The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations re-enact the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984 (“the 1984 Regulations”) with amendments. The 1984 Regulations imposed requirements only as to the installation and use of gas fittings for the purpose of protecting the public from risks arising from the use of gas supplied through pipes. In addition to minor and drafting amendments, these Regulations make the following changes of substance:—

1.  The scope of the Regulations is extended to all dangers arising from the transmission, distribution, supply or use of gas conveyed from a gas storage vessel (regulation 2(3)) other than in relation to the supply of gas to, or anything in respect of a gas fitting on, specified vessels and vehicles (regulation 2(5)).

2.  The Regulations are no longer applied to agricultural premises and temporary installations used in connection with any building operation or work of engineering construction except in relation to any part of such premises used for domestic or residential purposes or as sleeping accommodation and except in relation to regulation 36 (escape of gas) (regulation 2(4)).

3.  The Regulations also contain new provisions which—

(a) prohibit any person from falsely pretending to be a member of a class of persons required to be approved by the Health and Safety Executive for the purpose of carrying out any work in relation to a gas fitting (regulation 3(6));

(b) require employers and self-employed persons to take steps to ensure that any work in relation to a gas fitting carried out at any place of work under their control is undertaken by specified persons (regulation 4);

(c) require safety precautions to be taken in respect of gas storage vessels and specified appliances fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (regulation 6(7) to (9));

(d) impose restrictions upon the type of gas appliance that may be installed in sleeping accommodation (regulation 30(2) and (3));

(e) impose requirements upon employers and self-employed persons with regard to the maintenance of gas appliances and installation pipework installed at any place of work under their control (regulation 35(1));

(f) impose requirements upon persons who let premises—

(i) with regard to the maintenance of gas appliances and installation pipework owned by them on those premises (regulation 35(2) and (3)(a)); and

(ii) with regard to the keeping of records in respect of any appliance required to be so maintained (regulation 35(3)(b) and (4));

(g) impose upon a non-public gas supplier specified duties in respect of the escape of gas (regulation 36(1) and (5) to (7));

(h) extend exception as to liability to specified provisions of the Regulations (regulation 37).

4.  The Regulations revoke the 1984 Regulations and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 (regulation 39).