhaps it's best to keep my snout out of threads like these?

 

[quality]

Compression is allowed on gas but obviously not in any non accessible area

 

[armourer]

My thought, just to throw a spanner in the works, if you can gained access to inspect it, is it not accessible? and I would not class that as within the building structure.
Not a diffinative answer Im afraid but as with many of the gas regs, its open to the interpretation of the competent person on site.

 

[arran197]

Compression can be used if it's accessible. I would say cut it out and solder a new one in.

 

[GQuigley67]

wherever practical its best to reduce the risk of any future leaks in pipework, this is what i was told at my inspection, so basically have all joints soldered up to the appliance where you can use compression.

 

[Surveyor5]

You have to ask yourself whether you can access that fitting to tighten the compression fittings if necessary. From the description you give of the installation I would suspect not. This should therefore be considered 'at risk'.

 

[armourer]

@ Billygoat, you said in your original post it was "behind the back of a cupboard".
Simple answer is if it against the wall and accessible in the cupboard it is ok but if a back board is fitted (ie you would have to cut it to gain access) then not allowed.

 

[kirkgas]

My thought, just to throw a spanner in the works, if you can gained access to inspect it, is it not accessible? and I would not class that as within the building structure.
Not a diffinative answer Im afraid but as with many of the gas regs, its open to the interpretation of the competent person on site.

seeing it and fixing it are 2 different things, if you remove a 100mm x 100mm hatch and insert a gas leak detector it will tell you there is a leak but you wont be able to fix it, in TB008 (flues in voids) it says a 300mm x 300mm inspection hatch is required, but to note that if inspected and a fault found it may be necessary to do further building work to actually repair the flue,

 

[armourer]

seeing it and fixing it are 2 different things, if you remove a 100mm x 100mm hatch and insert a gas leak detector it will tell you there is a leak but you wont be able to fix it, in TB008 (flues in voids) it says a 300mm x 300mm inspection hatch is required, but to note that if inspected and a fault found it may be necessary to do further building work to actually repair the flue,

Look again mate, I did say "If against the wall and accessible in the cupboard". Anyway we are talking pipework not flues but I agree with you the same access principles apply.