Checking gas connections for professionals

I) Legal basis :

current G2f directive of the Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association (SVGW), excerpt from chapter 11

Operation and maintenance

The gas pipes must be checked and maintained periodically. In particular, they must be checked regularly for leaks.

The obligation to check the remaining property connections lies with the owner concerned, unless the canton, municipality or gas network operator has issued other regulations.

Gas network operators must periodically inform the owner of his responsibility for maintenance and the resulting obligation to carry out periodic inspections.

The gas system operator must have a 24-hour standby service.

Periodicity of checks

First check:

  • 6 years after commissioning

Repetitive checks :

  • Pipes up to 100 mbar ⇒ 6 years
  • Pipes over 100 mbar ⇒ 4 years
  • Heavily built-up areas ⇒ 2 years

The inspection intervals will be shortened for sections with a high number of leaks.

II) Setting up a gas connection

Gas connection diagram (PDF)

The private connection includes the plug from the main line to the inside of your building.

III) Responsibilities

Every owner must ensure the periodic inspection of his connection from the concession valve to the interior of his building. Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies, for its part, is responsible for the annual inspection of the water mains up to and including the concession valve. All inspections are centralised and archived by Yverdon-les-Bains Energies.

The owner is obliged to have the defects repaired without delay at his own expense.

For all questions regarding the connection control: controlegaz@ylb.ch or +41 24 423 64 92

1) Who issues the SSGI Directives?

At the national level, a large number of gas and water suppliers as well as all interested parties from the business, scientific and public sectors are grouped together in the Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association (SVGW).

This non-profit umbrella organization offers gas and water distributors the opportunity to pool their know-how and skills. Through its action, the SSIGE makes a major contribution to making gas and water distribution safe and reliable. The SSIGE has been defending the interests of its gas and water members for 140 years. Its mission is to stimulate the development of future solutions for the common problems of its members.

2) Why am I being informed only now?

Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies wishes to integrate the periodic inspection of private connections into the continuous improvement process of its gas network.

To this end, we refer to the guidelines of the Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association (SVGW) and proactively inform owners of their obligation to have their connection periodically inspected.

3) Who is responsible and who is in charge of controlling the gas connection?

The periodic inspection of gas connections is the responsibility of their owners, even when they are managed by several companies or organized in PEPs.

It is therefore the duty of the latter to monitor it at their own expense.

The tenant has no responsibility in the control of the gas connection.

4) I refuse to be checked but I want to keep my gas connection.

In this case, in accordance with the gas supply regulations of the Commune of Yverdon-les-Bains, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies will check your connection, at your expense.

5) Can the valve on my service line be closed so that it is out of gas?

No. In accordance with Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies' internal guidelines, the only possible alternative is to cut your connection as close as possible to the main line in the yard.

The intervention will be invoiced to you by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies at the rate in force on the price list for ancillary services.

6) What is a subscription contract?

In accordance with SVGW guidelines, the periodic inspection is carried out 6 years after construction of the connection and then every 2 years.

Based on these guidelines, the subscription contract governs the organisation of periodic checks on your connection between Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies and yourself.

In this contract, you entrust control of your connection to Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies. Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies undertakes to notify you every 2 years when it carries out maintenance work.

It allows you to spread the cost of controlling your connection over 2 years.

In addition, in the case of a targeted campaign, you will be granted a 20% discount on the subscription amount at the first check.

7) In which case am I not subject to control?

If you have permanently given up gas and your connection has been decommissioned outside your parcel, i.e. cut off in the area closest to the main line.

8) My connection is recent, should I have it checked?

If your connection has been installed recently, it must be checked once 6 years after construction and then every 2 years.

9) My connection is less than 6 years old, but I want to get it checked anyway.

In this case, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies must be notified so that your request can be included in the campaign in your sector or, if necessary, have the inspection carried out by an authorised dealer.

10) Why does Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies ask for proof of this control?

Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies' only obligation is to regularly warn users of their responsibility in the periodic inspection of their gas connection.

Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies is committed to supporting owners in this process by offering to manage the frequency of inspections for them by maintaining traceability and monitoring in its customer database in order to guarantee greater security of its network for the user and for itself.

