Commercial and Industrial Gas Services in Derby

How do we plan gas work around production?

Agree the shutdown window

Most manufacturers can only release a gas line during a planned stop, often at a weekend or during a summer or Christmas shutdown. Our team agrees dates early and works seven days a week.

Survey and trace the pipework

Before the day, we confirm what each pipe serves, where the isolation valves are and whether they operate. On older sites, the drawings and the pipework do not always agree.

Decide the purge method and vent point

Small pipework can be purged directly. Larger pipe volumes need nitrogen purging, so that gas and air never mix in the pipe.

The vent must discharge outdoors to a safe location, away from openings and ignition sources. On sites covered by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations, the purge plan has to fit your existing risk assessments and permit to work system.

Test, purge, commission, record

New or altered pipework is strength tested and tightness tested. It is then purged and the plant is commissioned. You receive test records and certificates for your maintenance and audit files.

All testing and purging follows IGEM/UP/1 or IGEM/UP/1A. There is more detail on our gas testing and gas purging page.

Industrial and commercial areas we work in

Sinfin, Osmaston and Raynesway

The south of the city holds the largest engineering sites, along with the newer technology park beside the A50. Gas serves space heating in large halls, as well as process plant such as ovens, furnaces and test equipment.

Pride Park and the rail cluster

Pride Park has offices, the football stadium, the arena, hotels and the college, all close to the station. The rail engineering works on Litchurch Lane and the supply firms around it make this one of the largest rail clusters in Europe.

Office buildings here usually have rooftop or ground floor plant rooms. We install and service commercial heating systems and the pipework that feeds them.

Spondon, Alvaston and Ascot Drive

These estates contain fabricators, vehicle workshops, food producers and trade counters. Pipework has often been altered by several occupiers, so testing before a new tenant moves in is worthwhile.

City centre and Cathedral Quarter

Restaurants, bars and hotels in the centre of Derby need safe kitchen pipework, ventilation and interlocks. We provide commercial catering gas services and commercial gas certificates.

The riverside silk mill area forms the southern end of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. External gas pipework or flues on listed buildings may need consent from the council's planning team.

Hospital and university

The main hospital on Uttoxeter Road and the university campus on Kedleston Road both operate large boiler plant. Work is phased to keep heating and hot water running.

What is the difference between a tightness test and a strength test?

A strength test is carried out on new pipework, at a pressure above its normal working level. It proves that the pipe, fittings and joints can cope.

A tightness test is carried out at working pressure, on new or existing pipework. It proves that nothing is leaking. The pipework is isolated, pressurised and monitored with a calibrated gauge, and the result is compared with the permitted pressure drop.

A tightness test is needed after installation, alteration or repair, after a reported gas escape, and before gas is restored to pipework that has been out of use.

When should a gas system be decommissioned?

Whenever plant is removed, a unit is vacated for redevelopment, or gas equipment is replaced with electric. This is common in Derby as older works are cleared for new employment sites.

Gas decommissioning means isolating the pipework, purging the gas out, cutting back to a live valve or tee, capping, labelling and updating the records. It should not be confused with simply turning off a valve.

Removing the incoming service pipe or meter is handled by the gas network or your supplier.

Installing new commercial gas pipework

We install commercial gas pipework to IGEM/UP/2 in steel, copper and polyethylene. Typical projects are supplies to new process plant, new heater circuits in extended buildings, and buried mains between units.

Where a connection to a live pipe is needed and a shutdown is not practical, gas hot tapping may be suitable. Buried routes are covered on our underground gas pipework page.

Which authorities are involved in Derby?

Derby City Council is the highway authority inside the city boundary. If a gas route crosses a public road, footway or verge, a street works permit or a section 50 licence is normally required before excavation.

Outside the boundary, the highway authority is Derbyshire County Council. That includes the car plant at Burnaston, Belper and Ilkeston. Castle Donington and the airport are in Leicestershire.

The A38, A50 and A52 trunk roads and the M1 are managed by National Highways.

Work on private land does not need a highway permit. A utility search and ground scan are still essential first.

The gas network

The local gas network is operated by Cadent, which owns the service pipe up to the emergency control valve. New connections and supply upgrades are requested from Cadent or through a registered utility infrastructure provider. Our work begins after the meter.

If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

Repairs and breakdowns

We investigate leaks, pressure faults and failed tests on commercial and industrial pipework. After an emergency isolation, we repair the fault, retest and purge so that the supply can be restored. See emergency gas repairs.

Coverage around Derby and the East Midlands

We cover all city postcodes, including DE1, DE3 and DE21 to DE24, taking in Spondon, Chaddesden, Littleover, Mickleover, Allestree and Chellaston.

Gas Main Installation also works in Burnaston, Belper, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Castle Donington and Burton upon Trent. Our services are available across the UK, which helps suppliers with sites in several regions.