The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994

Escape of gas

36.—(1) Where any gas escapes from any pipe of a gas supplier, or from any pipe, other gas fitting or gas storage vessel used by a person supplied with gas by a gas supplier, the supplier of the gas shall, within 12 hours of being so informed of the escape, prevent the gas escaping (whether by cutting off the supply of gas to any premises or otherwise).

(2) If the responsible person for any premises knows or has reason to suspect that gas is escaping into those premises, he shall immediately take all reasonable steps to cause the supply of gas to be shut off at such place as may be necessary to prevent further escape of gas.

(3) If gas continues to escape into those premises after the supply of gas has been shut off or when a smell of gas persists, the responsible person for the premises discovering such escape or smell shall immediately give notice of the escape or smell to the supplier of the gas.

(4) Where an escape of gas has been stopped by shutting off the supply, no person shall cause or permit the supply to be re-opened (other than in the course of repair) until all necessary steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence of such escape.

(5) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) above it shall be a defence for the supplier of the gas to prove that it was not reasonably practicable for him effectually to prevent the gas from escaping within the period of 12 hours referred to in that paragraph, and that he did effectually prevent the escape of gas as soon as it was reasonably practicable for him to do so.

(6) Nothing in paragraphs (1) and (5) above shall prevent the supplier of the gas appointing another person to act on his behalf to prevent an escape of gas supplied by that supplier.

(7) Nothing in paragraphs (1) and (5) above shall apply to gas supplied by a public gas supplier.