Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for the preparation and acceptance of safety cases in respect of the conveyance of gas in a network and impose requirements in respect of gas escapes and the composition and pressure of gas.

Regulation 2 defines a “safety case” as a document containing the particulars specified in the Schedule referred to in the provision of the Regulations under which the safety case is prepared. Schedules 1 and 2 specify those particulars.Regulation 2 also defines a “network” as a connected network of pipes used for the conveyance of gas from a gas processing facility, a storage facility or an interconnector except a network used exclusively for supplying gas to non-domestic premises. Regulation 2(3) and (4) excepts specified pipes from a network.

Regulation 3 prohibits a person from conveying gas in a network unless he has prepared a safety case which has been accepted by the Health and Safety Executive (“the Executive”) and, where others convey gas in the network, a person (referred to in the Regulations as a “network emergency co-ordinator”) has prepared a safety case which has been similarly accepted.

Regulation 4 requires a safety case to be revised as often as may be appropriate. A revision which renders the safety case materially different from the last version may not be made unless the Executive has accepted the revision. Regulation 4 also requires a safety case to be revised at least every 3 years.

Regulation 5 requires that any procedures or arrangements described in a safety case are followed and provides for specified defences for contravention of the requirement.

Regulation 6 imposes requirements on specified persons to co-operate with a person conveying gas in a network and with a network emergency co-ordinator to enable them to comply with the provisions of the Regulations.Regulation 6 also empowers a person conveying gas in a network to direct persons not to consume gas where this is necessary to prevent a “supply emergency” as defined in regulation 2(1). It also requires a person conveying gas to provide, on request to persons proposing to carry out work to gas fittings, information about operating pressures of the gas at the outlet of a service pipe.

Regulation 7 requires British Gas p.l.c. to provide a continuously manned telephone service for receiving reports of gas escapes, and requires such reports to be passed on to the persons made responsible under the Regulation for preventing the escapes. The Regulation also imposes specified duties on occupiers of premises and others with respect to gas escapes. The Regulation imposes specified duties with respect to the investigation of incidents on persons conveying or supplying gas.

Regulation 8 and Schedule 3 imposes requirements with respect to the characteristics and testing of gas.

Regulation 9 imposes requirements with respect to the making and keeping of documents.

Regulation 10 provides transitional provisions.

Regulation 11 provides for the granting of exemptions from the Regulations by the Executive in certain circumstances.

Regulation 12 repeals section 16 of, and paragraphs 20 and 21 of Schedule 2B to, the Gas Act 1986. It also revokes the Gas Quality Regulations 1972 and amends regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994. It revokes the Gas Quality Regulations 1983 as from 31st October 1996.

A copy of the compliance cost assessment prepared in respect of these Regulations can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive, Safety Policy Division Branch E, Room 224, Magdalen House, Trinity Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3QZ. A copy has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament.