The Benefits of Using A Gas Safe Registered Engineer For Your Commercial Boiler Service

A boiler is an essential requirement of every commercial property. It is required for heating and hot water. Most boilers these days operate on gas; hence, the gas safety regulations are also applicable to these boilers. 

Normally a commercial boiler should not pose an immediate threat to the properties unless they are not regularly serviced and maintained. But there have been many incidents in the previous years where boilers exploded causing loss to properties as well as injuries to the occupants. Apart from such incidents of exploding of a boiler, other risks are also involved, relating to the usage of gas, such as gas leaks, fires, or explosions. 

The most serious gas-related issue might be the emission of harmful carbon monoxide, which can result in serious medical situations. In order to avoid such mishaps, gas safety regulations were formulated in the UK, commonly known as Gas Safe Regulations 1998. The provisions of these regulations are also applicable to commercial properties where any gas appliances, including boilers, are installed. 

Gas Safety Regulations

A comprehensive law was formulated in 1998 to regulate matters related to the usage of gas for domestic and commercial purposes. The law is titled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998." Since then, various amendments have been made to these regulations to make them more effective in protecting people and properties against potential risks. However, the main structure of the law remains consistent.

One of the provisions of the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 binds the landlords to conduct gas safety inspections, commonly referred to as gas safety checks, on all gas appliances installed in their properties to ensure that these are safe for use. This needs to be done on an annual basis and it includes boilers, as well. Side by side, it is also required that only a gas-safe registered engineer is authorized to do work on gas appliances, including installation, annual inspection, routine maintenance, and periodic service. Any work done by an unregistered gas engineer will not be considered valid when it comes to adherence to Gas Safety Regulations. 

Hence, a gas safety engineer will only be considered competent to work on gas appliances if he is qualified and is registered with the "Gas Safe Register." Being gas-safe registered is proof that he has the required professional expertise.

Gas Safe Register

All gas engineers in the UK are required to get registered with the "Gas Safe Register", which is an official organization established in 2009 under the patronage of the "Health and Safety Executive" (HSE). Until April 2009, CORGI (Council of Registered Gas Installers) was responsible for the official registration of qualified gas safety engineers, which was then abolished, and the responsibility of registration of gas engineers was shifted to "Gas Safe Register."

Once a gas safety engineer qualifies and gets registered with the Gas Safe Register, he is given an official ID Card by the registering authority. This ID Card carries all the necessary information about the gas safety engineer, such as his name, photograph, contact number, etc. This ID is valid for one year and needs to be renewed before it expires. An engineer holding a valid ID is authorized to work on gas appliances.

So, the landlords need to ensure that the engineer engaged by them to work on gas appliances installed in their properties holds a valid ID Card. This can also be confirmed by visiting the official website of the "Gas Safe Register," which has an updated list of all such engineers. Just enter the ID number (as appears on the ID Card) and you will get complete details. On the other hand, you can also find a qualified and registered engineer in your area by searching on the official website of Gas Safe Register. 

It should also be kept in mind that every gas-safe registered engineer has expertise in a certain field of gas work. So, before engaging an engineer, do confirm that he has the required expertise. Specifically, if you need an engineer to work on a commercial boiler, you need to check whether he has the required expertise. A boiler is one of the most important components of a commercial property’s heating system that requires a bit of a higher level of expertise when it comes to its maintenance and service.

Hence, it is important to hire the services of an experienced gas safe registered engineer to work on your commercial gas boiler. 

Maintenance and Service of a Commercial Boiler Room

A commercial boiler is quite different from an ordinary home boiler, as it has to provide heat and hot water to a large area. The scope of work is large so the size and capacity of the boiler also needs to be bigger enough. That’s why a commercial boiler is installed in a separate room, where it can be operated and maintained perfectly and effectively. Additionally, such a boiler also needs special arrangements for its safety.

