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The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this document:
Committee reference GSE/25
Draft for comment 17/30365142 DC

Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 31 December 2017. It was prepared by Technical Committee GSE/25, Gas meters. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

BS 8499:2017 supersedes BS 8499:2009, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

This new edition of BS 8499 incorporates technical changes to Clause 6 and Figure 6 only. It does not represent a full review or revision of the standard, which will be undertaken in due course.

Use of this document

It has been assumed in the preparation of this British Standard that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualiﬁed and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its requirements are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “shall”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

Where words have alternative spellings, the preferred spelling of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is used (e.g. “organization” rather than “organisation”).

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

In particular, attention is drawn to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 [1].

Introduction

As competition in the gas industry has increased, the introduction of new products has led to changes to certain designs of meter box for housing gas meters. Consequently, for some types of meter installations the market now comprises several distinct box designs.

The number of different designs is causing difﬁculties for gas installers, meter asset managers and other parties involved in meter installation.

This Standard aims to address some of the disparities in existing box designs to facilitate the installation of meters across the UK. However, it is recognized that some designs, particularly those for the semi-concealed box, will need to be modiﬁed over time to obtain a solution that meets the aspiration of this Standard.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the type and construction of a meter box is subject to approval by the Gas Transporter, and, without this approval, the Gas Transporter may refuse to connect or, in some cases, may disconnect the gas supply to the consumer’s premises.

1 Scope

This British Standard speciﬁes requirements for gas meter boxes for use with single gas meter installations conforming to BS 6400, which:

are supplied with gases of the 2nd and 3rd family, with a maximum capacity of 6 m³/h and a maximum operating pressure not exceeding 2 bar; and
incorporate any of the following meters: diaphragm, ultrasonic, credit or prepayment.

It does not apply to multiple meter installations which are installed in the same housing.

NOTE 1 The composition of fuel gases of the 2nd and 3rd family is speciﬁed in BS EN 437.

NOTE 2 All pressures quoted in this standard are gauge pressures.

It covers the following designs of meter box, including any associated box extensions:

built-in;
surface mounted;
semi-concealed;
universal.

It does not cover security shrouds intended to provide additional protection to meter installations.

This British Standard also speciﬁes requirements for the design of the standard meter bracket.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and deﬁnitions

4 Dimensions and features

4.1 All box types

4.2 Built-in boxes

4.3 Surface mounted boxes

4.4 Semi-concealed boxes

4.5 Universal boxes

4.6 Box extensions

5 Meter bracket (supplied separately)

6 Spigot

7 Materials

7.1 Meter box

7.2 Latches and studs

7.3 Small metal components (e.g. latch plates, latch washers)

8 Finish

8.1 Meter box and box extension

8.2 Screws

9 Marking

9.1 Meter box, excluding spigot

9.2 Door

9.3 Spigot

9.4 Meter bracket

10 Notices and labels

10.1 General

10.2 Colour

10.3 Emergency notices

10.4 General instructions label

10.5 Manufacturer’s label

11 Type testing and performance requirements

11.1 Flexural properties

11.2 Charpy impact strength

11.3 Density

11.4 Hinge strength

11.5 Door ﬂatness of built-in and surface mounted boxes

11.6 Water absorption of semi-concealed and universal boxes

Bibliography

BS 8499:2017

Specification for domestic gas meter boxes and meter bracket

Current

Published:

31 Dec 2017