How can you identify a Gas Meter type? [Useful Guide]

You need the right size gas meter for your business. If the gas meter you currently have installed is bigger than you need, you could find yourself unknowingly paying hundreds, or even thousands of pounds in additional standing charges for something you don&#;t need. Conversely, if your gas meter is too small to manage your current, or planned, gas demand, you could find your gas equipment operating below its projected efficiency and may hamper your operations.

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Gas meter types are built to accommodate different levels of gas flow. To help you identify what capacity gas meter you have, we provide a simple guide below.

Gas meters can be identified by looking at the display panel. Meters often carry a meter serial number and details of its capacity, and measurement class on the fascia. However, the model number is often either absent or not visible. Nevertheless, you can find it if you know where to look.

The model number may well begin with the letter U or E, followed by a digit. This information can usually be seen on the display fascia.

In the example below you can see the meter size on the dial, along with the meter capacity.

Most modern meters provide the Qmax and Qmin and these can be used to identify the meter flow capacity.

Q max refers to the maximum flow rate. This is the highest flow rate at which a gas meter is required to operate within the limits of its maximum permissible error.

Qmin refers to the minimum flow rate. This is the lowest flow at which the meter accuracy will be within the maximum permitted error.

(Note: you only need the Qmax to identify the meter)

If you can find the Qmax then you can usually identify the meter type, although there are exceptions, particularly with older meters that use imperial measurements.

Using the above principles, it should be easy to identify your meter size and model. A meter displaying Qmax = 16 m3/h will identify the meter as a U16 with a peak flow of 16 m3/h.

The list below contains the main low-pressure meters in use in the UK and their maximum flow rates.

Q max = 16 m3/h = U16
Q max = 25 m3/h = U25
Q max = 40 m3/h = U40
Q max = 65 m3/h = U65
Q max = 100 m3/h = U100
Q max = 160 m3/h = U160

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If you require a Peak Demand in excess of the capacity of your current meter you can identify the meter model you require by matching the demand in the chart below.

Some older gas meters use imperial measurements instead of metric, and these can be more difficult to identify and size. The answer is to convert cubic feet into cubic metres. The table shown above provides both metric and imperial flow rates.

If you are having problems with this either call us, or send us a photo of the meter, and we will identify the meter, its peak capacity, and whether it is suitable for your requirements.

Standard imperial gas meter

This type of meter will have four numbers you need to read. The red numbers can be ignored. 

To read the meter, simply write down the white numbers from left to right. For the last white number, write down the number you can see most of in the display. If in doubt, choose the lower number. 

In this case, the meter reading is .

Standard metric gas meter 

This type of meter will have five numbers you need to read. You can ignore any numbers in the red areas.

Make sure to include any zeros at the start of the meter reading.  

The meter reading in this case is .

Gas dial meter

Some meters have dials which look similar to clocks. You&#;ll need to read each dial in turn. You can ignore the red and 100 per rev dials.  

• Read the dials from left to right.
• The numbers on each dial will run either clockwise or anti-clockwise. 
• If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the smaller number. If the pointer is between 0 and 9, write down 9.
• For any dials where the pointer is pointing straight at a number, underline the number you write down. Ignore this rule if the number is a 9.
• When you&#;ve written down numbers for all five dials, look at any numbers you&#;ve underlined. If any of the underlined numbers are followed by a 9, take away one from the underlined number.

Don&#;t worry if this sounds complicated &#; we&#;ll go through the reading step by step for the dial meter shown above. 

Starting left to right: 

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• The pointer is between 3 and 4, so we write down 3.
• The pointer is directly on 9. We write down 9 but don&#;t underline it: 3  9  
• The pointer is directly on 6. We write down 6 and underline it: 3 9 6
• The pointer is between 6 and 7. We write down 6: 3 9 6 6
  
• We ignore the 100 rev dial and red dial.
• We now check the numbers we&#;ve underlined
• The only number we&#;ve underlined is a 6. It&#;s followed by another 6. So we leave the underlined number as a 6.
• This gives us our final reading to send to our supplier:  3 9 6 6