How to check a gas meter without removing taking into account the service life

Although gas meters appeared in homes many years ago, not everyone knows the details of their maintenance. In order for the owners and the gas supplying service to have confidence in the accuracy of the measurements, the device must be periodically tested. You can carry out verification without dismantling the device. But you need to know how to do it. Do you agree?

Detailed information on how to check a gas meter without removal can be found in the article we presented. We have described in detail the types of flow meters, their operating principle and given the frequency of maintenance. We have set out in detail the sequence of actions necessary for verification without dismantling.

Classification of modern gasometers

Gas controllers are convenient devices that allow you to monitor the flow of natural gas.

There are many models of such devices, which according to the principle of operation can be divided into categories:

• membrane;
• rotary (rotary);
• turbine;
• vortex.

Consider each view in more detail.

View # 1 - membrane devices

Such devices (also called camera or diaphragm) have a low bandwidth (about 12 m³/ h). The work is based on the principle of dividing the gas flow using membrane components into fractions of the volume with their subsequent summation.

Controllers of this type are most often used in everyday life. They are easy to operate, have good measurement accuracy, and are resistant to magnetic fields. Membrane gasometers also have an affordable cost, due to the fact that their internal parts and components are made of plastic.

Membrane models of meters are widely used in everyday life. Such devices are installed not only inside residential premises, but also on private houses or in entrances

At the same time, such devices are quite durable: their covers are made of cast aluminum or stamped steel coated with an anti-corrosion composition, and the polymers of which the mechanism is made are resistant to aggressive substances contained in natural gas.

View # 2 - Rotary Devices

Although such devices are small in size, they have a large flow rate (10-1000m³ / h) and a wide measurement range.

The principle of operation of rotary controllers is similar to chamber ones, but the converter element is made in the form of an eight-shaped rotor, which rotates under the influence of the gas pressure difference. To reduce the friction from which the active part wears out, constant oil lubrication is required.

Rotary or rotary gas meters are designed to measure the flow rate of non-aggressive gas mixtures and natural gas on a commercial and industrial scale.

For this type of gas meters, such qualities as durability, the ability to control by the readings of the differential pressure in the meters are characteristic. Due to this, such devices are widely used in housing and communal services, especially in heating boiler rooms. Small rotary appliances can also be used in homes and apartments.

View # 3 - Turbine Options

The active element of such gasometers is a turbine wheel that rotates under the influence of a gas stream, and the number of revolutions directly depends on the volume of the flowing stream of volatile fuel.

The counting mechanism installed in the device counts the number of rotations, showing the volume of the substance that passed through the counter during its operation.

Turbine models are produced to measure flow in high pressure pipelines. They are equipped with electronic devices for convenient data reading and regular monitoring.

There are various models of turbine gasometers that differ in both size and level of automation used to measure and process the results. However, due to the ability of such devices to withstand large volumes of gas flow, it is most expedient to use them at large industrial enterprises with fuel consumption of up to 10,000 m³ / h.

View # 4 - vortex devices

The operation of vortex gasometers designed to process 50-12000 m³ / h of blue fuel is based on the dependence of the purity of pressure fluctuations on gas flow. Such devices are most often used in large enterprises.

The advantages of devices in this category include:

• lack of quickly worn moving parts;
• the ability to work in a significant measurement range;
• correct functioning even in difficult conditions regardless of pressure drops in the pipe and temperature exposure.

The disadvantages of vortex devices include the inability to work with gas flows moving at low speed; the difficulty of measuring gas flow in contaminated aggressive environments; the need to use electric current.

Vortex gas flow meters are also available for process control and volumetric consumption measurement by industrial and commercial organizations.

With criteria and guidelines gas meter selection The following article will familiarize you in detail.

Period of use of measuring instruments

For each category of gas meters, a specific service life is provided: for example, for the popular NPM G4 membrane model, the service life is defined as 20 years.

In practice, appliances usually fail much earlier.

Among the reasons that cause a decrease in the period of real use compared with the planned one can name:

• excessive moisture content in the gas;
• reduced device bandwidth;
• lack of a dust filter or insufficient size of its cells;
• violations committed during the installation of the device.

In order not to miss the breakdown of the gas meter, periodically check the condition of the device and replace it if unsuitable. Since only licensed specialists have the right to engage in such manipulations, you should contact specialized companies for this.

The purpose of the gasometer check

A mandatory procedure for all users of gas meters is a check, the purpose of which is to identify the compliance of the device with metrological requirements. Article 13, paragraph 1 "On ensuring the uniformity of measurements" of the Federal law informs that the gas meter must pass the initial control before starting to use the device or immediately after its repair.

