What Does a Gas Safety Check Involve?

A gas safety check or inspection is a regulatory compliance requirement in the UK and many other countries. It is usually required when landlords need their annual gas safety certificates.

It is also required when installing a new gas appliance in your home, business, or similar premises. The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that the installation complies with current regulations.

Moreover, a gas safety check is vital as it ensures your appliances are safe. Failure to check and maintain your gas appliances can lead to severe consequences.

If you are considering getting a CP12 certificate and want to know what the check involves, you have come to the right place. Our post aims to provide you with all the information you need to know what's involved in a gas safety check.

What Is a Gas Safety Check?

In the simplest of words, a gas safety check refers to an inspection of gas appliances by an expert. The professional has to visit your property and assess your gas appliances, lines, and fittings.

Each appliance is recorded and checked to determine whether it can be used. If any appliance requires maintenance, you will be informed accordingly. Besides, the inspection helps prolong the life of your gas appliances; machines that are serviced regularly last longer..

Who Is Responsible for Gas Safety Inspection?

The law (Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998) stipulates that landlords are legally bound to get the gas appliances in their rental properties checked. In addition, they also have to provide a copy of the landlord's gas safety certificate to tenants within 28 days.

Moreover, landlords must keep a record of the annual gas safety checks for about 2 years. If new tenants have recently moved into your property, landlords must provide them with the latest CP12 certificate. It is also worth keeping in mind that landlords are accountable for the pipework and flues that are connected to the appliances.

What Does the Gas Safety Inspection Involve

When you get a gas safety inspection of your property, the expert will thoroughly assess the system to check the following:

• The provision of necessary ventilation.
• The appliances to determine the gas tightness.
• The satisfactory operation of the safety devices.
• The presence, physical stability, and effectiveness of brackets.
• The working and standing pressure if there are any test points available.
• The burner gas/pressure rate against the data plate provided by the manufacturer.

In addition to the above, the professional will perform the tasks mentioned below.

• Testing the flue flow to ensure products of combustion have been removed..
• Investigating evidence in case of unsafe operation and reporting it to the landlord.
• Issuing the landlord's gas safety recor.

How Long Does It Take to Perform the Gas Safety Inspection?

It usually takes around 30 to 60 minutes for a gas safety inspection to be conducted for a normal property. But it would take longer if repairs are needed. Also, the size of the property and the number of appliances owned determine the amount of time it would take for your gas appliances to be inspected by a professional.

Who Can Perform the Gas Safety Check?

If you are thinking of having an annual gas safety inspection, you will need to hire the right person for the job. Make sure to select a Gas Safe registered engineer trained to provide the Gas Safe certification. Get in touch with a reputable gas safety certificate provider so they can send an accredited engineer to your place.

Just to be sure, you can perform a Gas Safe register check by entering their name and registration details to determine if they are legally permitted to perform the gas inspections.

How Much Does It Cost to Perform a Gas Safety Inspection?

The exact cost of a gas safety inspection depends on several factors. Generally, it takes about an hour to complete and will require you to spend anywhere from £30 to £150. Remember that some companies have a fee for each appliance checked, such as a gas boiler.

The Gas Safe Register doesn't regulate the cost of a landlord gas safety inspection. This is why it is recommended that you get several quotes to determine who to hire for the job. For the best price, you will need to get the inspection during the summer months as heating engineers are busier during the winter and will make it harder for you even to place a booking.

Takeaway

A gas safety check may seem simple, but there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. In this article, we've explained who can perform the gas safety check and what an engineer looks for during a safety check.

The Gas Safe Engineer will typically check the gas appliances in houses, such as boilers, fires, cookers, ovens and hand boilers, space heaters, and water heaters. The engineer will also inspect the flues and chimneys to make sure they are not blocked.

You must have the inspection conducted every 12 months. It will help ensure that all your gas appliances are safe for use. Make sure to hire an accredited Gas Safe registered engineer to obtain the official landlord gas safety certificate..