Commercial Boiler Room

• The commercial boiler needs to be installed in a room that meets the local safety standards, as outlined by the local building safety department.
• The boiler room must be located in a separate place, preferably at a remote corner of the building.
• The internal temperature of the boiler room should not be less than 5°C and not more than 40°C.
• The interior of the boiler room should be tidy; and clear of any clutter and waste materials.
• The room should be kept clean of any dirt, dripping water, or any other irrelevant items. 
• The boiler room should be soundproof, which is often a requirement of the local building safety department. 
• Control panels should be installed at a safe distance from the boiler. It is important to protect the panel from the excessive heat and vibrations emerging from the boiler. 
• Only the relevant persons, like technicians and boiler operators, be allowed access to the boiler room.

Maintenance of Commercial Boilers

A correctly installed commercial boiler would provide uninterrupted heating and hot water for quite some time. However, it is likely to develop various faults, especially when regular inspection and service are conducted. Common issues with Commercial boilers may include:

• Heating Problems – A commercial boiler may stop providing required heating or it may start providing less heat. This may be a problem more relevant to the radiator failure. It may also be an issue of blockage inside the main boiler unit. 
• Leakage – Leaking water from the main unit or allied pipework is a common problem with commercial boilers. It may get worse if left unattended. It may damage the boiler unit as well as the boiler room. 
• Abnormal Noise – A commercial boiler may often start generating abnormal sounds, vibrations, and noises. Though an immediate point of concern, it may also be an indication of some serious internal issue with the boiler. It needs to be addressed immediately. 
• Lower Pressure of Boiler – A very common problem with boilers is a sudden pressure drop. It may affect the performance. It may be a result of leakage in the boiler, valves, or seals. 

All such faults in a commercial boiler need to be fixed instantly to avoid serious damage to the entire heating system of the building. Such situations can be avoided by regular inspection and periodic servicing of the boiler through a gas safe registered engineer. 

Benefits of Gas Safe Registered Engineer in Commercial Boilers

Conducting regular service and annual gas safety inspections on all gas appliances, including commercial boilers, is very important. But getting it done by a gas-safe registered engineer is even more important in many ways:

• Only the gas safe registered engineers are authorized to work on your gas appliances, including a commercial gas boiler. So, it is a legal requirement, which needs to be fulfilled in your interest. It will provide you comfort, ease, and peace of mind. 
• The gas safe registered engineer would essentially be conducting the work in compliance with industry standards. 
• The gas-safe registered engineer would ideally display quality workmanship, as they are trained and qualified to do work on gas appliances.
• Any work done by the qualified and gas-safe registered engineer would be considered valid for the issuance of a gas safety certificate, which is also a mandatory requirement for properties having one or more gas appliances installed. 
• In case of an unfortunate gas accident, the landlord would be protected under law if the annual inspection and service of gas appliances, including a commercial boiler, was conducted by a gas-safe registered engineer. Any work done by any other engineer would not be enough to protect the landlord from any possible legal proceedings in case of a gas accident. 
• If the property is insured and any mishap occurs there, the landlord would be eligible for compensation by the insurance company under the liability coverage clause. But that is only possible if the landlord has documentary proof that the property was inspected for gas safety by a gas safe registered engineer. 
• Being experts and having a higher level of expertise, the gas safe registered engineers are the best choice to keep your commercial boiler in the best of conditions, if they are engaged for routine maintenance, periodic service, and annual gas safety inspection. This might be helpful in maintaining the performance level of the boiler as well as increasing its useful life. 

Conclusion

The gas appliances are supposed to provide you comfort, whether it is your home or a commercial setup. A commercial boiler installed in your commercial property is equally essential; rather somewhat more sensitive in the sense that it has to provide heating and hot water to a relatively larger number of people. Hence, its maintenance is crucial for providing uninterrupted heating and hot water, failing which can have a negative impact on your business. 

Under the provisions of the prevalent Gas Safety Regulations, it is a legal requirement for landlords to get their properties inspected for gas safety on an annual basis, only through a gas-safe registered engineer. Likewise, it is also required that only a gas safe registered engineer should work on gas appliances. So, it is preferable to engage only a gas-safe registered engineer for regular maintenance and service of your commercial boilers. This will not only fulfill a legal obligation but will also help improve the performance of the boiler as well as increase its useful life.