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Yellow gas pipe showing outside

You should never see exposed yellow gas pipe

Since the early 1970s gas has been transported to properties underground in yellow MDPE gas pipes.

It’s much more reliable and much easier to install than the old copper and iron pipework.

However yellow gas pipes have a couple of weaknesses.

Yellow plastic pipe is not heat resistant.

The first (slightly obviously) is that yellow plastic pipe is not resistance to heat or fire. The plastic will soften, melt and even catch fire if its’s exposed to high enough temperatures.

This is why there are strict rules about how the pipe is installed.

The pipe should never be installed inside a property. It is quite common to find internal gas meters with exposed yellow pipe. It is normally found after an extension has been built that incorporates the gas meter.

Yellow plastic pipe is not UV resistant.

Yellow plastic pipe is designed to be used underground or covered to protect it from UV from the sun.

Over long periods UV radiation can weaken the yellow plastic. This has the potential to cause gas leaks.

Normally any exposed pipe is covered by a tough plastic or fibreglass sleeve.

The sleeve protects it from damage and stops any UV.

I can see yellow gas pipe, what should do?

Visible external yellow gas pipe

If the sleeve is missing and yellow pipework is exposed you must contact your gas emergency service provider (ESP). A gas engineer will classify this as AT RISK.

Any gas pipework before the meter is the responsibility of the ESP. The ESP will attend and fit a new sleeve on the pipe at no cost to you.

Yellow gas pipe inside a property is only classed as AT RISK if the gas supply is medium pressure. (Click this link to find out if it is MEDIUM PRESSURE).

If the gas supply is low pressure (the most common type in the UK) then it is classed as not to current standards (NCS).

Turning off the gas does not remove the risk so the gas supply can be left on.

The emergency service provider should be notified.

The ESP will attend and advise on the next step. The next step is normally moving the gas meter so it is not inside the building.

This is normally at your expense.

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