Gas Appliance Warning Labels Guide

Gas is the most popular energy source worldwide, including in the UK. It is rated as the safest energy source as compared to conventional fuels like coal and oil. Is the gas safe for use in homes and businesses? The instant answer to this query might be, "Yes, it is safe." A professional gas engineer's response to this query would be, "Yes, it is safe unless it remains confined within the pipework." 

The risk associated with the usage of gas is primarily the leakage. Leaked gas may cause fire or explosion. But there is another serious threat to gas users; faulty gas appliances. Gas appliances where gas is burnt must be accurately installed and, more importantly, perform perfectly. An incorrectly installed gas appliance, or the one having subsequently developed a fault, results in a gas leak, explosion, and, more seriously, generation of carbon monoxide. 

Incomplete combustion of gas causes the emission of carbon monoxide, which is highly dangerous for human health and may lead to death. That's why gas-safe registered engineers, while conducting the annual gas safety inspections, specifically detect and identify faulty gas appliances and label them as "Do Not Use." This is the most critical aspect of the gas safety inspection, as required under the provisions of the "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998."

Annual Gas Safety Inspection – Faulty Gas Appliances 

Over the years, several gas accidents have occurred in the UK, causing property losses and occupant injuries. Specific rules and regulations were formulated to protect the people and properties against the risks of using gas for domestic and non-domestic units, commonly known as "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998." Since its inception in October 1998, it has undergone various amendments to make it more effective and consumer friendly, the most relevant being the “Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendments) Regulations 2018.” 

The main feature of the gas safety regulations is the responsibility of the landlords to arrange an annual gas safety inspection. Under the prevalent law, they are legally required to arrange annual gas safety inspections on all the gas appliances and allied installations and pipe work. Pipework is essential in the safety parameters against any possible gas mishap, as any leaks out of a pipe may result in a gas mishap. As they say, gas is safe until confined within the pipe work. 

Likewise, the landlords are bound to hire a gas-safe registered engineer to conduct the annual gas safety inspection. Gas Safe Register is an official body in the UK, which had replaced the previous one, CORGI (Council of Registered Gas Installers). Now, the gas safe register authorizes the gas safety engineers to conduct an annual gas safety inspection by issuing licenses to them.

Annual Gas Safety Inspection

The annual gas safety inspection is aimed at checking all the gas appliances and installations to confirm that these are safe for use and that the property under reference is gas safe. Generally, an annual gas safety inspection would include the following:

• Visual inspection of the gas appliances, pipe work, and other allied installations, including the boiler and flues.
• Checking for any damaged or rusty parts in the pipework and within the gas appliances, especially the boilers, to ensure there must not be any gas leak.
• Checking and verifying that the burners are burning the gas, as per standards. This is a very important part of the inspection, directly related to the emissions. Incomplete or imperfect combustion of gas is the primary cause of the generation of harmful carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless; hence cannot be instantly detected unless specific detectors are installed in the premises. 
• The gas safe registered engineer will also check the gas pressure. Correct gas pressure is a vital aspect of gas safety in many ways. So, it has to be ensured by the engineer that the burners, boilers, and furnaces are getting the correct gas pressure. 
• He will also check the gas appliances to confirm that they are working as expected. Any abnormality will be recorded and the appliances will be labeled accordingly. For the gas appliances that are considered unfit for use, the engineer will mark them as "Do Not Use”.
• The annual inspection for gas safety should also include flues and chimneys. The engineer will specifically check that these are free from any blockage. A blocked flue may also cause an accumulation of carbon monoxide. 
• The engineer will also ensure no gas leakage anywhere on the premises. If any leak is detected, it needs to be fixed on the spot, or he may also disconnect the gas supply to that appliance with the landlord's permission.

On successful inspection, he will give the landlord a gas safety certificate, which is proof that the property has been inspected for gas safety. It is also the basic requirement for all rented-out properties to get a gas safety certificate (CP12).

Gas Appliance Warning Labels Guide

One of the main features of the annual gas safety inspections is the inspection of all the gas appliances installed on the property. It includes checking their correct installation, firmness of joints and connections, and most importantly, their proper functioning. With the consistent use and lack of proper maintenance and timely repairs, a gas appliance may develop various abnormalities. A faulty gas appliance significantly threatens the safety of that property's users and occupants.

An abnormally functioning gas appliance may cause fire, explosions, and carbon monoxide emissions. The gas-safe engineers are specifically trained to detect faults in the gas appliances. They are required to check all the gas appliances thoroughly, ensuring that these are working as per the safety parameters, specified by the manufacturers. 

In case the gas-safe engineer finds an appliance is not working as per the safety parameters, he would need to label it as “Unsafe.” Accordingly, the engineer will have to follow the “Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedures (GIUSP).” The GIUSP includes the following steps which the engineer must follow:

1. The engineer is required to find out the actual reason for the fault. Once the cause of a fault is determined, they will rectify it to make the appliance gas-safe. 
2. In case the engineer is unable to trace and rectify the fault, they will inform the landlord to get it fixed. They will also ask you to use that particular appliance unless it has been repaired and rated as gas-safe.
3. If the faults cannot be removed on the spot, the engineer will disconnect the gas supply to the faulty appliance with the permission of the landlord. If the landlord does not allow them to do so, the engineer will escalate the matter to the concerned quarters. Resultantly, the gas supply company will disconnect the gas supply to the entire property till such time the faults are removed.

Gas Unsafe Categories and Labels

If the inspecting engineer detects any unsafe gas appliances during the inspection of a property, they will label such appliances as

The appliances found "gas unsafe" and marked as "Do Not Use" will be further classified into three categories:

• Immediately Dangerous (ID) – As the name of the category suggests, such appliances are dangerous right away and must not be used unless the fault is removed. The appliances marked as “ID” are straightaway unsafe for use. These appliances might need to be replaced if the fault is serious or otherwise, it can be used after proper repair. The engineer will seek the permission of the landlord to disconnect the gas supply to these appliances. If the landlord does not allow it, the matter will be referred to the Gas Emergency Service Provider (ESP), who is authorized to disconnect the gas supply to ensure that the premises are safe. 
• At Risk (AR) – Any appliance labeled "AR" is also unsafe for use, but the level of risk might be less than the ones categorized as "ID.” The appliances rated as AR might have one or more recognized faults and are considered prone to developing more serious faults if left unattended. Normally, the engineer will disconnect the gas supply to these appliances. Such appliances can be used after repair and maintenance, for which the engineer will guide the landlord. 
• Not to Current Standards (NCS) – the appliances labeled "NCS" are considered fit for use, but it is a sort of warning that they may be somewhat risky as they do not meet the current standards of safety. Such appliances should be replaced with new ones as early as possible to avoid any mishaps. Generally, such appliances are not labeled as "Do Not Use". However, these appliances are also considered gas-unsafe and should be replaced as soon as possible. But there is no restriction on using the appliances falling under this category.

Conclusion

Gas appliances are essential parts of domestic and commercial units where gas is used. The safety of the premises against the risks associated with gas largely depends on the correct installation and perfect performance of all the gas appliances installed therein. Any faulty gas appliance is an immediate threat to the safety of its user, as well as the entire property and its occupants. 

The gas safety engineers identify faulty gas appliances during their annual gas safety inspections. They label the identified faulty gas appliances as "Do Not Use." Any appliance marked as incorrect cannot be and should not be used by the residents until the fault is properly removed or the entire appliance is replaced if the fault cannot be removed. The landlords are required to ensure that these appliances are repaired or replaced, as the case may be, to make the property gas safe, which is one of their prime responsibilities.