Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

Enclosed pipes

19.—(1) A person shall not install any part of any installation pipework in a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction unless it is so constructed and installed as to be protected against failure caused by the movement of the wall, the floor or the standing as the case may be.

(2) A person shall not install any installation pipework so as to pass through a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction (whether or not it contains any cavity) from one side to the other unless –

(a) any part of the pipe within such wall, floor or standing as the case may be takes the shortest practicable route; and

(b) adequate means are provided to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any escape of gas from the pipework passing through the wall, floor or standing from entering any cavity in the wall, floor or standing.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), a person shall not install any part of any installation pipework in the cavity of a cavity wall unless the pipe is to pass through the wall from one side to the other.

(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to the installation of installation pipework connected to a living flame effect gas fire provided that the pipework in the cavity is as short as is reasonably practicable, is enclosed in a gastight sleeve and sealed at the joint at which the pipework enters the fire; and in this paragraph a “living flame effect gas fire” means a gas fire –

(a) designed to simulate the effect of a solid fuel fire;

(b) designed to operate with a fanned flue system; and

(c) installed within the inner leaf of a cavity wall.

(5) A person shall not install any installation pipework or any service pipework under the foundations of a building or in the ground under the base of a wall or footings unless adequate steps are taken to prevent damage to the installation pipework or service pipework in the event of the movement of those structures or the ground.

(6) Where any installation pipework is not itself contained in a ventilated duct, a person shall not install any installation pipework in any shaft, duct or void which is not adequately ventilated.