Guidance - Maintenance of gas equipment in food businesses

Employers, landlords and self-employed persons are required by law to ensure that all gas equipment is maintained in a safe condition.  

This includes:

• Gas appliances
• Installation pipe work
• Flues, which includes kitchen extract systems

These must be inspected at least every 12 months and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Gas engineers and the Gas Safe Register

Any work on gas appliances, installation pipe work or flues must only be carried out by a gas engineer who is on the Gas Safe Register. The Gas  Safe Register is the official list of gas engineers who are registered to work safely and legally on gas appliances. It has replaced CORGI registration since 1 April 2009.

Do I need to use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer?

By law you must use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix or service your gas appliances. Work on gas equipment by an engineer who is not adequately qualified can be highly dangerous as well as being illegal. Badly fitted and poorly serviced appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, plus the disruption to your business that follows such events.

How do I find a Gas Safe Registered Engineer?

You can find a local Gas Safe registered engineer by using theGas Safe website (opens new window) or by calling 0800 408 5500 and their advisors will help you find an engineer in your area. Remember to outline what works you require, eg commercial or domestic; LPG or mains gas appliances.

How do I check if my engineer is on the Gas Safe Register?

All Gas Safe registered engineers must carry a Gas Safe Register ID card, with their own unique registration number, showing the type of work they are qualified to do. You should always ask to see the engineer's ID card before allowing any gas work to be carried out.

All Gas Safe registered engineers carry an ID card and you should always check this even if you've seen the yellow Gas Safe triangle on their van.

You should check both sides of the engineer's ID card for:

• The registration number
• The start and expiry date of registration
• The type of work that the engineer is registered to do
• The engineer's up-to-date qualifications on specified types of equipment (see reverse of card)
• The security hologram

Alternatively, call Gas Safe (telephone number 0800 408 5500) orvisit the Gas Safe website (opens new window), to verify that the engineer is registered with them and qualified to work on your type of gas appliances.

Gas Safe registered engineers who are qualified to work on domestic gas installations may not necessarily be qualified to do work on commercial appliances or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations, so, it is always important to check their ID card.

It is an offence for a person to do any gas work unless they are registered with Gas Safe and qualified specifically to work on that type of gas equipment.

Manufacturer instructions for gas equipment

The engineer will need to refer to the gas equipment manufacturer's instructions. You should, therefore, ensure that you keep a copy of these for each item of gas equipment at your premises.

Gas Safety Inspection Certificates

Ensure that a Gas Safety Inspection Certificate is obtained following any work on or inspection of gas equipment. This must give full details of the equipment inspected, any work carried out and any relevant safety information. A signed copy of the Gas Safe engineer's report must be retained for reference.

Gas safety tips

• Only use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer to do any work on your gas appliances, pipework and flues.
• Always check the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card before allowing them to do any work.
• Check the engineer is qualified for the work you need doing - you can find this information on the back of their ID card.
• Get your gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked at least every year (or more frequently if advised by the manufacturer or if heavily used in a busy food establishment).
• Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm certified and marked to EN 50291. It should also have the British Standards' Kitemark or another European approval organisation's mark on it.
• Check for warning signs that your appliances are not working correctly (such as lazy yellow flames, black marks or stains around the appliance, too much condensation in the room or fumes).

Important advice

If you smell gas or have any reason to believe there may be a leak:

• For natural gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service Freephone Number: 0800 111 999.
• For liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), call the telephone number on the bulk storage vessel or at the meter or the gas cylinder supplier emergency number.

A number of catering gas safety information leaflets can be downloaded for free from the HSE website (opens new window).

For more information about gas safety call the Gas Safe helpline on 0800 408 5500 or Breckland's Food and Health & Safety Team on 01362 656870 or submit a General Enquiry