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Where conversion on ad hoc basis is uneconomical or
impracticable possibly because of the design or condition
of the appliance North Thames may offer to replace it with
as comparable a model as possible at no charge to the
customer.
Operations
The general pattern of a fitter's work during the cycle
of conversion will be to call at about 8 a.m. on the first day
and after testing for soundness and visually testing of
appliances for correct operation he will turn off the gas at
the meter. Distribution Engineers will then begin the turn
in procedure of purging the mains of towns gas and feeding
in natural gas. While this is going on fitters will be carrying
out the work of conversion of gas appliances in the
customer's home. Fittings for these conversions will have
been delivered a few days previously. The conversion of
as many essential appliances as possible will be completed
on the first day. Other appliances will be converted during
the second day or so. On the first day of conversion
customers will be without gas for a time which will vary
from sector to sector but the Operations staff will try to
make this as short a period as possible. If possible where
an appliance cannot be converted on the premises customers
will be loaned a replacement appliance while their own is
away at the workshops. The time spent in each house will
depend upon the number and the type of appliances to be
converted. The average non-current cooker i.e. model of
up to 15 years old takes about 90 minutes to convert
whereas most modern multi gas burners appliances are
likely to take considerably less. The aim is to cause as
little inconvenience to the customer as possible.
If, for any reason, we cannot gain entry on the first
day of conversion it will be necessary in the interests of
safety, to cut off the gas supply to the premises. If that
happens, as soon as we learn that the customer has
returned home, we shall arrange to convert the appliances
and restore the supply of gas as quickly as possible.
The effect of conversion is to replace the working parts
of most appliances and therefore from the operational point
of view a converted area is to all intents one populated
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