DIY gas work = DIE gas work

[RogerMayne]

I keep reading threads on these forums where people are asking for advice on fitting gas appliances, pipework, hoses etc and I just don't get it. The advice offered is often inaccurate, dangerous or just plain wrong (in whatever order you like).

Would you fit or give advice on DIY domestic gas work? I should hope not as it would be illegal, so why do so many people who are not qualified to give advice on LPG gas in BOATS suddenly become experts on a forum?

LPG on boats is more dangerous than any other work I do and that is reflected in an almost doubling of my public liability insurance premiums. I do not want any work, I live in the middle of England far from yachts.

Please do not work on LPG if you are not qualified to do so. Get a battery powered CO alarm and fit it near your appliance, get a flammable gas detector and fit it as low as you can.

The consequences of getting it wrong with a DIY gas fit on a boat CAN BE FATAL.

 

[prv]

DIY gas work in your own home is not illegal. Although it's no bad thing for the general public to believe that it is, because it makes some of the numpties think twice.

Pete

 

[Hadenough]

I hear what you say and would agree in principle - but. I get seriously annoyed when it is assumed that a competent DIYer using the correct materials, tools and tests cannot carry out a gas installation on a boat. What is it after all? A run of pipe, a compression fitting or two, a pressure test and common sense. Serving what? In most cases a single cooker! If we were talking multi appliance, programmer controlled systems I would agree that you need the experts.

 

[C08]

In general I agree with your warning about the giving and taking of advice and the sense in having gas and CO2 detectors. If you do not know enogh about gas installations on boats and the various advisory standards relevant to boats than a little brief advice on the forums is not enough to ensure a safe installation.

However with something that can be life threatening if done incorrectly I have seen (and had done for myself) enough botch jobs done on houses and industrially by so called and "certified gas and electric professionals that I prefer to trust my own care and judgement particularly when there are so few boat savvy gas engineers around. Just my view having done my own gas work and satisfied a number of boat surveys for many years.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I remember a time when you could turn the gas meter round and run the meter backwards.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I replaced about 1m of rubber gas hose on my boat earlier this week, I undid 2 jubilee clips, pulled off the old hose from both ends, slipped on the new hose and did up both jubilee clips.

Am I going to die because of this?

 

[Searush]

I haven't died yet, nor have I killed anyone. I have replaced & removed gas fires, & cookers, I designed & installed my own gas CH in the mid 70's by simply reading books & chatting to others (professional & amateur). I have repaired several boilers, heaters & cookers buying & renewing both the gas & electrical components. I have worked on my boat, caravan, motorhomes & several houses over the years. It is no more dangerous than working on your car brakes or fixing a loose tile/ flashing on the roof.

Lots of stuff can kill you (or someone dear to you), that's why you need to think about what you do & have a clear understanding of the issues & risks. But that should not stop someone doing the work if they do understand the risks. After all, plumbers may have a "certificate" but they are not superhuman, they don't even require a tertiary education to do their job do they? Of course, I will not & cannot earn a living without the certificate, but I don't want to work any more anyway.

 

[Hadenough]

In general I agree with your warning about the giving and taking of advice and the sense in having gas and CO2 detectors. If you do not know enogh about gas installations on boats and the various advisory standards relevant to boats than a little brief advice on the forums is not enough to ensure a safe installation.

However with something that can be life threatening if done incorrectly I have seen (and had done for myself) enough botch jobs done on houses and industrially by so called and "certified gas and electric professionals that I prefer to trust my own care and judgement particularly when there are so few boat savvy gas engineers around. Just my view having done my own gas work and satisfied a number of boat surveys for many years.

+1 and well put.

 

[nimbusgb]

I replaced about 1m of rubber gas hose on my boat earlier this week, I undid 2 jubilee clips, pulled off the old hose from both ends, slipped on the new hose and did up both jubilee clips.

Am I going to die because of this?

Did you test for leaks? Do you have a bubble leak indicator?

If not then yes!

 

[David2452]

Am I going to die because of this?

