Gas Safety
If gas appliances, such as ovens, cookers and boilers, are not properly installed and maintained, there is a danger of fire, explosion, gas leaks and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Employers need to comply with the relevant regulations to help ensure worker and public safety. You can do this by following our advice on maintaining and servicing gas appliances, by using a Gas Safe registered engineer or a competent person.
Who is competent to work on gas fittings?
Domestic properties, schools etc
In domestic properties and workplaces such as shops, restaurants, schools and hospitals, this must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register who is qualified to work on gas appliances.
It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on any domestic gas appliance. You can check this by contacting the Gas Safe Register link to external website online or by calling them on 0800 408 5500.
All those who are registered carry a Gas Safe ID card, which shows the type of work they are qualified to do and whether their qualifications are up to date.
Factories, mines etc
In factories, mines, quarries, agricultural premises, construction site huts and sewage works, work on gas fittings must be carried out by a competent person It is your responsibility to check that they are competent. If the engineer is on the Gas Safe Register, with the qualifications to do the work required, then they will be a competent person.
Work in any parts of these premises used as domestic, residential or sleeping accommodation must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register.
What do I have to do?
The basics
Use a competent engineer to install, maintain or repair your appliances
Ensure that your gas pipework, appliances and flues are regularly maintained
Check that all rooms with gas appliances have adequate ventilation – don’t block air inlets to prevent draughts, and don’t obstruct flues and chimneys
Gas
Appliances and pipework
Industrial and commercial plant
Explosions can be caused by the ignition of unburnt gas.
The law
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
The general duties of the Act cover work on gas fittings in factories, mines, quarries, agricultural premises, construction site huts, sewage works and gas-fitting testing premises. In these premises, work on gas fittings must be carried out by a competent person. If any part of these premises are used as domestic, residential or sleeping accommodation, work on gas fittings must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register.
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
These Regulations cover work on gas fittings, both natural and LPG in other premises, eg domestic properties, shops, restaurants, schools and hospitals. In these premises the work on gas fittings must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register.
Employers need to comply with the relevant regulations to help ensure worker and public safety. You can do this by following our advice on maintaining and servicing gas appliances, by using a Gas Safe registered engineer or a competent person.
Who is competent to work on gas fittings?
Domestic properties, schools etc
In domestic properties and workplaces such as shops, restaurants, schools and hospitals, this must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register who is qualified to work on gas appliances.
It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on any domestic gas appliance. You can check this by contacting the Gas Safe Register link to external website online or by calling them on 0800 408 5500.
All those who are registered carry a Gas Safe ID card, which shows the type of work they are qualified to do and whether their qualifications are up to date.
Factories, mines etc
In factories, mines, quarries, agricultural premises, construction site huts and sewage works, work on gas fittings must be carried out by a competent person It is your responsibility to check that they are competent. If the engineer is on the Gas Safe Register, with the qualifications to do the work required, then they will be a competent person.
Work in any parts of these premises used as domestic, residential or sleeping accommodation must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register.
What do I have to do?
The basics
Use a competent engineer to install, maintain or repair your appliances
Ensure that your gas pipework, appliances and flues are regularly maintained
Check that all rooms with gas appliances have adequate ventilation – don’t block air inlets to prevent draughts, and don’t obstruct flues and chimneys
Gas
- If you suspect a leak, turn off the supply and immediately call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 for natural gas. For liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), call your LPG supplier
- If in doubt, evacuate the building and inform the police as well as the National Gas Emergency Service or your gas supplier
- Do not turn a gas supply back on until a leak has been dealt with by a competent person
Appliances and pipework
- Use a competent engineer to install, maintain or repair your appliances
- Ensure that your gas pipework, appliances and flues are regularly maintained
- Don’t use any appliance you know or suspect is unsafe
- Check that the room has adequate ventilation – don’t block air inlets to prevent draughts and don’t obstruct flues and chimneys
Industrial and commercial plant
Explosions can be caused by the ignition of unburnt gas.
- Consider the need for explosion relief and/or flame-failure protection as necessary
- Make sure that the gas supply is interlocked with the ventilation of the appliance
- The equipment should be designed, operated and maintained to make sure dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) are not produced. It should not be used in poorly ventilated spaces
- There should be enough ventilation to remove combustion products
- Make sure the operators are fully trained – use a safe procedure for purging, lighting up and shutting down the plant
The law
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
The general duties of the Act cover work on gas fittings in factories, mines, quarries, agricultural premises, construction site huts, sewage works and gas-fitting testing premises. In these premises, work on gas fittings must be carried out by a competent person. If any part of these premises are used as domestic, residential or sleeping accommodation, work on gas fittings must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register.
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
These Regulations cover work on gas fittings, both natural and LPG in other premises, eg domestic properties, shops, restaurants, schools and hospitals. In these premises the work on gas fittings must be carried out by someone on the Gas Safe Register.
- zsc9815987cd156d829c8208e03d5c78e7.jpg
- qd122e4ec7c3cabaa79f2e5cf09c3775e8.jpg