Legal issues around PRVs

[Eight]

Hello,

I'm aware that people here may not be able to give definite answers as they're not lawyers but I would appreciate it if anybody is able to point me in the right direction.

I've recently bought a house which has a fairly new combi boiler. When it was installed, the pressure relief pipe was not terminated outside - it just runs down into the condensate pipe. A plumber who came to inspect the boiler for a CP12 gas safety certificate says that this is a bad thing and that it should run through the wall and terminate outside.

I'm fine with paying to have this done, my concern is that it would have to terminate on a public footpath; the plumber is suggesting a pipe which comes out of the wall and points back at the wall to prevent spraying steam across people walking past. This seems sensible except that these days I'm fairly sure that a copper pipe sticking out the side of a house next to a public footpath will be stolen within a matter of days, which would mean that if the PRV went off, it would potentially spray hot water/steam right across people walking past.

If this were to happen, am I likely to be liable for this? What are my options?

Thanks in advance,
Sean.

 

[AWheating]

fit a metal cage over the top of it with some secure fixings. Use a mushroom terminal so theres only a few mm on show anyway and paint it to make it not look like copper.

 

[Ermintrude]

Or drill a 35mm hole in brick about 35mm deep and the mushroom fits in this hole, then fix a nice bit of steel plate over hole, fit a few washers behind plate on screws at bottom so water can get out. Use spax to rc concrete screw to fix plate.... Will keep scrap man busy for while.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Christ, are people that desperate for 5p worth of copper these days that they'd steal 2" of pipe and a couple of bends outside a building??
As above though if you're that worried fit a PRV cowl so there's about 15mm of copper outside the house.

 

[TBServices]

There are MILLIONS of blowoffs all over the uk and I've never come across a stolen one.

 

[Ermintrude]

Go for a drive in south Sheilds , will take a picture if flue baskets that have been ripped off, seem to remember a few stolen flue components too

 

[sheff paul]

There are MILLIONS of blowoffs all over the uk and I've never come across a stolen one.

Recently did some post service remedial work for a gas maintenance company,spent days repiping 'stolen blowoffs'

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Recently did some post service remedial work for a gas maintenance company,spent days repiping 'stolen blowoffs'

It's Sheffield though, to be expected

 

[woodsy]

Have to say that it is a common occurrence round here which is getting more common. Couldn't be bothered for 3" copper

 

[goz666]

Same here, happening all the time... especially on houses with gable ends were the pipe is easy accessible. Seems sad like someone else said for a few pennies worth of copper.

 

[AWheating]

They stole gas pipework by me, and they didn't turn the gas off either. About 8 houses in a row. Somebody walking down the street called the grid and reported a gas leak.

 

[TBServices]

I've seen that, been to a job to reinstate gas to find the run had been nicked. Good job they were on a pre pay meter

 

[Killy Bing]

I wonder if meters should have an excess flowvalve with a trickle feed to reset them... Hmm

 

[Ermintrude]

I did a spat of call outs to Hartlepool when I first started to some lovely houses, meters removed, gas gone and broken off ecv cold water flooding house...... Did about 5 on a row every night. Turns out landlord was running insurance scam. How did I know, pipe work was sheared off , boiler flue was removed, prv cut with slice and rad brackets unscrewed.

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I did a spat of call outs to Hartlepool when I first started to some lovely houses, meters removed, gas gone and broken off ecv cold water flooding house...... Did about 5 on a row every night. Turns out landlord was running insurance scam. How did I know, pipe work was sheared off , boiler flue was removed, prv cut with slice and rad brackets unscrewed.

I just don't understand why folks would do that.... animals.... i know I'll never be a millionaire, but when i go i know i wasn't a crook,thief or just scum

 

[AtlasGas]

A PRV can go into the waste pipe it just needs a tundish installing so a leak is visible.

 

[E4gas]

There are MILLIONS of blowoffs all over the uk and I've never come across a stolen one.

Ive heard a housing block in East London had 23-30 blow off nicked in one night ,
plus had a call from a landlord . Tenant had no hot water , some one nicked 2ft of copper that comes off the meter

 

[jefaz]

We see a lot of ETM's stolen. Go along press button for credit and if there's a few quid on it it walks!!!

 

[sheff paul]

It's Sheffield though, to be expected

How dare you pour scorn on my fine city,our thieves don't mess about they leave the prv and steal the boiler instead

 

[sheff paul]

How dare you pour scorn on my fine city,our thieves don't mess about they leave the prv and steal the boiler instead

The other year the Vaillant rep confirmed Sheffield was number one for boiler thefts in the UK....

 

[IDCHAPPY]

The other year the Vaillant rep confirmed Sheffield was number one for boiler thefts in the UK....

Blimey... folk will steal anything... a boiler?? the mind boggles

 

[Millsy 82]

Blimey... folk will steal anything... a boiler?? the mind boggles

The last company I worked for had quite a few pinched. They took the boiler and jig. They were all housing association voids. But not one had any sign of a break in. So they ended up fitting the boiler then removing it leaving just the jig then going to refit and commission the morning of hand over.

 

[Combi]

haha surly no one would steal 40mm of copper!