A major programme to assess and improve the condition of underground service pipework carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from bulk storage tanks to industrial and commercial premises in England, Scotland and Wales has been launched.

The Industry and its representative body, UKLPG – working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – is carrying out a survey of some 60,000 businesses with such LPG pipework and will use the data to develop a programme which will prioritise the replacement of metallic service pipework starting in the autumn.

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Rob Shuttleworth, UKLPG's Chief Executive said: "The UKLPG industry is committed to work with its customers and HSE to understand and prioritise the replacement of underground metallic pipework carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to industrial and commercial premises. Whilst we believe that the majority of installations will have polyethylene pipework we need to thoroughly understand what pipework actually exists so that an appropriate replacement programme can be put in place.

"Metal pipework has been traditionally very popular and we expect a significant proportion of those businesses with an LPG supply to have them. But underground metal pipework will at some stage corrode so replacing them with more durable materials is a sensible long-term safety measure."

(CD)