Legal requirements for plumbing works

Yellow_Fern

Hi,

I know it is illegal to to do any work to your gas or electrics in a domestic setting, but does it apply to alterations to gas/ coal/oil etc heating too, down stream of any boiler? I was in a trade shop and asking for advice due to a persistent issue with my heating and they starting talking about how it is illegal to make any changes to your system and that I could be arrested if found because it could cause an explosion. I was not planning to DIY a solution, but I am bit taken a back that changing a radiator, or motorised valve or whatnot could get be a criminal conviction. Is it possible to screw up the wet parts of your system so badly that it causes the actual gas or oil boiler to blow? Surely there is an enormous about of safety redundancy built in?

iwillhtfu

There'd be no issue with doing the things you've described.

I assume whoever you were talking to thought you were going to be making changes to the boiler and as such the gas connection.

Yellow_Fern

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278204#Comment_120278204

Thanks. A lot. It is great to clarify. He must have misunderstood.

Sleeper12

They were definitely talking about working on the gas boiler, hobs and gas line. There are no restrictions on the water plumbing outside of the boiler

10-10-20

Some people get up on a high horse and love a bit of drama. Gets them out of answering questions that they don't know the answer to, or away from discussions with DIYers.

Fire-away Yellow-Fern (if you pardon the inappropriate safety-related pun).

Yellow_Fern

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120283108#Comment_120283108

Thanks a lot. basically I have a house with three zones. When the motorised valve shuts off the downstairs heating zone, I get a mighty bang. It has been occurring for years so I have clipped it very well (as much as I can without removing plasterboard), ruled out the valve being on backwards and played with bypass openness. Someone said that perhaps changing the bypass valve for an auto bypass would help. I don't understand how or why, but I am interested in trying. I also like the concept of automating any component of my house system, although I don't quite understand if it is a good idea and if it would solve the banging.

dathi

is it water hammer when the valve shuts off ?

Yellow_Fern

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120289944#Comment_120289944

I dont know. I asked one plumber about that and he said an arrester would not help. I don't understand why he said that. Clearly the motorised valve is shutting off and creating a shock valve. I would have thought an arrester would have eased such a shock wave

Yellow_Fern

I have decided to fit a automatic bypass, probably a Myson model to replace the gate valve on the bypass. I hope that reduces the noise.