Supply of natural gas directly in homes through gas pipelines is the safest way of using gas for domestic purposes. This may include cooking, room heating, and water heating.
In the UK, the majority of homes in urban areas enjoy the facility of direct gas supply in homes. A survey report indicates that more than 90% of homes in the UK have this facility. However, the alternate arrangement is through LPG cylinders in other areas where natural gas is unavailable to supply homes through pipelines.
While gas supplied through pipelines is the easiest and safest way of using gas in homes, it also carries potential risks. To make it safe and secure, UK laws provide detailed guidelines. Roles and responsibilities are fixed for different officials involved in the safe and secured supply and usage of gas in homes. Here we will discuss them briefly, so you can understand the whole process easier.
The gas safe register is an official body that regulates the supply, safety, and usage of gas in homes. It is the governing body where gas engineers get themselves registered. The official website of the gas safe register provides names and other relevant details of gas safety engineers officially registered with them.
Engineers registered with the gas safe register get an official license that authorizes them to carry out all gas-related jobs in homes and industries. The engineers registered with the gas safe register are the only ones authorized to inspect or examine the gas appliances at your home in the capacity of a gas safety inspector.
The gas safety inspection process is one of the most important steps to ensure gas usage in homes without any risks safely. A gas safety engineer performs this crucial task. He is also responsible for carrying out gas appliance inspections at your home.
Once he checks all the pipelines, fittings, and appliances at your home and is satisfied with the safety standards, he then issues a gas safety certificate for your home. This certificate is valid for 12 months and has to be got renewed periodically to ensure the safe usage of gas in your home
A gas safety engineer, also known as a gas safety inspector, has multiple roles in protecting your property and human lives when it comes to using natural gas in your homes. To get an overview of what you can expect during a gas safety process, follow the link
He is responsible for carrying out an inspection of all gas equipment in your home at different stages.
Your first interaction with the gas safety engineer may be during new construction. Like many other basic amenities such as water supply, you need to provide basic infrastructure for natural gas supply at your home. For this purpose, you need to hire the services of an officially registered gas safety engineer.
Once the basic gas supply infrastructure is in place, the gas safety engineer inspects all fittings and fixtures, including all home gas appliances. Upon completing all safety checks, he will provide you with the much-required gas safety certificate.
As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to obtain this certificate for using gas in your home. You are also responsible for showing this certificate to your tenants in case you need to rent your property.
For more details about gas safety certificates, follow the link What Happens if You Don't Have a Gas Safety Certificate?
The role of the safety inspector does not end with providing a gas safety certificate. It is a systematic process. Under normal circumstances, you will need an inspection of all gas fittings and appliances regularly, at least once a year.
This periodic inspection is necessary to get the gas safety certificate renewed for another term of one year. During this inspection, he will check all appliances for optimal performance. If any fault is detected, he may suggest the replacement of some of the appliances or if possible, he may fix the fault.
The main concern during this periodic inspection is to check for any possible gas leakage. The leakage of carbon monoxide is even more dangerous. The CO is generated from faulty gas equipment due to incomplete gas burning. This may result in serious consequences or even loss of human life.
The gas inspector makes sure that any gas leakage is properly detected. Fault removal is also his responsibility.
Gas supply in homes is prone to leakage at any stage. This may happen at any time. In case of such an eventuality, you must immediately shut the main gas supply valve. This valve is mostly installed with the gas meter or near the main entry point of gas pipelines in your home.
Once the gas supply is turned off, you must open the ventilation points in your home to allow the free flow of fresh air inside the home. This will prevent any sudden outbreak of fire. Now it’s time to call the gas engineer, officially registered with the gas safe register.
He will examine all gas fittings and appliances to detect any possible gas leakage, especially carbon monoxide. In an emergency, the role of the gas safety engineer becomes more crucial. So it is important to ensure that he must be a registered and qualified engineer. Never compromise on this.
Gas safety inspection involves following basic steps
The role of a gas safety engineer is very important. He is the ultimate person who makes it possible for you to use natural gas safely without any major risks. His role is not restricted to only inspection of gas infrastructure in newly constructed homes. He has to be there within the shortest possible time in an emergency.
It is advisable to keep handy contact details of at least a couple of gas safety inspectors near you. But make sure that they are officially registered with the gas safe register.
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