Speedfit compressed air fittings for temp domestic gas ?..
Discussion
Indulge me. We've had the gas meter moved to the new garage, which whilst complete isn't connected to the main house. I'd like to get the gas back on in the house for some (low BTU) kitchen gas appliances, but are some weeks away from when this can be piped in properly. We've used regular speedfit for temporary plumbing whilst stuff has been moved round. I'm contemplating using some speedfit pneumatic for a temporary gas connection. Whilst not usually used for such, with 20mbar gas what could go wrong ? Apart from gas explosion, death and danger etc.. Someone must have either thought the same or done it. What do they use for propane connections in boats and caravans etc ?
catfood12 said:
I'm contemplating using some speedfit pneumatic for a temporary gas connection.
Quite apart form anything else, if you *did* have a problem you would probably find your insurers would refuse to pay out.Running a "proper" gas line shouldn't be that big a deal, even if you have to temporarily cap some of the ends you need commissioned.
A plan would be to put some lever isolating valves close to each endpoint, beyond each valve fit a short stub of pipe with a cap, then test the whole layout.
That would let you run what you need now, while leaving the other ends safe. When you need to commission a new appliance, shut the valve, remove the pipe stub, and connect pipework to appliance.
You would need to retest after every additional appliance is connected to the gas supply.
A gas can get 'through' much thinner gaps than a liquid - they are more "runny" or "thinner" (think of "much lower viscocity"), in simple (motoring) terms 
.
If water leaks from a placcy pipe fitting, it will most likely be a drip and will carry no risk of explosion; a gas leak - if it happens - will be much more than the equivalent of a drip (also invisible but smelly if one is in the area as well as spreading out through the space the leak is in [c/o brownian motion]) and carries the grave risk of explosion (and not necessarily with a spark - ever heard of LEL [Lower Explosive Limit, 5% atmospheric concentration from memory] & UEL [Upper etc, 15% atmos conc from memory] between which explosion can be spontaneous?
)
The OP's plan is therefore NOT recommended for numerous reasons regarding potential negative outcomes
.
.If water leaks from a placcy pipe fitting, it will most likely be a drip and will carry no risk of explosion; a gas leak - if it happens - will be much more than the equivalent of a drip (also invisible but smelly if one is in the area as well as spreading out through the space the leak is in [c/o brownian motion]) and carries the grave risk of explosion (and not necessarily with a spark - ever heard of LEL [Lower Explosive Limit, 5% atmospheric concentration from memory] & UEL [Upper etc, 15% atmos conc from memory] between which explosion can be spontaneous?
)The OP's plan is therefore NOT recommended for numerous reasons regarding potential negative outcomes
.smn159 said:
dave_s13 said:
Why would running gas through a pipe designed to take mains pressure water be dangerous? If its only temporary?
Do the seals that work on water not work on gas?
Because it would melt in a fire and blow you up?Do the seals that work on water not work on gas?
....and in that event, there would be an immediate source of ignition at hand, so that would immediately burn any escaping gas, and therefore there should be no buildup of gas, and no explosion. Have I got that right?
Either way, I don't like the idea of doing a temporary lashup.
king idiot for even thinking it. dave_s13 said:
Why would running gas through a pipe designed to take mains pressure water be dangerous? If its only temporary?
Do the seals that work on water not work on gas?
Fill a regular party balloon with water and leave it for a week.Do the seals that work on water not work on gas?
Fill a regular party balloon with helium and leave it for a week.
A the end of the week, one will still be full and one won't.
ManFromDelmonte said:
Fill a regular party balloon with water and leave it for a week.
Fill a regular party balloon with helium and leave it for a week.
A the end of the week, one will still be full and one won't.
Which is why they make the black pneumatic speedfit for gases, not water. Not talking about using the white water fittings here.Fill a regular party balloon with helium and leave it for a week.
A the end of the week, one will still be full and one won't.
aw51 121565 said:
ever heard of LEL [Lower Explosive Limit, 5% atmospheric concentration from memory] & UEL [Upper etc, 15% atmos conc from memory] between which explosion can be spontaneous? )
The OP's plan is therefore NOT recommended for numerous reasons regarding potential negative outcomes .
It wouldn't be spontaneous. )The OP's plan is therefore NOT recommended for numerous reasons regarding potential negative outcomes
.LEL and UEL are simply the limits of the concentration range you 'need' to be in for methane to be ignitable in air. Below LEL and above UEL means that the gas concentration is either too low or high to be ignited.
Rickyy said:
Don't be stupid.
I'm pretty sure the use of incorrect fittings and materials is a RIDDOR reportable offence.
RIDDOR requires deaths and injuries to be reported only when:I'm pretty sure the use of incorrect fittings and materials is a RIDDOR reportable offence.
there has been an accident which caused the injury
the accident was work-related
the injury is of a type which is reportable
catfood12 said:
Which is why they make the black pneumatic speedfit for gases, not water. Not talking about using the white water fittings here.
I wouldnt risk it personally - technically it would no doubt hold the pressure though. Would there be anything like the seals not agreeing with natural gas and corroding/deteriorating etc?Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff