Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cover Fireplaces and Gas Stoves?

The most popular energy source worldwide is natural gas, commonly called "gas." It is supplied either directly through a pipe network or through cylinders. In both forms, it is considered the safest energy source for residential as well as commercial and industrial units. For residential units, it is used for heating the rooms, supplying hot water, and cooking, whereas it has several other usages for industrial purposes. 

Despite being safe, gas may sometimes be dangerous, especially when it leaks from the appliances or pipework. It can be hazardous in fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Fire and explosion can occur due to leakages, whereas incomplete combustion of gas can result in the emission of harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide.

To protect the people and properties against these potential threats, gas safety regulations legally bind landlords to obtain gas safety certificates for their properties where gas is used. This certificate is issued after a comprehensive safety inspection of all the gas appliances installed in a particular property.  It is often enquired whether a gas stove or a fireplace also needs a gas certificate. Before we explore the correct answer to this vital query, let's look at the relevant safety regulations.

Gas Safety Regulations – An insight 

As explained above, gas is potentially risky through fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning.  Over the years, these three phenomena have claimed several lives and losses to the properties and assets. The threats associated with the usage of gas had, therefore, compelled the authorities in the UK to bring it under the ambit of various safety regulations. 

That resulted in formulating "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998". This law, supported by multiple subsequent amendments, has protected people and properties from many potential gas accidents since its inception. On the other hand, it is also revealed that many gas mishaps occurred due to non-compliance with these regulations by the landlords and the end users. 

Here are some of the features of these regulations, which primarily deal with gas safety inspections and certificates:

• The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 applies to the entire UK.
• These regulations aim to ensure the safety of the properties and occupants from the potential risks of using gas.
• The safety of the tenants against possible gas mishaps is the responsibility of the landlords.
• The landlords must arrange gas safety inspections on all the gas appliances installed in their rented-out properties. Boilers and flues are also included in it. This activity needs to be conducted on an annual basis.
• Only a gas safe registered engineer can conduct gas safety inspections. Gas Safe Register is the only official organization responsible for issuing gas safety engineers licenses for gas appliance work.
• The gas safe registered engineer will examine all the gas appliances and the affiliated gas pipework to ensure that these are safe for use. If he detects any unsafe appliances, the engineer will categorize them into three different types based on the nature of the risk found. 
  • The faulty appliances, rated as “Immediately Dangerous,” will be labelled as “ID”. The appliances rated ID are highly risky and cannot be used. 
  • The second category of unsafe gas appliances is "At Risk,” commonly denoted as "AR.” The appliances labeled in this category are risky, but the magnitude of risk is lesser than those categorized as "ID.” The appliances rated as AR are also not allowed to be used unless the fault is fixed.
  • The third category of unsafe gas appliances is those that are safe for use but do not comply with the current safety standards, as updated by the gas industry. These are labeled "Not to the Current Standards" or "NCS." These can be used but must be replaced with the new ones, at the earliest.
  • IMPORTANT - The appliances rated as ID or AR are strictly prohibited from use. Hence, the engineer will disconnect the gas supply to these appliances with the landlord's permission. If the landlord does not allow to disconnect the gas supply, the incident will be reported by the engineer to the local gas supply company, who will then disconnect the gas supply to the entire property.

Gas Safety Certificates

Upon completing the annual gas safety inspection, the gas-safe registered engineer will issue the “Gas Safety Certificate.” This certificate is specifically issued for the property inspected by the engineer and cannot be used for any other property. The certificate is valid for 12 months and must be renewed before expiration.

The gas safety certificate can be renewed by conducting an annual gas safety inspection anytime during the last two months of the currency of the existing certificate. This facility is provided through an amendment in the gas safety regulations, titled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendments) Regulations 2018."

If a landlord fails to get a valid gas safety certificate, they may face legal proceedings, especially in an unfortunate gas accident. The legal proceedings may include penalties and imprisonment. The gas appliances installed by the tenants are not the responsibility of the landlords for gas safety inspections.

Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cover Fireplaces and Gas Stoves?

Once the gas safety regulations are understood, the answer to the question "Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cover Fireplaces and Gas Stoves?” can be explained easily. The gas safety regulations, as explained above, are pretty clear on this very important question. The law is quite self-explicit; it requires all the gas appliances installed in the property to be inspected for gas safety on an annual basis. This annual inspection is a pre-requisite for getting a valid gas safety certificate, which is a mandatory and legal responsibility of the landlords.

The gas appliances, under the provisions of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, include every appliance that uses gas for its functioning or is a part of the gas-operated system. Accordingly, the flues and chimneys are also included in the list of gas appliances for gas safety inspection and issuance of gas safety certificates.

The gas stoves and the fireplaces are the equipment that directly uses gas for their functioning. Hence, if a fireplace exists on the property where gas is used, it will be included in the list of appliances to be inspected by the engineer for issuing a gas safety certificate. Similarly, the gas stoves also use gas directly; hence are also included in this list.

Accordingly, the engineer will check these appliances for any leaks or malfunctions. The inspection will also check whether gas is completely burnt in the stoves and fireplaces. This is important to avoid any possibility of emission of carbon monoxide. The gas connection to these appliances must also be verified for their tightness to prevent leaks.

It is also essential to confirm that these appliances are getting the proper gas pressure, as specified by the manufacturers. All these aspects need to be checked and confirmed by the gas safety engineer to ensure the safety of the tenants.

There might be a situation where the landlord does not install a gas stove or fireplace on the property. In any such eventuality, if the tenant installs any of these appliances on his own, it will not fall under the landlord's responsibility. Therefore, the tenant will have to ensure the safety of these appliances on their own. They will have to manage their safety, themselves.

Conclusion

Getting a valid gas safety certificate for the rented-out property is the responsibility of the landlords. For this, they must arrange an annual gas safety inspection of that property. This inspection will include all the gas appliances, including the boiler, gas stoves, fireplaces, flues, and chimneys. Upon completing the annual gas safety inspection, the gas safe registered is authorized to issue a gas safety certificate. This activity aims to ensure the safety of the property and its occupants. 

All this is a mandatory and legal requirement per the provisions of the gas safety regulations of 1998, as amended from time to time. These regulations require that all gas appliances must be inspected for gas safety on an annual basis. Accordingly, the gas stoves and fireplaces also fall under the ambit of the gas safety regulations. Therefore, the landlords need to get these two appliances included in the annual gas safety inspection. This is very clear and not to be confused in any case.