If the owner of the meter evades periodic verification or identifies a meter malfunction, he will have to pay for gas at higher tariffs

According to the regulations, during the operation of the device it is also necessary to conduct regular verification of the device. The "Rules for the supply of gas for domestic needs" (Clause 21) states that citizens are required to present meters for the monitoring within the stipulated time, and they are charged with shipping costs.

The procedure for conducting control measures

The performance assessment of the device is carried out in accordance with regulatory documents.

Any verification of the meter can only be performed by qualified specialists. These include employees of the city gas service or licensed firms

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 549 of July 21, 2008 defines the terms and procedure for diagnosis:

1. The control measures must be agreed with the owner of the apartment. To do this, specialists who are responsible for the examination should inform about it no later than a week before the planned date of diagnosis, and they must receive confirmation of the delivery of the information letter.
2. The inspection can only be carried out by employees / representatives of a specialized company that has entered into an agreement with tenants on the maintenance of in-house / in-house equipment for natural gas.
3. The specialists who carry out the gas meter diagnostics are required to provide the landlord with official documents, and upon request, an identity card.

All results of the control measures are recorded in the act of checking the gasometer.

The following information should be reflected in this document:

• date and place of diagnosis;
• information (name, passport data) about the owner of the gas controller being checked;
• information about the persons who were present during the verification, including their passport details;
• indications of the device at the time the diagnostics started
• a description of the technical condition of the seals on the device and in the place of its connection to the gas pipeline;
• information about violations, which indicates a specific clause of the agreement, on which a flaw was made, or a record of the absence of malfunctions.

In the event that at least one of the above rules has been violated, the verification of the meter may be declared illegal.

Ability to recalculate gas fees

The verification procedure for gas controllers is important. Recently, such devices have become widespread, since they not only reduce the consumption of non-renewable natural resources, but also reduce gas payments.

At the same time, an efficient consumption of a fuel resource is possible only with the full-fledged operation of the meters, which cannot be achieved without an established system for checking them. In addition to the initial assessment of the status of the device, users are prescribed to carry out scheduled and urgent checks.

Correct operation of gas meters provides the following advantages:

• Significant cash savings.
• The development of consumer discipline in the use of gas.
• Establishing a scheme for the rational use of blue fuel in everyday life with careful monitoring of its costs.

Thus, the controllers allow the economical use of reserves of natural fuel, and also serve as an incentive to maintain the intra-house / intra-apartment gas communications in good condition.

The use of meters is associated with the observance of certain rules, one of which is the strict observance of the prescribed terms for the diagnosis of gas meters and regular inspections of equipment

According to the regulations, equipment installation should be carried out by specialized specialists. Such a procedure, which takes a minimum of time, is convenient, safe and comfortable.

Extraordinary check of gas meters

In addition to scheduled inspections of the state of the device, there are a number of reasons why an extraordinary (urgent) procedure for assessing the state of a gas meter may be required.

Representatives of gas services can send the meter for verification ahead of time if it is suspected that incorrect data has been transmitted or falsified

These situations include:

1. Violation of the integrity of the seal or verification mark. Printing and imprint are considered violated if the printed information cannot be read without the use of special tools.
2. A change in the position of the seal, which allows you to access the internal elements and make a payment correction.
3. Mechanical damage to the device (shock, heavy loads, depressurization) or suspicion of it. In this case, it is necessary to urgently check the gas meter in order to determine its ability for further operation, which is confirmed by the issuance of a new permit.
4. Depreservation. A similar procedure is necessary for gasometers that have been idle for longer than one inter-calibration interval.
5. Suspicion of false information displayed by the counter.

Consumers themselves must report to the gas supply authorities about the problems encountered and call experts for an unscheduled examination. In some cases, an additional audit initiative may come from the organization concerned.

Gas meter inspection frequency

In addition to the initial check, there is also a specially developed diagnostic schedule, in which the dates of the periodic verification of gas meters are written.

The interval between such events is mandatory prescribed in the data sheet of the device. The period during which the full operability of the gas metering device is guaranteed is also indicated there.

You can find out the duration of the previous check by examining the gasometer seal under the magnifying glass. On the mark that is applied to it, is the year and quarter of the procedure

The documents indicate the time of the diagnostic procedure and put a stamp certifying the suitability of the gasometer for operation.

The indicated date of the planned inspection should not be neglected. If the device does not pass the control within the intended time period, it is considered unsuitable for use, and the data taken from it may be invalidated.

In this case, the fee will be charged according to the average meter readings for the previous period or according to the standards prescribed in the contract. It is also possible to recalculate the already paid fees for blue fuel in the direction of increase.

For each brand of gas meter, a certain calibration interval is prescribed, which implies the maximum period of operation of the device before it is checked. So, the SG-SGK-1.6 model is designed for 8 years of operation, while the SGMB-1.6, Grand-1.6, SGBM-1.6 Betar - for 12 years.