11) I don't pay a gas bill. Why am I concerned?

  1. You terminated your gas contract and the meter was dropped. You no longer consume gas, your connection is said to be "inactive" and remains gas on your plot, in which case it is subject to periodic inspection.
  2. Your building was connected to gas when it was originally built or during work on your street, even if you have never used gas. The connection is therefore gas and is subject to periodic inspection.

12) I pay my gas bill, why do I have to pay for the connection control in addition?

The gas bill includes :

  • Consumption.
  • The subscription which covers part of the network management and maintenance costs.
  • The power which is proportional to the dimensioning of your installation.

The invoice does not include the maintenance of the private elements that make up your connection between the concession valve and your building. This part is your responsibility and you are responsible for its control and maintenance at your own expense.

13) How much does it cost to check the gas connection?

If the inspection is entrusted to Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies, a subscription contract is offered at CHF 60.00/year excluding VAT, for an inspection every 2 years.

In the case of a targeted campaign, a 20% discount of the subscription amount will be granted to you at the first check.

Outside of the targeted campaign, no discounts will be granted.

14) My connection is common or partially common with my neighbour(s). How are the control costs distributed?

Each owner will be charged a flat rate for its connection. The common area will be checked at the same time without additional billing.

15) I no longer want to be subject to these controls.

If you are a gas user or if your connection remains gas, checks are essential and the subscription contract can make your job easier.

If you are permanently giving up gas, the only solution is to cut your connection as close to the main line as possible in the field. Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies will bill you for the intervention at a flat rate at the current rate on the price list for ancillary services.

16) How much will it cost to repair any defects found during the inspection?

If the result of the inspection of your connection is not correct, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies will contact you in writing to inform you.

According to your request Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies will draw up an estimate for repair or shutdown.

In the case of a repair, you will have to contact a civil engineering company that will carry out the earthworks and backfilling at your expense.

17) How much does it cost to shut off the gas permanently?

The intervention will be invoiced to you by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies at the rate in force on the price list for ancillary services.

18) How much does it cost to shut off the gas for a fixed period of time?

The temporary gas cut-off is inside the building. Therefore, it does not remove the obligation of the periodic inspection.

This intervention must be carried out by a dealer approved by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies who must be involved in the final inspection of the intervention.

View the list of dealers.

19) When will the control campaigns proposed by Yverdon-les-Bains start?energies?

Yverdon-les-Bains Energies has defined two perimeters:

the municipality of Yverdon-les-Bains, which has over 2,100 connections;
the other municipalities supplied by the Yverdon gas network, which have 1,000 connections.
The first inspections began in the Yverdon area in 2015 and will continue in the following years in the other municipalities.

In due course, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies will send you a letter telling you that a campaign is starting in your neighbourhood or street and offering you the opportunity to participate.

20) I observed employees on the street. Did the campaign start without my knowledge?

Employees of Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies may intervene for the annual street inspection or for normal maintenance.

Dealers appointed by neighbours to check the connections can also work near you.

In any case, if you have entrusted us with the inspection of your connection, you will be contacted by mail shortly to fix the date of the inspection.

21) What is the control of my connection that is incumbent upon me?

This involves checking the tightness of your connection between your concession valve and your building (schematic diagram available at the following Internet link).

There are two ways to do this, without damaging your property:

from outside your home by a leak test on the ground, the solution preferred by Yverdon-les-Bains Energies (photo available at the following Internet link);
from inside your home by a pressure test of the pipe.

22) I seem to remember that I have a gas connection, but I haven't been contacted.

In this case, contact Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies by email controlegaz@ylb.ch or by telephone on 024 423 64 92.

23) I noticed that there were labels stuck on my pipe. What do they mean?

There are three types of signage:

This label tells you that your connection is a :

"The term 'active connection' is used if it is connected to your installation and you consume gas;
"Inactive connection", if it is plugged up inside your building without being connected to your installation and you do not use gas.
This label indicates that your connection is cut off:

"This flyer tells you what to do if you smell gas;
This flyer tells you what to do if you smell gas.

