Pressure Test

[Kimou]

I'm having a dispute with a gas engineer who insists that it is ok to pressure test pipework with air. I told him it's extremely dangerous. He has since asked Gas Safe and they've told him, apparently, that it's ok too.
Now I know that it is illegal unless it is done under certain conditions such as everyone has to leave the building and a complete risk assessment has to be carried out.

Does anyone know what regulation covers this so I can prove to him once and for all? I can't seem to find it anywhere but I know it exists.

 

[Dotty]

Existing or new pipework? Commercial?

All ok. Legislative document for commercial is IGE/1/UP2

Strength testing pipework greater than 25mm, up to and including 150mm with a maximum operating pressure of 7 bar may be pneumatically tested.

Never vacated a building for a strength test, nor for a purge, direct or indirect!

 

[Kimou]

New pipework on domestic. When I was in college the tutor wouldn't divulge too much about it because of certain reactions between copper and air goes into the realms of explosives and it wouldn't be prudent of him to give too much away. He just covered the permissible basics of what or what not to do when testing. But saying that, the closest authority I can find is on the UK COpperboard site, but there's no citation attached.

 

[Kimou]

Basically because air can compress and it takes a lot more air to raise the gauge, if there was a sudden drop then it can explode.

 

[Kimou]

Croppie, are you referring to a gas pipe work test? Sorry, I'm meant pipework for water.

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Kimou, have you been drinking?

Cos your talking absolute rubbish.

Since when does mixing air and copper make an explosion?

 

[Kimou]

Please reread my post. I said that a tutor told me this some time back when I was in college. And it was in reference to high pressures and elements within copper.

 

[Kimou]

Anyway, my enquiry is to a regulation and what is that regulation if it does indeed exist.

 

[gassafe]

Regulations are all good & well. But a low pressure air test to ensure no open ends etc will not hurt!

 

[gassafe]

New pipework on domestic. When I was in college the tutor wouldn't divulge too much about it because of certain reactions between copper and air goes into the realms of explosives and it wouldn't be prudent of him to give too much away. He just covered the permissible basics of what or what not to do when testing. But saying that, the closest authority I can find is on the UK COpperboard site, but there's no citation attached.

Is this the quality of college plumbing tutors these days? I bet the tutor has never done a days real plumbing!

 

[chris watkins]

Or maybe the student is getting a little confused or a combination of the two.
Is it Oxygen & copper (or acetylene)? I cant remember. Hydraulic tested should be employed for final tests (not N.gas pipes) Water Regulations & BS 6700 Hot & cold, 1.5 time max expected pressures.

 

[Kimou]

Thanks, Chris. All I remember is him being reserved about it. It was some time back. I want something specific like a regulation that says about air testing pipe work for water and the legality of that. I'm not really interested in anybody else's nonsense on what they 'think'. It means nothing to me.

 

[Toxic Ted]

Thanks, Chris. All I remember is him being reserved about it. It was some time back. I want something specific like a regulation that says about air testing pipe work for water and the legality of that. I'm not really interested in anybody else's nonsense on what they 'think'. It means nothing to me.

If you want peoples opinion or "nonsense" then ask the question, however if you dont then look it up yourself........rude man!

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Kimou, your the one speaking nonsense, why would their be any harm in testing copper pipe work with air? Think about what your asking, why would it make a difference if the pipe carried water or gas after it had been tested with air.

What your asking is " is it safe to pressure test copper pipework with air?"

The answer is yes

Your mate is right

 

[gassafe]

Push fit manufactures used to ask for silly air test pressures prior to filling with water... Something like 10 bar!

I have heard they say fill with water only now tho. The danger is that air compresses, and water does not I think... Therefore alot more stored energy / risk if a fitting were to blow apart! Hence my earlier post that a light air test for open ends etc would not hurt!

your post mentions he called gas safe register? Maybe he was just air testing with a hand pump and manometer in millibars! He is not going to put water in a gas pipe!

 

[Keefy]

 

[Toxic Ted]

Lmfao

 

[kirkgas]

So you went to college 1000 yrs ago and vaguely remember being told it was dangerous to air test? And you are now in dispute with a currently qualified gas engineer who has told you it's ok to test and you are on here looking for legislation saying it is dangerous?
What we you training towards at college? You should have listened, and if you want to read where it says you can test with air you want to read IGE/UP/1B edition 3 2013, then remember to contact the gas engineer to apologise

 

[kirkgas]

Haha just read the post again and have quoted the wrong reg cause I was pee'd off with his attitude, prob need BS6700

 

[Keefy]

Haha just read the post again and have quoted the wrong reg cause I was pee'd off with his attitude, prob need BS6700

Yes that's right, I'm going to talk in pictures today.