For landlords and facilities managers, gas safety and compliance forms a critical part of your building’s health and safety requirements. Faced with potential criminal prosecution, a fine, and uncertainty around insurance, it is an area of your facility which can easily meet statutory requirements. Governed by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations of 1998 and Approved Code of Practice L56, this is what you need to know around your facility’s gas compliance.
Who is responsible?
According to the Regulations, all landlords, owners of commercial properties, and managing agents have a responsibility to ensure competent installation, metering, inspection, and maintenance of natural and LPG gas appliances. This applies to anyone who lets out their property – or a portion thereof – for money.
What to do to be compliant
When it comes to installations, the purpose of the Regulations is to ensure the competence of those carrying out the work – someone appearing on the Gas Safe register. The CP12 (gas compliance certificate) inspection monitors supply and appliances for the purposes of safety and to encourage their replacement or maintenance before they become a hazard. A Gas Safe registered engineer inspects and issues recognised certificates to businesses and residential concerns on request.
The engineer will inspect the condition of appliances, tightness, pressure, ventilation, pipework, air vents, flues, fans, burners, as well as conduct safety checks and tests. If any issues are identified, these will need to be rectified before your CP12 is issued. Appliances in a particularly poor or dangerous condition will be condemned and need to be replaced. If everything is in order, your certificate will be issued immediately or sent via post and a copy of this needs to be sent to tenants within 28 days of receipt.
Penalties for non-compliance
Breach of the Regulations is a criminal offence, with the standard penalty being £6000 and/or 6 months’ imprisonment for every breach. However, the penalty will depend on the seriousness of the breach. If non-compliance results in death, a case of manslaughter may be brought. Furthermore, non-compliance stands to invalidate your insurance, leaving your facility unprotected against fires, floods, etc. You may also lack cover for any civil actions for losses associated with non-compliance.
Meeting your statutory requirements for gas installation and appliances at your facility doesn’t need to be complicated. That said, the consequences of non-compliance can have far-reaching financial, business, and personal results, all of which are easily avoidable. At Voltix Services, our team of engineers are equipped to assist facilities managers with the services, maintenance programme and strategy it needs to meet its responsibilities and ensure gas safety no matter the size of your operation. Contact us today to find out more about your building’s gas compliance requirements and how we can help you simply and easily achieve this.