How Gas Safety Regulations Have Changed Over the Years

The concept of gas safety is as old as the usage of gas for domestic and commercial purposes. It started with the usage of coal gas in the Domestic sector in the UK in mid of the 19th Century, initially for lighting. Gradually, the gas gained popularity in the commercial sector as well. Likewise, the scope of usage of gas also expanded, over the years. 

The evolution of gas safety regulations started right from the beginning of using gas appliances for residential and business places. The need for such regulations arose due to the recurring gas mishaps, especially the carbon monoxide poisoning. As gas gained the status of the most popular energy source, the ratio of gas accidents also increased manifold. 

The risks associated with gas were not restricted to just carbon monoxide poisoning; it also involved fire and explosions, causing noticeable losses to properties. It also caused serious threats for the occupants of those properties, which also involved deaths. These potential risks in using gas for residential as well as commercial purposes forced the need for gas safety parameters, which ultimately resulted in the formulation of a comprehensive law. 

The gas safety regulations, as we see today, have passed through a phase of evolution since the enforcement of the first such law. 

The History of Gas Safety Regulations

The history of gas safety regulations started in the mid-19th century and got its current shape by the late 20th Century. 

A brief history of gas safety regulations is summarized here:

• The first set of gas safety laws was enforced in the 19th century on a local basis by the Acts of Parliament on the gas companies. The prime concern at that stage was to avoid gas leaks so as to protect the people and properties from accidental fires or explosions. However, there were no gas safety protocols in place at that point in time.
• During the decade from 1920 to 1930, the gas safety regulations started getting a formal composition. During this decade, more public awareness evolved on gas safety against the probability of carbon monoxide poisoning. The remedy to that was suggested in the shape of providing ample ventilation, around the gas appliances. 
• In 1950, the Clean Air Act was launched. It basically provided guidance on preventing air pollution while using gas. Till that time, the emphasis was primarily on the safe usage of gas appliances. However, there were no formal gas safety regulations aimed at the overall safety of people and properties against the threats associated with the usage of gas for domestic as well as commercial purposes. 
• The first concrete step towards ensuring gas safety for homes and businesses was taken through the Health and Safety Act 1974. 
• Later on, the first comprehensive set of rules and regulations was introduced and enforced in the entire UK in 1998 under the Health and Safety Act 1974 provisions. The law was entitled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.” 

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998

Passing through a gradual phase of evolution, the gas safety standards were formally gathered under one comprehensive law, titled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.” This law outlined the rights and responsibilities of all the users of gas, whether for residential or commercial purposes. The main features of these regulations can be summarized as under:

• The law was immediately enforced in the entire UK, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from October 1998.
• As the name suggests, it is applicable to all activities related to gas, including installation and use. 
• The purpose of these regulations is to ensure the safety of people and property against possible gas mishaps, including fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• The main responsibility of gas safety rests on the Landlords of the rented-out properties, where one or more gas appliances are installed. 
• The landlords were made responsible for arranging gas safety inspections on an annual basis on all the gas appliances installed in their properties. 
• The term gas appliances is also applicable to boilers, flues, and chimneys. 
• On successful completion of the annual gas safety inspection, the landlords will get a "gas safety certificate,” more commonly known as CP12. 
• The gas safety certificate is valid for 12 months and needs to be renewed before its expiry. 
• All gas-related work, including annual gas safety inspection and issuance of gas safety certificates, can only be done by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer. 

Creation of Gas Safe Register – 2009

Prior to 2009, the Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) was responsible for managing the affairs of gas safety engineers. This organization was replaced with the "Gas Safe Register" in the year 2009, under the provisions of the gas safety regulations of 1998. Accordingly, it assumed the role of an official body for registering gas engineers.

The prime responsibility of the gas safe register is to bring the acts of gas workers and engineers under the ambit of the gas safety regulations. For this, they have evolved a comprehensive scheme for registering gas engineers. Since its inception, gas engineers have been required to get themselves registered with this official body. Once registered, the engineers will be authorized to work on gas appliances. Their registration is valid for one year and has to be renewed on an annual basis. 

The credentials of all registered gas safety engineers are placed on the official website of the gas safe register for the convenience and awareness of gas users. Anyone can now find a gas-safe registered engineer and hire them to conduct an annual gas safety inspection. 

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

One of the major changes/amendments in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, was made in the year 2018, under the title “Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendments) Regulations 2018.” This was necessitated due to an anomaly in these regulations. 

Prior to this amendment, the landlords were required to get the gas safety certificate renewed on an annual basis during the last month of the currency of the existing certificate. The next date of expiry of the new certificate was set from the date of renewal. Hence, a gas safety certificate set to expire on the 15th of September 2023 had to be renewed any time after the 15th of August 2023. Now, if you get renewed on the 31st of August 2023, the next expiry would be the 31st of August 2024. Practically, this resulted in 11 renewals in 10 years. 

The amendment in the regulations in 2018 has abolished this anomaly. The amendment provides flexibility when the current gas safety certificate is renewed. So, in the above-quoted example, even if the landlord conducted an annual gas safety inspection on the 31st of August 2023, the new gas safety certificate will take effect from the 15th of September 2023 and expires on the 15th of September 2024. 

Therefore, the landlords are now free to arrange the annual gas safety inspection at any time within the last two months before the expiry of the current certificate. This amendment has made the condition of annual gas safety inspections more consumer-friendly. 

Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detectors - 2015

In 2015, the installation of fire detectors and carbon monoxide alarms was made compulsory in the rented properties, using solid fuel-burning appliances. This also included the use of gas-burning appliances. The aim was to protect the occupants from the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning as well as from the risk of a fire. 

Landlord Responsibilities Enhanced – 2020

Since 2020, the responsibilities of the landlords are further enhanced. They are now required to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to the new tenants prior to the start of the tenancy. They are also made responsible for keeping the record of the annual gas safety inspections for at least two years, as proof that the property is gas safe. 

Use of Advanced Technologies

Gas safety regulations are being regularly updated to accommodate new technologies, such as smart energy meters and remote/online gas safety inspections. Now, the facility of Digital Gas Safety Certificates is also available. 

Conclusion

The gas safety regulations are not static; they are flexible, amendable, and improvable based on ever-changing circumstances. Hence, the gas safety regulations, which started taking shape right from the beginning of the usage of gas in domestic properties, primarily for lighting, had undergone large-scale improvement, modification, and amendments. While the basic law remains effective under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, various amendments and modifications were made to make it more effective to regulate the usage of gas, both for domestic as well as commercial purposes. 

The regulations, which primarily started on local-based Parliamentary Acts, have now evolved into a comprehensive set of rules and regulations that govern almost all aspects of the usage of gas and gas appliances in all types of properties, including residential, commercial, and industrial units. The changes in the gas safety regulations were also compelled by the introduction of new technologies, which made them more consumer-friendly and effective in preventing possible gas mishaps.