Gas Connections: Important Information About Gas and Electric Safety at Home

Gas is an integral part of every home. Similarly, electricity is equally important for homes. Both these energy sources collectively play a significant part in running the domestic appliances necessary for multiple purposes at home. Electricity and gas are vital from cooking and supplying warm water to heating and cooling.

Similarly, all the security and safety devices operate on electricity. So, you cannot imagine a home without gas and electricity. Using other conventional energy sources such as oil or coal is no longer practiced in modern-day homes. Almost all home appliances and gadgets are operated on gas or electricity.

Although these energy sources are relatively safe for domestic purposes, there is every possibility of a mishap such as fire, explosion, electric shock, or emission of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.  That’s why all the responsible authorities in every Country, including the UK, have made rules and regulations that govern the use of energy sources for domestic purposes.

Gas Connections - Rules and Regulations

The domestic gas connections for homes in the UK and their safe utilization are governed by a basic law known as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The law has been amended occasionally to make it more relevant to ensure the safety of homes against any possible gas accident.

In a recent survey of the Gas Safe Register (the official organization in the UK responsible for gas safety), it has been reported that gas-related accidents were avoided in more than 68000 homes only due to strict compliance with gas safety regulations. On the other hand, the same survey reveals that there are still around 57% of homes where their engineers found one or more faulty appliances during their annual inspections. Every 6^th out of 12,000 homes inspected by them had at least one such appliance that may cause a significant gas accident.

Hence, it is evident that with strict implementation of rules and regulations imposed by the authorities, gas accidents can be reduced to the minimum possible level.

Electricity Safety – Rules and Regulations

There are various rules and regulations formulated from time to time in the UK which govern the safe usage of electricity in homes and at work. These include The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, and many others.

These regulations aim to ensure the safety of people and property from any possible risks associated with using electricity and electrical equipment in homes. The rules are quite elaborate and have significantly reduced the chances of electricity-related accidents in recent years.

Prevention of Fire

One of the main threats associated with gas and electricity is the fire. Fire can erupt at any time without a warning. It can happen suddenly due to a faulty gas or electrical equipment, an electric short-circuiting, or a gas leakage. So, every homeowner or tenant must know how to prevent such an incident. Here are some valuable tips on this critical issue:

• Comply with the Gas Safety and Electric Safety rules and regulations.
• Only install the gas and electrical appliances that are compliant with British Standards.
• Ensure timely and regular maintenance of all gas and electrical appliances.
• Every appliance has a useful life span, after which they need to be replaced. Make sure to replace them once they have completed their useful life. Apart from the safety aspect, it may also reduce your energy bill.
• Ensure annual inspection of all gas appliances and pipe work by the qualified and registered gas safety engineer.
• Ensure that a valid Gas Safety Certificate is in place at all times. This certificate is valid for 12 months and needs renewal every year.
• Install safety devices such as gas leak detectors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers at appropriate places in your home. Depending on the size of the building, you may need to install more than one safety gadget. Fire Alarm systems can also play an important role.
• These devices must be connected with an uninterrupted power supply
• Ensure the electrical appliances are disconnected from the main power supply when unused. For example, an electric oven, a television, or iron should invariably be unplugged/disconnected from the main power supply, when not in use.
• Avoid smoking near where burners operate, such as kitchens or boilers.
• Ensure regular and periodic inspection of all gas and electrical appliances for perfect performance. Any faulty appliances should be replaced or repaired instantly.
• Ensure there is no gas leakage in all the gas pipe work and gas appliances, including boilers. If any leakage is detected, it needs to be fixed immediately.
• Electric connections and joints should be firm enough to avoid sparking. An electric spark can result in a severe fire incident. 
• Never overload the electrical sockets. It may result in sparking or electric shock.
• Ensure adequate ventilation, especially near the kitchens and boilers.

Prevention of Carbon Monoxide

The main reason for the emission of carbon monoxide is the malfunctioning gas burners, either in the ovens, heaters or in the boilers. Incomplete burning of gas results in the emission of carbon monoxide, which is quite a serious threat to living beings. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide cannot be detected without a proper CO Detector, as it is odorless and colorless.

Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Humans

• Vomiting
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Stomach Pain
• Difficulty in breathing
• Tiredness
• Confusion

Signs of Carbon Monoxide Emission

1. Appearance of dark spots on the faulty appliances that might be generating Carbon Monoxide
2. The pilot light will start going out, where the appliance might have generated carbon monoxide.
3. If a cooker's flame turns yellow or orange, it might indicate that the appliance is faulty and causing the emission of carbon monoxide. The color of a perfect burner is always blue. Any deviation from this standard flame color indicates a fault in this appliance.
4. Increased condensation on the window panes is also an indication of the generation of carbon monoxide.
5. A blocked or choked flue can also result in emission.

Tips on Safe Use of Electricity

• Use circuit breakers so the faulty electrical appliance may not cause severe damage.
• Avoid faulty or damaged electrical sockets and switches.
• Immediately replace a switch or socket that starts heating up.
• Ensure that the sockets and switches are of appropriate capacity and must not be overloaded.
• Every electrical wire and switch has a maximum load capacity. Never cross that limit.
• For heavy electrical appliances, use power sockets that have higher load capacity.

Conclusion

Gas and electricity are not dangerous for domestic use unless you observe and follow the SOPs. Usually, the gas and electrical appliances are manufactured strictly per the standards set by the authorities. Hence, they are considered relatively safe for use in your homes.

Additionally, the UK authorities formulate different rules and regulations to ensure the safety of people and properties against any possible threats such as fire, explosion, electrical shock, and emissions. Following these rules and regulations is mandatory for every homeowners, landlords and tenants. These are made for your safety, and you need to follow them.