It should also be taken into account that the life of the gas meter is calculated not from the date of sale, but from the date of its manufacture (PR 50.2.006-94 “GSI.The procedure for verification of measuring instruments ", Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 640 07/21/94).

In the absence of a technical passport (for example, in case of loss), gas service specialists can independently determine the calibration interval of any meter using technical documentation and reference books.

How is verification carried out without withdrawal?

Gas services offer two options for control measures.

Traditional diagnostic option

Conventional verification takes place in two stages. After calling specialists and agreeing on the time of their arrival, company employees visit the apartment, where they rent a meter from gas supply system, which is taken to the laboratory. Instead of the device, a temporary jumper is placed.

The device climbs into a laboratory equipped with specialized equipment. Here, the device undergoes a thorough control study for its operability.

After completing the procedures, the workers again come to the house, where the device is installed, followed by sealing, after which the controller is considered commissioned.

An ongoing event may include the installation of a new power supply, as well as the complete prevention of the device, which is disassembled and cleaned, thereby significantly increasing its useful life.

Checking the gas meter at home

There is also a modern technology for testing devices, which is suitable for most models of gas meters SGB, NPM, SGMN, BK. It involves procedures for assessing their performance without being removed at the installation site, while the seals and stickers remain intact.

To check the gas meter at home, special diagnostic devices are used that are trusted only by highly qualified specialists

Checking gas meters without removal is carried out using special equipment that is connected to the gas network, which makes it possible to check the readings of gas controllers.

Such an examination is slightly more expensive than traditional, but it can significantly reduce the procedure for determining the health of the device. In addition, in this case, noise, pollution and other troubles associated with the dismantling of equipment are excluded.

To carry out the verification procedure of the device without removing it at home, the user must provide:

• Visual accessibility of the counter. If the appliance is hidden behind a kitchen set or hanging cabinet, it is necessary to remove or move the interior items so that the specialist can see the window with the indicators of spent fuel.
• Easy access to the crane. Workers should be able to turn the faucet on and off, which is mounted on a pipe connected to the gas stove.
• Access to an electrical outlet. Near the junction of the gasometer with the pipe, there must be an electric current source, which will be needed to turn on the special device.

However, such an examination has a number of drawbacks. This method allows you to diagnose only the general condition of the meter, while a malfunction or damage to its individual parts can go unnoticed. In addition, this option is not suitable for all gasometer models.

There are a number of gasometer models (UBGS, OBOE and others), the inspection of which is possible only after dismantling carried out by specialized services

Regardless of the verification method, upon completion, the user is issued an act on the results of the procedure and a receipt for payment.

Actions to complete verification

Having carried out the verification procedure with or without removal, the specialist concludes that it is possible to use a gas meter for another inter-verification interval.

If the test was carried out in the laboratory, the device recognized as a working device is put back into place, while the installation workers put a seal and a stamp on the junction of the device with the gas pipeline section

After that, the representative of the organization conducting the inspection writes out a permit certificate, and the device is sealed with the application of a verification mark. Comprehensive information certified by the signature and image of the seal is entered into the technical passport of the meter.

In case of deviations between the readings of the device and actually the data on the consumed resources, the device is recognized as faulty, and the owner is issued a “Notice of unsuitability”. In this case, it is necessary to repair the gas meter or, preferably, to purchase a new device.

Specialists draw up the act of checking and sealing the gas meter in two copies: one remains with the service provider, the second with the owner of the device. After applying the seal, payment for gas is charged according to the readings of the device

Dates and cost of verification work

Device checks are carried out during the time period established by the laws and regulations of the Russian Federation.

If the removal of the meter and other activities are carried out by an organization that has entered into an agreement with the owner of the apartment for maintenance of home appliances and networks, then the term of the laboratory test may take 15-30 days.

Verification should be taken care of in advance by calling specialists 1-1.5 months before the due date for the period of the verification interval

If the check is carried out without removal by a specialized company using high-tech equipment, research is carried out much faster (within an hour), although for a higher fee.

According to legislative standards, gas meters are monitored by subscribers, who are also responsible for the good condition and correct operation of the instruments. Based on this, the services of the company conducting the inspection procedure for the device for gas consumption should be paid by the owners of the apartment.

The specific cost of the work varies depending on the region, the distance of the addressee and the type of device. Before calling a specialist, it is advisable to call the company and ask about the price of the service from a manager or dispatcher.

Without dismantling and transportation to a calibration organization, you can test not only a gas flow meter. About how verification water consumption monitoring devices, you’ll find out by reading our recommended article.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video below shows how you can check a gas household meter not at home, but next to the house:

Checking the gas meter without removing it at home is a fairly simple procedure, but its implementation requires high-tech equipment, as well as qualified personnel. To carry out such an operation, you need to contact a specialized company.

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