Commercial Gas Services in Wolverhampton and the Black Country

Process gas for metal finishing and manufacturing

What makes industrial gas systems different?

A heat treatment furnace or galvanising bath burns far more gas than a boiler room. Pipework is larger, there may be several burner trains on one line, and each train has its own valves, governors and safety controls.

Any alteration means isolating the line, carrying out the work, then testing and purging before relighting. With large pipe volumes, nitrogen purging is used so gas and air never mix in the pipe.

Working in harsh environments

Acid fumes, heat and damp shorten the life of steel pipework. In plating and pickling shops, external corrosion is a common cause of failed tightness tests. It is one of the most frequent problems we see in Wolverhampton and Bilston works.

We replace corroded sections, improve supports and coatings, and add isolation valves so that future work can be done without shutting the whole site.

Fitting in with production

Furnaces cannot be switched on and off at short notice. We agree shutdown dates well ahead and work seven days a week, including during holiday shutdowns.

Where do we work locally?

Bilston, Ettingshall and Monmore Green. Traditional heavy industry, steel stockholders and fabricators along the Bilston Road and the canal.

Wednesfield and Willenhall. Engineering firms, lock makers and distribution units, along with the main hospital site at New Cross.

Stafford Road, Pendeford and the i54 area. Aerospace and automotive manufacturers occupy large modern buildings north of the city, close to the M54.

Wolverhampton city centre. Offices, the university, retail, the football stadium and the theatres. Restaurants and takeaways need commercial catering gas work and commercial gas certificates.

Science park and business parks. Multi-let buildings with landlord heating plant and shared supplies.

We also install and service commercial heating systems, including radiant and warm air heaters for factory and warehouse space.

How does tightness testing work?

The pipework is isolated from the supply and pressurised. After a settling period, the pressure is monitored with a calibrated gauge for a set time.

The permitted pressure drop depends on the volume of the pipework, the gauge and whether the pipe passes through occupied areas. If the drop is too great, the leak is found and repaired, and the test is repeated.

Testing is needed on new pipework, after alterations or repairs, after a gas escape and before gas is restored to pipework that has been out of service. New pipework is strength tested first at a higher pressure.

Commercial and industrial testing follows IGEM/UP/1 or IGEM/UP/1A. Landlords letting industrial units in Wolverhampton often arrange a test between tenancies.

Purging, commissioning and decommissioning

Commissioning purge. Air is removed from new or repaired pipework and replaced with gas. Appliances are then lit, adjusted and checked, and the results recorded.

Decommissioning purge. Gas is removed and replaced with air or nitrogen, so the pipework can be cut back, capped and labelled safely.

In both cases the purge is vented outdoors to a safe location and monitored with a gas detector. Our gas testing and gas purging page explains the method.

Why does decommissioning matter on older sites?

Many Black Country works have changed use several times. Redundant branches are often left connected and full of gas.

Before demolition, conversion or a new tenancy, we trace the system, purge the redundant sections and cut them back to a live valve. The records are updated so the next engineer knows what remains.

New gas pipework

We install commercial gas pipework to IGEM/UP/2 for Wolverhampton businesses. Projects include supplies to new furnaces and ovens, heating for extended buildings, and buried polyethylene mains between units. See our underground gas pipework page.

Where a branch is needed from a live pipe and a shutdown is difficult, gas hot tapping may be an option.

Who needs to be contacted before excavating?

Highways

City of Wolverhampton Council is the highway authority for roads in the city, including Bilston, Wednesfield and Tettenhall. A street works permit or a section 50 licence is normally required before digging in a public road or footway.

The i54 business park lies on the city's northern edge in South Staffordshire, where the highway authority is Staffordshire County Council. Willenhall is in Walsall, and Dudley has its own council. The M54 and M6 are managed by National Highways.

Canals

The Birmingham Main Line, the Wyrley and Essington and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canals all pass through the area. Many industrial sites back onto them.

If work affects a towpath, canal wall or bridge, the Canal and River Trust should be consulted before starting.

Ground conditions

Much of the area has a history of mining and heavy industry. On private land no highway permit is needed, but a utility search, ground scan and review of any site investigation are sensible before trenching.

The gas network

The local gas network is operated by Cadent. It owns the service pipe up to the emergency control valve. Applications for new connections or larger supplies go to Cadent or a registered utility infrastructure provider. We look after everything after the meter.

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

Repairs

We trace and repair leaks on commercial and industrial pipework across Wolverhampton. After an emergency isolation, we fix the fault, retest and purge so the supply can be restored. Read more about emergency gas repairs.

Do we cover the rest of the Black Country?

Yes. We cover all Wolverhampton postcodes, including WV1 to WV4, WV6, WV10, WV11 and WV14.

Gas Main Installation also works in Willenhall, Codsall, Wombourne, Dudley, Tipton, Walsall, Cannock and Telford. Our services are available across the UK, so businesses with several sites can use one team.