What is a Gas Safety Check?
F
or landlords, it’s a legal responsibility to ensure that your property or properties are in compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation. This covers everything from the structural integrity of the building to electrical appliances, but one of the most crucial elements of property safety is gas.
Ensuring that gas safety checks are carried out on your property is imperative, as failure to meet safety standards can put tenants’ lives at risk. These checks must be carried out every 12 months on every gas appliance that the tenant is able to use – ovens, boilers, chimneys and flues – all fall under this bracket.
There is a difference, however, between a gas safety check and a gas appliance service.
Gas Appliance Servicing
A gas appliance service is somewhat more comprehensive than a safety check, but it is not legally required. Servicing will usually consist of an engineer checking the internal components of an appliance and inspecting each part – this helps the engineer to catch any faults that may be present or act on signs of potential issues before they worsen.
Once the service is finished, the engineer provides the property owner with paperwork confirming the completion of the service and the recommended date of the next service. It is important to check all appliances and structures using gas regularly, so don’t overlook your commercial gas and boiler servicing.
Gas Safety Checks
Covering the range of gas appliances in a property, gas safety checks ensure that:
- They work properly
- They aren’t leaking harmful gases or combustion byproducts
- Their operating pressure is correct and that they are burning gas correctly
- All ventilation routes are clear and working properly
Typically taking place each year, the specific parts that are inspected under an annual gas safety check include but are not limited to:
- Gas installations, location of appliances, terminal, chimney/flue route/position and any signs of incomplete combustion (leftover gas)
- Combustion chamber, casings and seals
- Gas meter/emergency control valve – accessibility, maintenance and correct labelling is checked
- Burner pressure or gas rate of appliance. Both are checked where required
- Ventilation systems
- Spillage testing
- Flue flow testing
- Flame supervision devices and any other safety controls
- Evidence of improper or unsafe operation of gas appliances
- It is recommended that a tightness test of any gas installations is carried out
These checks are required for a range of properties, including:
- Landlords
- Housing associations
- Local authorities
- Hotels and B&Bs
- Colleges
- Boarding schools
- Hostels
What information does the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record contain?
The Landlord’s Gas Safety Record contains a detailed list of the work that has been carried out during the safety check. The list includes:
- A description of every appliance checked
- The name, registration details and signature of the engineer who provided the checks
- The date of the checks
- The address of the property where the appliances are installed
- The name and address of the landlord or agent of the property
- A list of any defects found and the work required to rectify them
- A confirmation of results of all safety checks carried out
The importance of gas safety checks cannot be overstated – they are imperative for maintaining the safety and peace of mind of you and your tenants. Landlords and proprietors who are found to not comply with the required actions face serious consequences including sizeable fines, jail time & in the worst case scenario, the loss of life.
Express Gas Solutions are Greater London’s leading providers of commercial gas services, including gas connections, boiler servicings, and much more. For more information about the work we do, please feel free to get in touch with us today and we’ll be more than happy to help you with anything you need.
