Gas safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and amendments

These Regulations makes it a legal obligation to ensure that ALL gas appliances, whether fixed or portable, be maintained and checked every 12 months. A record should be kept of these checks and any maintenance undertaken.

The appliances should be checked and maintained only by qualified Gas Safe registered installers. The checks also apply to flues, pipework and ventilation.

Information must be supplied to the tenants of such checks and any previous maintenance work records must be made available to them.

Any breach of the Regulations could result in prosecution – with fines now up to £60,000 and/ or even imprisonment for severe non-compliance where death or injury is caused.

It has recently been highlighted in a court case that when using the services of a gas engineer that you check the Gas Safe ID card to show that the enginner is able to work on the type of appliances you have. If in doubt, contact GAS SAFE for more information on the contractor.

New regulations haev also been put into place for the supply and use of Gas cookers in Flats.

Cookers used in flats must be fitted with a Flame Safety Device or FSD, this cuts of the supply in the event of the appliance tipping over or the burner going out.