BS6174 The Basics Part 1

This is a short post based on the BS6174 accreditation. This piece is intended as a quick guide to inform our readers about what is expected of them when working in an environment that requires gas compliance.

For the full, document please click BS6174, to make sure you’re fully compliant. As we’ve stated, this is a guide to inform readers what consistutes a business to be BS6174 compliant, not all aspects to acheive compliance.

If your business is within the catering and hospitality arena, then the BS68714 gives you advice on safety in the installation, use and monitoring of gas-fired cooking equipment.

What Does It Mean

The requirements stipulate that it is essential you comply with Gas safety regulations and use an accredited CORGI registered installer. This applies to installation, repair and connecting.

If you want a job done correctly, then a registered installer is a necessity. If the installer has all the required paperwork and formal accreditations, then you’ve covered that part of the businesses liability.

All operatives must be made aware of their personal duty and liabilities, in handing over unsafe ventilation or pipe works

It is your responsibility to make sure the installer has all the appropriate documentation and accreditations, ask them! If they have then the above statement is true.

All existing work should be inspected (flues, means of extraction, ventilation and pipework) 

All work that has previously been undertaken, should be inspected. The above should be inspected by a competent registered person, annually, but we recommend more frequently.

If it is formally checked and certified, by the above, it can be deemed an inspection… in certain cases.

If a CORGI registered person/gas engineer checks it, in certain cases it may be classed as an inspection.

The CORGI registered person, who makes the inspection is liable for any unsafe conditions. If the work or device isn’t to current standards (NCS) and a notification is issued as unsafe or do not use, and it isn’t physically disconnected. This can be classed as personal negligence on behalf of the inspector.

The responsibility falls with the inspector, they must let you know certain work or systems are unsafe, and remove the risk via disconnection.