24) I don't know if my connection has been checked or if it is necessary to have it checked.

In this case, contact Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies by email controlegaz@ylb.ch or by telephone on 024 423 64 92.

25) How do I get my connection checked?

You can entrust the control of your connection :

To Yverdon-les-Bains Energies : You have already received or will soon receive a letter with a subscription contract, to be completed and returned
To an approved dealer, the list of which can be consulted here.

26) You suspect a leak on your service connection or installation.

In case of a suspicious gas odour, contact 118 at any time.

Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies has informative leaflets that can help you identify a characteristic gas odour.

27) I wish to entrust the control of my connection to Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies. How do I proceed?

You have already received or will soon receive a letter from our Service accompanied by a subscription contract, to be completed and returned to us.

On receipt of the contract, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies will include you in the control campaign for your sector and will inform you of the intervention schedule by means of a notice.

28) I wish to entrust the control of my connection to a dealer. How do I proceed?

You have already received or will soon receive a letter from our Service accompanied by a subscription contract.

You have 30 days in which to return the protocol for periodic inspection of your connection to the chosen authorized dealer (list available here).

29) How can I access the list of dealers approved by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies?

The list of authorized dealers can be found at the following link.

30) How to obtain the periodic inspection protocol?

It can only be viewed and downloaded by password for authorised dealers who request it via this link.

31) How can I be sure that the people who control my connection are employed by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies?

Our employees wear clothing in the colours of Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies (photo available at the following link).

They are in possession of a legitimation card bearing the seal of the Municipality, which they must present to you upon request.

32) My dealer has carried out the inspection, what should I do?

The dealer must return the protocol for periodic inspection of your connection to Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies within 10 days of its inspection to the following address:

Yverdon-les-Bains Energies

Rue de l'Ancien-Stand 2
P.O. Box 1295
CH-1401 Yverdon-les-Bains.

33) What are the alternatives in case of defects?

You can have your connection repaired to keep it gassed up or have it cut off for permanent decommissioning.

34) My dealer carried out the inspection and defects were found. What do I have to do?

If you wish to entrust the repair to an authorised dealer, the latter must contact Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies in order to schedule the repair work. Once the repair has been carried out, the dealer must carry out a new inspection and return the inspection protocol to Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies within 10 days:

Yverdon-les-Bains Energies

Rue de l'Ancien-Stand 2
P.O. Box 1295
CH-1401 Yverdon-les-Bains.

If you wish to entrust the repair to us, the dealer must return the inspection protocol within 10 days to Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies. On receipt of the latter, we will contact you to draw up a repair estimate.

35) After the first year of implementation, what are the first statistics?

98.7 % of the checks are correct, compared to 1.9 % with defects, which, after implementation of the repair proposals, are distributed as follows:

33% were cut into the ground closest to the communal pipe.
67% were repaired.

36) What answer is addressed to the owner whose water connection was controlled by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies?

Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies informs each owner of the result of each check by mail.

37) In the event of a leakage defect, what procedure does Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies apply?

In the event of a leakage fault, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies applies the following procedure:

Any trace of gas detected by a ground search for leaks is systematically checked by a pressure test of the gas connection from inside the building to the concession valve.
In the event of a major leak, the connection is closed and the owner is verbally informed.
For any confirmed leak, the owner is informed by letter that he must contact the SEY within 10 days.
An estimate for repairing or cutting the connection is sent to the owner.
The repair or removal of the connection is scheduled and carried out.

38) Is it intended to receive advertising or to be canvassed?

No, Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies has given no such mandate and does not support any such action.

39) What documentation or letters will I receive as part of the periodic inspection of my gas connection?

The letters sent by Yverdon-les-Bains Énergies are as follows:

Lettre de campagne accompagnée du contrat d’abonnement pour le contrôle périodique du branchement.
Avis de passage.
Courrier d’information du résultat du contrôle.
Courrier de demande de réparation.
Devis de réparation ou de coupure du branchement.
Facture de réparation ou de coupure du branchement.

Dernière mise à jour : le 13 avril 2023 à 15 h 59 min