Question for any gas fitters/engineers here

[judas]

Further to this thread about being overcharged for removing a gas fire and capping the pipe, I'm curious if any gas professionals on here can give me some estimates of how long a job should take.

The job was to remove a balanced flue gas fire from a house built in 2000 and cap off the pipe so the fireplace can removed and plastered over. The pipe was 10mm, stepped down to 8mm to connect to the fire, and then safety test carried out to ensure no leaks.

I'd be grateful for any ballpark estimates on how long a job like this should take for a properly briefed and equipped competent gas engineer to carry out a job such as this.

Thanks

[judas]

Thanks for this, and your other replies, very much appreciated.

Would you say that carrying a selection of gas end caps of various sizes would be considered good practice or even expected for someone in this trade?

[judas]

2lefthands said:

Yes, appropriate fittings at all times - it's a breach of GS(I&U)R to even leave a property to go and get one if this means leaving an open end. Do not pass go, do not collect £200, registration revoked upon being reported. Only way around it is to disconnect supply at meter with a disc at union and appropriate warning notices affixed - can't just tell homeowner don't switch gas back on. Chances are if they haven't got a stop end, they won't carry discs either, and didn't do this when driving 50 miles for a part?

Out of interest, have they used end feed (soldered) or compression end cap to then be plastered in? Again, it is a breach to have a compression joint that is not immediately accessible in event of gas escape.

Holy st! The end of the gas pipe was left open while they went for parts, nor did they attach warnings at the meter! About the only thing they got right was to solder on the end cap, and that was only at the insistence of our decorator (he's been in the game for a long time and seen it all).

This certainly paints the whole thing in a different light - this is much more than just about being overcharged now.



I owe you some beers for this!

[judas]

Not sure what you mean here. There gas supply was turned off at the meter during the work but that's it.

[judas]

2lefthands said:

I'm surprised they had a van, these ones usually arrive on their trusty steed.

Our decorator noted that his van was mostly filled with cans of lager. Too busy doing Costco runs to pack it with the right gear?

PM sent with gas safety cert