EP #50 – Ex Gas Safe Inspector Explains The New Tightness Test Rules w/ Terry Sawyer
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Table of Contents
Overview
The way you test for gas leaks is changing. The old 4 and 8 millibar method is gone, and installation volume calculations are coming in.
If you haven’t already got your head around what that means in practice, especially on jobs where you can’t see the pipework, this is the conversation you need to hear. Terry Sawyer spent years as a Gas Safe inspector before stepping back onto the tools, and he’s been one of the clearest voices online breaking down what the IGEM/UP/1B 4th edition actually means for working gas engineers.
Highlights
IGEM/UP/1B Edition 4 changes
- (2:19) – The tightness testing procedure itself isn’t changing until you find a leak or perceptible movement.
- (3:17) – A lot of the questions so far are about sizing an installation when you can’t see it.
- (4:15) – You have to go off your best assumption from what you can see. If you can’t be certain, you should go to the highest installation volume.
- (8:25) – If you find a leak, you now have to isolate the appliances to test if the leak is from the appliances or pipework.
- (8:54) If you cannot isolate an appliance, you need to go worst case scenario, testing as if it was pipework only, even with the appliances attached.
Reason for the changes
- (6:10) – It makes sense to work out how much gas is being lost if the system has a leak. A bigger installation will leak more gas with the same pressure.
Terry’s advice:
- (11:10) – If there is a leak, check the appliances before doing any calculations. If it is the appliance, you can then check if it’s within the limit.
- (15:50) – The changes have come into effect already, but there is a transition period until the 1st of October. After that, you would fail a gas safe inspection.
- (16:35) – Calculating installation volume can be done easily with an app.
- (18:50) – Industry Standard Update 133 – Print it out and keep it handy.