Why must the gas meter be installed inside the house?

Why can’t the gas meter be installed outside like the water and electricity meters, but has to be installed inside the house?

1.Why should a gas meter be installed at home?

1)Proximity principle

The principle of natural gas pipelines entering households is to be close to the nearest place, and the shorter the distance, the better. Firstly, natural gas pipelines are metal pipes, which are expensive to build, and secondly, gas pipelines are dangerous. Directly leading to the kitchen is the best route. If the gas pipeline is placed in the stairwell and then enters each kitchen, the distance is too long.

2) Safety first

The second reason is that natural gas pipelines are afraid of enclosed and unventilated spaces. Usually, above-ground pipelines are installed in well-ventilated locations. If a pipeline well is set up in the indoor stairwell like water and electricity circuits, and the gas meter is installed in the outdoor stairwell, once a leak occurs, there will be a safety hazard, which can easily cause an accident and require strengthened safety inspections, increasing risks and costs.

3) Safe passage

The stairwell is a safe passage for the entire house and an escape route for residents in emergency situations such as fires and earthquakes. If our gas pipelines and gas meters are placed in the stairwell, it is extremely dangerous when a fire occurs in the stairwell, which can easily cause the fire in the stairwell to develop rapidly and cause the risk of explosion.

Earthquakes can cause gas pipelines to break and leak, and coupled with electrical circuits, gas pipelines in homes are usually installed in the kitchen or on the exterior walls.

4)Convenient for later maintenance

The gas meter needs to be checked regularly, just like the battery, which needs to be checked regularly to prevent the leakage of liquid from corroding the battery box. Also, the gas meter and pipes must be kept clean, and corrosive liquids such as acids and alkalis should not be used to clean them.The most important thing is to check for leaks regularly and use soapy water to check for leaks at the joints.

2.Can the gas meter be installed outdoors?

There are no specific requirements for installing gas meters indoors or outdoors. As long as the conditions are met, they can be installed. For example, they can be installed on outdoor balconies. However, they must be protected from wind and rain, and avoid aging and damage. At the same time, they must meet the conditions specified in the "Urban Gas Design and Use Specifications". In some rural areas that use gas, some meters are hung outside the wall for easy meter reading.

The installation location of the user's gas meter should meet the following requirements:

1)It should be installed in a well-ventilated indoor place with non-combustible or flame-retardant structure and convenient for meter checking and maintenance.

2)It is strictly prohibited to install in the following places:

(1)Bedrooms, toilets and dressing rooms;

(2) In pipe wells with power supplies, electrical switches and other electrical equipment, or in hidden places where leaked gas may be trapped;

(3) Where the ambient temperature is higher than 45°C;

(4)Often humid places;

(5)Where dangerous materials such as flammable, explosive, corrosive or radioactive materials are stored;

(6)Where there are electrical equipment such as transformers and power distribution;

(7)Where there is a significant vibration impact;

(8)In refuge floors and safe evacuation stairwells in high-rise buildings.

3)The ambient temperature of the gas meter should be higher than 0°C when using artificial gas and natural gas; when using liquefied petroleum gas, it should be higher than its dew point by more than 5°C.

4)The gas meter in the house can be installed in the kitchen, and can also be installed outside the door when conditions permit. When the gas meter is installed at a high position in the house, the bottom of the meter should not be less than 1.4m from the ground; when the gas meter is installed above the gas stove, the horizontal clearance between the gas meter and the gas stove shall not be less than 30cm; when installed at a low position, the bottom of the meter shall not be less than 10cm from the ground.