Gas Safety Regulations update for Installers & Landlords

The amendments to the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations (GSIUR) entered into force on Friday 6^th April 2018.   The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L56, which gives advice to anyone with a duty under the regulations on how they can comply with the new legislation.  

Who is affected by the GSIUR changes?

  The new GSIUR contains changes relevant to anyone who has a duty under the regulations, including Gas Engineers who install, service, maintain or repair gas appliances and fittings, landlords, gas training providers.   Gas Installers - Appliances will need to be checked directly after work is completed, but the new regulations incorporate an exemption to carry out alternative checks in situations where it is not reasonably practicable to examine the operating pressure or heat input of an appliance. In such instances, the appliance’s combustion performance can be measured instead. This is also the case where the meter is not accessible, or the display is not working properly.   Landlords - There is no change to the legal requirement for an annual gas safety check and maintenance to be carried out, indeed the HSE are keen to impress that the amended GSIUR does not relax or reduce safety standards in any way.   However, what they have done is introduced a degree of flexibility to the timing of the landlords’ annual gas safety check. This will help the landlord with the challenge of co-ordinating gas engineer and tenant availability, while trying to stay as close as possible to the previous expiry date.   Under the new GSIUR, landlords can carry out the annual gas safety check in the two months before the certificate expires and retain the existing expiry date.   Training Providers and Certification Bodies – The guidance originally contained in “COP20 – Standards of training in gas installation” is now incorporated into ACOP L56.   This will improve the quality of gas training by tightening up legal requirement and providing a certification scheme for training in safe gas work. It also increases the scope of gas training to incorporate the dangers associated with water, electricity and asbestos, and the precautions that should be taken.   Government - GSIUR brings a new duty on the Secretary of State to review the regulations 5 years from now, and then at least every 5 years thereafter to make sure they are effective and relevant.  

Where can I find information about the updates?

You can view and download the amended legislation by following this link - The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018   Anyone with a duty under the regulations will also need to familiarise themselves with the revised Approved Code of Practice – L56 Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances   Or you can find more general information on the HSE website.  

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