Tyneside businesses tend to think of the river as the middle of one place, not the edge of two. For gas work, though, the Tyne is a real boundary. There are different councils on each bank, and projects often involve both.
Gas Main Installation provides commercial gas services in Newcastle, Gateshead and along both banks of the river. Our Gas Safe registered engineers carry out installation, repair, pipework testing, gas purging, commissioning and decommissioning for businesses, contractors and building managers.
Where is commercial gas work needed in Newcastle?
Grainger Town and the city centre
The classical streets around Grey Street and the covered market hold a large number of listed buildings, now used as shops, offices, bars and restaurants. Gas routes have to work around protected fabric, and external changes may need listed building consent.
Kitchens in these buildings need tightness tested pipework, suitable ventilation and a gas interlock. Our commercial catering service covers installation and testing.
The Quayside and Ouseburn
Hotels, bars, venues and offices line the Newcastle bank of the river, and the Ouseburn valley has breweries, studios and food producers in former industrial buildings. Fit-outs and changes of tenant are the most common reasons for testing and purging here.
Science, health and education
The science and innovation quarter west of the centre, the two universities and the main hospital sites all run significant boiler plant. Laboratory and clinical buildings cannot lose heating without notice, so pipework is tested in sections on a planned programme.
Riverside industry
Walker, Wallsend and the north bank of the Tyne support offshore, subsea and marine engineering. Large fabrication halls use gas-fired radiant or warm air heating, and some have process ovens and paint curing lines.
We install and maintain commercial heating systems for buildings of this size.
Team Valley and the south bank
Team Valley in Gateshead is one of the largest trading estates in the region, with food producers, manufacturers and distribution units. The retail park and shopping centre beside the A1 contain many catering outlets and landlord plant rooms.
Tightness testing: when and why
A tightness test confirms that gas pipework is not leaking at its working pressure. The section is isolated, pressurised, left to stabilise and monitored with a calibrated gauge.
You will normally need one in these situations:
- New pipework has been installed
- Existing pipework has been extended, altered or repaired
- A gas escape has been reported
- A building has been vacant and gas is about to be restored
- A commercial gas certificate is being issued
New pipework is also strength tested at a higher pressure before it is connected. Both tests follow IGEM/UP/1 or IGEM/UP/1A, the industry standards for commercial and industrial pipework.
What is gas purging?
Purging means replacing the contents of a pipe in a safe, controlled way.
To bring a system into use, air is purged out and replaced with gas. To take a system out of use, gas is purged out and replaced with air or nitrogen. In both cases the purge is vented to a safe point outdoors and checked with a gas detector.
On larger pipe volumes, nitrogen purging is used as a barrier so that gas and air cannot mix inside the pipe. Our gas testing and gas purging page has more detail.
Commissioning new installations
After testing and purging, each appliance is lit, adjusted and checked against the manufacturer's figures. Safety controls are proved, and the readings are recorded.
Contractors receive the certificates needed for handover. This is a regular requirement on new developments in Newcastle city centre. We can work alongside your mechanical contractor or take on the full commercial gas installation.
Decommissioning before refurbishment or demolition
Older Newcastle offices, warehouses and workshops often contain pipework from earlier tenants. Before strip-out, this should be traced, isolated, purged, cut back to a live valve and capped.
Removal of the incoming service pipe is a matter for the gas network, and needs to be requested separately.
Practical points for Tyneside projects
Two councils, one river
North of the Tyne, Newcastle City Council is the highway authority. South of it, the authority is Gateshead Council. Wallsend and North Shields come under North Tyneside Council, and Jarrow and South Shields under South Tyneside Council.
If a gas route crosses a public road, footway or verge, a street works permit or a section 50 licence is normally required from the relevant council before excavation. The A1 Western Bypass and the A19 are managed by National Highways.
The Clean Air Zone
A Clean Air Zone covers the city centre and the main bridges over the Tyne, including routes into Gateshead. It applies to certain commercial vehicles, so it is worth checking when planning deliveries and plant.
The gas network
The network across the North East is operated by Northern Gas Networks. It owns the service pipe up to the emergency control valve. New connections and supply upgrades are arranged with the network or through your supplier. Our work starts after the meter.
If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 straight away.
Excavation on private land
No highway permit is needed, but a utility search and ground scan should always be done. Former shipyard and colliery land can contain old foundations and abandoned services. Our underground gas pipework page explains how buried routes are planned.
Gas leaks and repairs
Once the emergency service has isolated a supply, it stays off until the fault is fixed. We provide emergency gas repairs for commercial premises in Newcastle and across Tyneside, then retest and purge so the supply can be restored. Our team works seven days a week.
Do we cover Gateshead, the coast and beyond?
Yes. We cover all Newcastle postcodes, from NE1 in the centre to Jesmond, Gosforth, Byker, Walker, Benwell and Newburn.
Gas Main Installation also works in Gateshead, Wallsend, North Shields, Tynemouth, South Shields and Jarrow. Further out, we cover Cramlington, Washington, Sunderland and Durham. Our services are available across the UK.
Talk to us about your Newcastle site
If you are a contractor, facilities manager, landlord or business owner with a gas project to plan, we would be glad to help.
Call 08000 855 077 or contact Gas Main Installation with the address, a short description of the system and your preferred dates. You will receive clear advice and a free, no-obligation quote.