A boiler is an essential requirement of every commercial property. It is required for heating and hot water. Most boilers these days operate on gas; hence, the gas safety regulations are also applicable to these boilers.
Normally a commercial boiler should not pose an immediate threat to the properties unless they are not regularly serviced and maintained. But there have been many incidents in the previous years where boilers exploded causing loss to properties as well as injuries to the occupants. Apart from such incidents of exploding of a boiler, other risks are also involved, relating to the usage of gas, such as gas leaks, fires, or explosions.
The most serious gas-related issue might be the emission of harmful carbon monoxide, which can result in serious medical situations. In order to avoid such mishaps, gas safety regulations were formulated in the UK, commonly known as Gas Safe Regulations 1998. The provisions of these regulations are also applicable to commercial properties where any gas appliances, including boilers, are installed.
A comprehensive law was formulated in 1998 to regulate matters related to the usage of gas for domestic and commercial purposes. The law is titled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998." Since then, various amendments have been made to these regulations to make them more effective in protecting people and properties against potential risks. However, the main structure of the law remains consistent.
One of the provisions of the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 binds the landlords to conduct gas safety inspections, commonly referred to as gas safety checks, on all gas appliances installed in their properties to ensure that these are safe for use. This needs to be done on an annual basis and it includes boilers, as well. Side by side, it is also required that only a gas-safe registered engineer is authorized to do work on gas appliances, including installation, annual inspection, routine maintenance, and periodic service. Any work done by an unregistered gas engineer will not be considered valid when it comes to adherence to Gas Safety Regulations.
Hence, a gas safety engineer will only be considered competent to work on gas appliances if he is qualified and is registered with the "Gas Safe Register." Being gas-safe registered is proof that he has the required professional expertise.
All gas engineers in the UK are required to get registered with the "Gas Safe Register", which is an official organization established in 2009 under the patronage of the "Health and Safety Executive" (HSE). Until April 2009, CORGI (Council of Registered Gas Installers) was responsible for the official registration of qualified gas safety engineers, which was then abolished, and the responsibility of registration of gas engineers was shifted to "Gas Safe Register."
Once a gas safety engineer qualifies and gets registered with the Gas Safe Register, he is given an official ID Card by the registering authority. This ID Card carries all the necessary information about the gas safety engineer, such as his name, photograph, contact number, etc. This ID is valid for one year and needs to be renewed before it expires. An engineer holding a valid ID is authorized to work on gas appliances.
So, the landlords need to ensure that the engineer engaged by them to work on gas appliances installed in their properties holds a valid ID Card. This can also be confirmed by visiting the official website of the "Gas Safe Register," which has an updated list of all such engineers. Just enter the ID number (as appears on the ID Card) and you will get complete details. On the other hand, you can also find a qualified and registered engineer in your area by searching on the official website of Gas Safe Register.
It should also be kept in mind that every gas-safe registered engineer has expertise in a certain field of gas work. So, before engaging an engineer, do confirm that he has the required expertise. Specifically, if you need an engineer to work on a commercial boiler, you need to check whether he has the required expertise. A boiler is one of the most important components of a commercial property’s heating system that requires a bit of a higher level of expertise when it comes to its maintenance and service.
Hence, it is important to hire the services of an experienced gas safe registered engineer to work on your commercial gas boiler.
A commercial boiler is quite different from an ordinary home boiler, as it has to provide heat and hot water to a large area. The scope of work is large so the size and capacity of the boiler also needs to be bigger enough. That’s why a commercial boiler is installed in a separate room, where it can be operated and maintained perfectly and effectively. Additionally, such a boiler also needs special arrangements for its safety.
A correctly installed commercial boiler would provide uninterrupted heating and hot water for quite some time. However, it is likely to develop various faults, especially when regular inspection and service are conducted. Common issues with Commercial boilers may include:
All such faults in a commercial boiler need to be fixed instantly to avoid serious damage to the entire heating system of the building. Such situations can be avoided by regular inspection and periodic servicing of the boiler through a gas safe registered engineer.
Conducting regular service and annual gas safety inspections on all gas appliances, including commercial boilers, is very important. But getting it done by a gas-safe registered engineer is even more important in many ways:
The gas appliances are supposed to provide you comfort, whether it is your home or a commercial setup. A commercial boiler installed in your commercial property is equally essential; rather somewhat more sensitive in the sense that it has to provide heating and hot water to a relatively larger number of people. Hence, its maintenance is crucial for providing uninterrupted heating and hot water, failing which can have a negative impact on your business.
Under the provisions of the prevalent Gas Safety Regulations, it is a legal requirement for landlords to get their properties inspected for gas safety on an annual basis, only through a gas-safe registered engineer. Likewise, it is also required that only a gas safe registered engineer should work on gas appliances. So, it is preferable to engage only a gas-safe registered engineer for regular maintenance and service of your commercial boilers. This will not only fulfill a legal obligation but will also help improve the performance of the boiler as well as increase its useful life.
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Every landlord in the UK is legally bound to follow gas safety regulations as per the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1998.
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