Gas Safe

Gas safety is imperative in the installation and servicing of gas appliances as poorly fitted and serviced appliances can cause leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

‘Gas Safe’ is the term given to operatives and businesses that qualify as competent for the Gas Safe Register, the UK’s official gas registration body, administered by Capita Group on behalf of HSE. Since 2009, when the Gas Safe Register replaced the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI), it has been a legal requirement for gas engineers to be registered.

Gas work is taken to mean:

• Installation, repair or servicing of a gas boiler.
• Installation, or repair of a gas fire, gas cooker or hob.

Gas appliance users may only undertake activities in relation to a gas appliance as set out in the manufacturer’s user instructions. They should not carry out any work that involves disturbing the gas carrying components or that could affect the combustion process.

Other competent tradespersons can undertake work involving the replacement of a water carrying component housed within the boiler’s decorative casing, providing it can be undertaken without having to break a combustion chamber seal or disturbing a gas carrying component.

Gas engineers are required to carry a Gas Safe Register ID card that should be checked before being hired for gas work on domestic or commercial premises to verify they are qualified to carry out that specific work. The card gives assurance that they are competent and qualified to work safely and legally with gas. There are a range of qualifications that allow them to carry out specific types of gas work.

The details on the front of the card include:

• Personal photograph.
• Issue and expiry date.
• Unique licence number.
• Security hologram.
• Business for which the engineer works.

The details on the back of the card include:

• The list of qualifications that enable the engineer to carry out specific types of gas work.
• The date of the qualifications.

After completing the installation or servicing of a gas appliance, the engineer will provide a report (sometimes referred to as a gas safety certificate) detailing the checks that have been carried out and advice as to when the appliance will require servicing again.

If requested, landlords must be able to provide tenants with an up-to-date gas safety record which demonstrate that an annual check has been carried out.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Asbestos in construction.
• Carbon monoxide detector.
• Fire authority.
• Health and Safety.
• HSE.
• Kitemark.
• Maintenance.
• Risk assessment for construction.
• Smoke detector.
• Third party accreditation.

[edit] External references

• Gas Safe Register
• HSE - Gas Register