If you own a commercial premises, whether as a commercial landlord or business owner, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the building is safe for occupants.
Commercial gas safety checks are a big part of this, and if the property uses gas appliances in any way, you have a legal obligation to get them checked every year.
In this blog we’re going to look at what a commercial gas safety check is, why they’re important and what’s involved.
What is a Commercial Gas Safety Check?
A commercial gas safety check ensures that all gas appliances, flues and pipework in business premises are safe and operating correctly.
These inspections are required by law and should be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Gas safety checks are required annually for any commercial property using gas equipment.
After the gas safety check has been completed, the business will receive a Gas Safety Certificate which proves compliance with legal obligations and ensures workplace safety.
Why Are Commercial Gas Safety Checks Important?
British commercial property owners are legally required to have their gas appliances, pipework and flues inspected annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is to ensure they comply with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
However, gas safety checks don’t just ensure legal compliance—they’re also vital for protecting the safety and wellbeing of everyone within the premises, including employees and customers. Regular checks help to prevent gas leaks that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or potential fires, all of which pose a significant danger to all building occupants.
What’s more, regular safety checks help to ensure that gas appliances run efficiently, reducing energy consumption and saving money on your business’ energy bills.
Who Is Responsible for Conducting Gas Safety Checks?
For a commercial gas safety check to be compliant with the Gas Safety Regulations it must be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months—but it’s the owner of the building’s responsibility to arrange for these checks to be carried out.
If you’re a business that simply lets a commercial property it’s not your legal responsibility to arrange for a gas safety check to be conducted, but if you become aware that a check is overdue, we’d recommend chasing your landlord and reminding them of their legal obligations to ensure the safety of everyone in the building.
What Happens During a Commercial Gas Safety Check?
There are a number of elements that make up a commercial gas safety check:
- Inspection of all gas appliances (boilers, heaters, etc.).
- Checking ventilation systems and flue pipes.
- Ensuring appliances are operating correctly and efficiently.
- Detection of gas leaks and carbon monoxide.
- Issuing a gas safety certificate if all systems are compliant.
Inspection of all gas appliances
During the gas safety check every appliance connected to the gas supply will be checked to ensure they’re in good working order, including boilers, gas heating and cooking equipment.
Fixed LPG (liquified petroleum gas) gas appliances will also need to be serviced and checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer, but note that there’s no legal requirement to do the same for portable LPG appliances. However, the Gas Safe Register does provide an LPG safety checklist for using portable appliances with integral LPG gas canisters.
Checking ventilation systems and flue pipes
Inspecting and testing open flues and ventilation systems in gas appliances is a crucial part of the gas safety check. Assessing ventilation isn’t just important for ensuring the appliances are operating efficiently, but also for the safety and wellbeing of all building occupants.
A gas engineer will first conduct a thorough visual inspection, including checking the appliance has adequate ventilation, flue continuity, checking for obstructions and the suitability of the room for the appliance. The engineer will then test that the flue is functioning correctly, carrying out smoke match tests to assess the chimney’s draw, as well as the smoke pellet test to help show how smoke moves through the chimney.
Ensuring appliances are operating correctly and efficiently
Each appliance that uses gas will also have to be tested. If gas appliances are unsafe they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, or even fires and explosions.
As a commercial property owner you can either get all of the building’s gas appliances serviced at the same time as the building’s gas safety check or separately, but note that they’ll still need to be inspected every 12 months.
Detection of gas leaks and carbon monoxide
Gas leaks pose the greatest threat to the safety and wellbeing of building occupants. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness and loss of consciousness, but it can also be fatal.
During a commercial gas safety check an engineer will thoroughly test each appliance to ensure there’s no gas leaking via a faulty valve or other component.
Issuing a gas safety certificate if all systems are compliant
Following the gas safety check, if all systems are found to be compliant you’ll be issued with a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate by the gas safety engineer. This certificate is valid for 12 months and demonstrates that you’ve had all gas appliances and systems within the property inspected.
Consequences of Failing to Conduct Regular Gas Safety Checks
As a commercial property owner it’s your legal obligation to have a gas safety certificate. As a result, the consequences for failing to conduct regular commercial gas safety checks can be high.
The potential implications of not having a gas safety certificate include:
- Having to face legal proceedings
- Fines for non-compliance with the Gas Safety Regulations. Depending on the scale of the violation, the fine could be as much as £6,000.
- Up to six months in prison
- Manslaughter charges if someone dies as a result of unsafe gas appliances on your premises
- Your property’s insurance policy will be deemed invalid
Here at Hollywell Building Services, we’re able to support every stage of your construction project, from initial design through to preventative maintenance. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help to deliver a safe and compliant commercial construction project, why not give us a call on 01727 810 555, or send us a message? One of our experienced team will get back to you as soon as possible.