The Importance of Regular Gas Safety Inspections: A Comprehensive Guide

Gas is a highly inflammable material, which makes it somewhat dangerous. Though it is considered a safe energy resource for homes and commercial properties, the chances of any mishap are quite high, especially in case of a gas leak.

A gas leak is not the only cause of a gas accident. Other potential risks associated with gas are equally worth consideration, which include fire, gas explosion, and, more importantly, carbon monoxide poisoning. Above all, gas accidents mostly occur due to the non-serious approach of homeowners and landlords towards gas safety.

They assign the gas word to non-professional and unregistered gas engineers. Moreover, continuing with faulty gas appliances is another serious problem that results in unfortunate gas accidents. The prevalent rules and regulations in the UK require a qualified and gas-safe registered engineer to regularly inspect all gas installations.

Reasons of Increasing Number of Gas Mishaps

A recent survey report published by the Gas Safe Register highlights some serious lapses by homeowners and landlords that resulted in serious gas mishaps.

• Gas safety is not the priority of new homeowners; rather it is the lowest of their priority list.
• 27% of the new home buyers were interested in re-decoration, and gas safety was not a priority for them.
• Only 12% of the new home buyers wanted a new boiler.
• Around 24% of the people admitted that they have never considered servicing their boiler.

The above statistics reflect that most homeowners and landlords must conduct regular gas safety inspections. This is quite an alarming situation and has been one of the major causes of the increasing number of gas accidents. Reports reveal that, on average, 60 deaths occur every year only due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, many injuries and loss or damage to properties occur every year in the UK.

However, on the other hand, thousands of properties successfully avoided gas accidents by following the gas safety parameters provided in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, as amended occasionally. The most relevant clause of these regulations is the requirement of regular gas safety inspection on all gas installations and appliances, including gas meters, gas pipework, ovens, boilers, flues, and any other appliances or fixtures that use gas or exhaust gas.

The Importance of Regular Gas Safety Inspections

Gas appliances and their associated pipework must always be in perfect condition. Faulty or substandard gas appliances pose a big safety threat to your property and its occupants. Gas safety can only be ensured through regular gas safety inspections.

On the other hand, conducting a gas safety check annually is also a legal requirement for landlords of residential and non-residential properties. That makes it crucial for homeowners and landlords to ensure regular servicing and gas safety inspections on all the gas appliances installed in their properties.

Here are some of the aspects of the importance of gas safety inspection:

• It’s a legal requirement.
• Regular gas safety inspection guarantees the safety of people and properties.
• Regular servicing and inspection of gas appliances minimize the chances of carbon monoxide emission. This lethal gas leaks from faulty gas appliances due to incomplete gas burning. Being colorless and odorless, carbon monoxide cannot be instantly detected without a good carbon monoxide detector. Hence, regular gas safety inspections can save you from this dangerous gas.
• Gas leaks are one of the major causes of gas accidents, such as fire or explosion. They often occur due to improper installation of gas appliances, loose joints, and connections, and eroded or damaged pipework. Regularly inspecting gas appliances and linked gas pipework can help identify such leakage.
• Another significance of regular gas safety checks is the identification of unfit gas appliances installed in your home. After conducting a gas safety check, the gas safety engineer classifies all the gas appliances into different categories according to their current operating status. The appliances marked as ID need to be replaced immediately, while those rated as AR may have to undergo necessary repairs before they can be used. This entire exercise ensures the safety of your home and family.
• As notified by the manufacturers, gas appliances work properly on prescribed gas pressure. The appliances must be getting the required operating gas pressure. The inspecting engineer will specifically check each appliance in this respect to ensure its optimum operational efficiency. This will help optimize your energy bill and ensure the safe operation of the gas appliances.
• A valid gas safety record proves that the building has been inspected for gas safety under the provisions of the gas safety regulations. This can only be issued by the gas-safe registered engineer after an annual gas safety inspection. In case of any mishap, this record can save you from any possible legal complications.
• A landlord cannot rent his property without a valid gas safety record.
• If the property is insured, you might be eligible for compensation in case of a gas mishap. However, this is subject to having a valid gas safety certificate, which can only be obtained after a successful gas safety inspection.
• Fresh air is required for natural gas burning. If the supply of fresh air is insufficient, the appliances may not work properly due to the non-availability of oxygen. During the annual inspection, the gas engineer will also examine this factor and suggest how it can be managed.

What Should Be the Frequency of Regular Gas Safety Inspections?

As discussed, regular servicing and safety inspection of all gas appliances are very important. Under normal circumstances, the gas safety inspection should ideally be conducted once a year. However, it should be conducted whenever you feel it is due.

Here are some useful tips on when to consider a gas safety check:

• One or more of your appliances are not working as expected.
• When a gas appliance gives an abnormal flame, such as a yellow flame, it should ideally give a bright blue flame.
• Dark stains appear on a gas appliance or near to it.
• The boiler pilot light consistently goes off.
• It increased vapor condensation on the interior of the window.

If one or more of the above signs appear in any gas appliances, you need to schedule a gas safety inspection immediately.

What Happens During A Gas Safety Inspection?

A gas safety inspection should essentially comprise the following:

• Inspect all the installed gas appliances to confirm that they are correctly installed per the safety standards.
• Checking and confirming that the appliances are connected with the gas supply line correctly and securely.
• Ensure that there is no gas leakage from any part of the pipework or installed gas appliances.
• Checking vents and chimneys for their perfect working status.
• Removing any blockage, if found in the chimneys to ensure that they are working properly.
• Checking the operational status of safety and alert devices, installed in the property.
• It is very important to ascertain whether the installed gas appliance is fit for use in that part of your home. During the gas safety inspection, the engineer will also have a look at this important factor.

Conclusion

Using gas is quite economical. Normally, using gas in domestic or commercial properties should be reasonably safe. However, the risk of a fire or explosion, in addition to carbon monoxide poisoning, is always there. To reduce or even eliminate the chances of any such unfortunate incidence, it is highly recommended to conduct a regular gas safety inspection of all the installed gas appliances and pipework. It is also a legal requirement to have it done at least once a year.

Under normal circumstances a gas appliance is expected to work flawlessly and should be safe enough for use in a home. But fault can occur anytime in any of these appliances. This may result in gas leakage and generation of carbon monoxide. Both these situations are quite dangerous and may have serious consequences. Hence, regular servicing and periodic gas safety inspection is important to avoid any mishap.