TIGHTNESS TESTING
Tightness testing is a safety critical process carried out on existing pipe work to ensure your gas pipe work and installations are in a sound condition and safe to use. The test is carried out at a set pressure as per GSIUR 1998 using calibrated equipment to monitor any loss in pressure no matter how small and rectify as necessary.
We would advise as best practice that all gas pipe work is inspected and tested annually during your regular gas appliance servicing. Often this is a requirement of your building insurance to validate the policy.
What you can expect from our Tightness Testing process:
- Survey pipe work and calculate pipe volume
- Determine correct testing pressures calibrated gauges
- Calculate test period including barometric correction factors and permissible leakage rate
- Where necessary, isolate valves and bypass regulators
- Isolate gas appliances
- Carry out tightness test using gas, air or inert gas
- Analyse results to determine tightness and safety of pipe work
- Re-commission any isolated appliances
- Complete all relevant documentation
STRENGTH TESTING (STP)
New commercial & industrial pipe work should undertake a Strength Test (STP) which is carried out above the normal operating pressure to identify any construction faults with the new pipe work installation.
What you can expect from a Strength Test:
- Survey of installation – inspection & removal of any component that may be damaged by the test pressure & test separately
- Calculation of the volume of the installation
- Determine test pressure & time period
- Preparation for test including full health & safety briefing/assessment
- Pressurise system and complete strength test
- Analyse test readings to determine whether installation is gas tight & safe
- Checking of any joints in hazardous or unoccupied spaces
- Completion of documentation
PURGING
Decommissioning
The purging of commercial & industrial gas pipe work from gas to air is carried out to displace the combustible gases with an inert mixture via a series of calculations, purge stack & safe working systems. This procedure would then ensure that any decommissioned pipe work is safe to be dismantled or left open to atmosphere without constituting a danger.
Commissioning
The purging of commercial & industrial gas pipe work from air to gas is to ensure the perfect air/gas mixture is passed through the pipe work without causing any hazards such as stratification or enveloping within the gas lines. The incorrect mixture at the incorrect rate will lead to appliance failure, explosive ignition, etc!
- Carry out thorough risk assessment
- Set up safe systems of work including barriers & signage
- Set up purge stack & monitoring equipment
- Calculate purge volumes & purge medium (air/gas/nitrogen)
- Ventilate purge area & extinguish any naked flames or sources of sparks
- Isolate appliances if applicable
- Carry out purge as per appropriate IGEM/UP standards
- On completion of purge, remove testing equipment from system and reconnect or plug pipe work connection points
- Complete all appropriate paperwork & certify purge
OUR COMPLIANCE PROMISE
All our purging procedures are carried out with the latest equipment and industry leading standards. Our commercial gas engineers work to the highest standards and maximum level of planning and supervision.
We follow strict risk assessments & method statements which ensures all site precautions are adhered to, thus, ensuring a safe working environment for all parties involved.
Working to industry standards – IGE/UP/1A – Industrial and commercial gas pipework with a volume less than 1m^3, also industry standards – IGE/UP/1 – Industrial and commercial gas pipework with a volume of 1m^3 and above.