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TECHNICAL supply system and for processes and Aims
procedures to be agreed across the
The initial meetings were intended to
industry,” said Mr McCluskey. cover the following aspects of the work:
“It is hoped this will enable the Legal requirements and guidance
various industry standards and for the natural gas (NG) low pressure
guidance to become consistent in supply network
their requirements and will mean Published standards by BSI and IGEM
manufacturers’ instructions match Manufacturers’ instructions
those requirements,” he added. Organisations’ internal guidance
The Low Pressure Supply Working Issues raised by the industry
Group was formed by IGEM in response The outcome of the work was intended
to a request from the Standards to inform industry of the root cause of the
Consultation Forum (SCF), back in 2016. issues originally raised by the installers at
It is made up of representatives from SCF and to propose solutions.
British Gas, Cadent, DNV GL, Energy There was consensus that the current
Assets, Global Energy, Heating and arrangements and associated legal
Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), framework were fit for purpose, but that
HomeServe, Health & Safety Executive, there was a need for cooperation across
National Grid, Ofgem, Organisation of the industry to improve communication
Professional Gas Operatives (OPGO), SGN, and increase understanding across all
Tuffentech and Wales & West Utilities. aspects of the gas system.
Following an increase in the In particular, achievement of the
number of complaints from installers following was considered:
concerning incidents of low pressure Industry to provide clarification on
on the gas distribution network, the the pressure requirements of the low
SCF instructed the operators of Cadent, pressure supply system
SGN, Northern Gas Networks and Wales Agree on the processes and
& West Utilities, to investigate and procedures across the industry
formulate a response. Enable various industry standards
Unfortunately, many in the industry and guidance to become consistent in
felt the resulting Energy Networks their requirements
Association (ENA) gas industry bulletin Match manufacturer’s instructions
did not sufficiently address the issue and with those requirements
IGEM was subsequently approached to Limit the capacity of a standard
carry out further work in this area. domestic supply
Establish the extent of low pressure
Methodology incidents on domestic installations.
IGEM sought agreement from the There were ten meetings of the
Technical Coordinating Committee working group with the last meeting
(TCC) to undertake the work on behalf of held on 6 February 2019.
the industry, which was tabled at a TCC
meeting on 6 June 2016. The request Outcome
was accepted and the first meeting was The working group developed a set of
convened on 8 June 2017 and chaired recommendations to address industry
by Vic Tuffen, Chairman of IGEM’s Gas concerns. These cover limits on the
Measurement Committee (GMC). normal kW capacity of a domestic gas
The working group was entitled LP supply service, harmonise procedures
for showers and baths,” said Ian Supply Pressure Working Group and for installing appliances and cover
McCluskey, IGEM’s Head of Technical IGEM wrote to all its consultees seeking precommissioning, commissioning,
Services & Policy. their involvement with the work. There post commissioning, conditions for
“As a result of the discussions, the was cross-industry engagement with the reporting low pressure supply, how
group concluded that procedures put working group and 24 representatives emergency service providers should
in place to deal with incidents of low at the first meeting from amongst the respond and downstream testing
pressure can vary dramatically across GDNs, meter asset managers (MAMs), methods for low pressure.
the industry. This can sometimes mean large businesses, installer groups, sole
the customer is unable to use certain traders, gas appliance manufacturers, Recommendations
appliances once they are installed.” independent consultants, BSI, HSE and Domestic (LP) supply capacity
The group also concluded there is a Gas Safe Register. It is proposed that a normal domestic
need for greater cooperation across the The format for the working group was gas service be capped at 64kW.
industry to improve communication a workshop with background information This would inform the designer
and to increase the level of prepared for each meeting and a number and/or installer to consider the load
understanding of all aspects of the gas of questions for the members to debate requirements and suitability of
system across the board. in small groups. Each group was made the appliances before pricing and
“In particular, the group has identified up of representatives across industry attending site. If necessary, there is the
a need for clarification on the pressure to stimulate conversation between the option to approach the gas transporter
requirements for the low pressure parties and arrive at a consensus. (GT) for a service of increased capacity

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IGEMNews_TechnicalLowPressure.indd 2 18/07/2019 15:36