Assuming your bubble tester showed zero leaks with every gas appliance turned off then probably not, otherwise, who knows?

 

[dylanwinter]

Good subject and I heartily agree

As a professional qualified camera man I too get upset when amatuers start waving electronic equipment around in a most cavalier manner without a clue about what they are doing

please leave this activity to the professionals because only they can do this without causing harm to themselves or to others.

Dylan

PS I prefer to keep the gas in the long nose lighter I use for firing up the Origo

 

[Searush]

I remember a time when you could turn the gas meter round and run the meter backwards.

You still can & it is still illegal. The sort of numpties that try that are likely to be the ones that blow someone to "kingdom come" due to poor workmanship & no pressure tests.

 

[jerrytug]

You still can & it is still illegal. The sort of numpties that try that are likely to be the ones that blow someone to "kingdom come" due to poor workmanship & no pressure tests.

Can you really do that with modern gas meters? (my friend wants to know)

 

[Searush]

Can you really do that with modern gas meters? (my friend wants to know)

Check with a Nigerian

 

[Mel]

Many people believe that DIY is dangerous !!

This is only the case when appropriate skills are missing. I have fitted gas pipe runs, electricity at mains voltage, water systems, repaired car brakes - suspension- engine tune and lots more. The only thing I know to be currently taboo is home electrics.

Many plumbers would like their work to be restricted to registered craftsmen, but thankfully the Government are now reducing red tape and H&S rules at the lower end of Industry.

Some people can make a mess of everything they touch, but I hope those sort of people quickly learn that they lack practical aptitude and concentrate their efforts elsewhere.
They rest enjoy the reward of their efforts, ask appropriate questions to guide and thankfully common sense prevails

 

[Colvic Watson]

Check with a Nigerian

Bit racist - especially for a leftie.

 

[David2452]

As a professional qualified camera man I too get upset when amatuers start waving electronic equipment around in a most cavalier manner without a clue about what they are doing

please leave this activity to the professionals because only they can do this without causing harm to themselves or to others.

Dylan

PS I prefer to keep the gas in the long nose lighter I use for firing up the Origo

Indeed, there are numerous reports of people being injured or killed through improper use of cameras, boats destroyed through explosions, electrocutions.. the list is endless, or do I mean non existent.

 

[jerrytug]

I keep reading threads on these forums where people are asking for advice on fitting gas appliances, pipework, hoses etc and I just don't get it. The advice offered is often inaccurate, dangerous or just plain wrong (in whatever order you like).

Would you fit or give advice on DIY domestic gas work? I should hope not as it would be illegal, so why do so many people who are not qualified to give advice on LPG gas in BOATS suddenly become experts on a forum?

LPG on boats is more dangerous than any other work I do and that is reflected in an almost doubling of my public liability insurance premiums. I do not want any work, I live in the middle of England far from yachts.

Please do not work on LPG if you are not qualified to do so. Get a battery powered CO alarm and fit it near your appliance, get a flammable gas detector and fit it as low as you can.

The consequences of getting it wrong with a DIY gas fit on a boat CAN BE FATAL.

I am glad you have found enough work since you posted on the flexible pipe thread, where you wrote that all LPG work on boats must be done by a person of exactly *your* qualifications, then wrote your contact details and gas safe number for people to contact you for work, the work which you don't need now. Well done

 

[Birdseye]

True. We get the same problem with electricity and electricians, work which if anything at domestic level is even simpler than basis gas work. How long before the garage mechanics jump on the same wagon and you arent officially allowed to change the brake pads on your car yourself?

 

[david_bagshaw]

I do wonder about the so called professional who has to follow his trade body and gas regs rules. (not referring to the OP)

Look at the fiasco of condensing boiler drains that froze and then flooded the circuit board. Obvious to an amateur that it would be a problem, but the regulations had to be followed, with the customer picking up the inevitable costs.

fortunately we have no gas on board. Probably in the future there will be a day when gas on a boat will be deemed too much a risk,