CCN1 Unsafe Situations Procedure (RIDDOR) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an engineer identifies an Immediately Dangerous (ID) situation and the customer refuses to allow disconnection, what must the engineer do?
- Leave the appliance connected as the customer has the right to refuse
- Forcibly disconnect the appliance against the customer's wishes
- Turn off the appliance, attach an ID warning label, cap the supply, and report to the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (Correct answer)
- Simply leave a written warning and walk away
Correct answer: Turn off the appliance, attach an ID warning label, cap the supply, and report to the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
If a customer refuses disconnection of an Immediately Dangerous appliance, the engineer must turn off the appliance, attach an ID warning label, cap off the gas supply to the appliance where possible, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. The situation must also be reported under RIDDOR to the HSE.
Question 2: Which of the following situations would be classified as 'At Risk' (AR) under GIUSP?
- A gas cooker with a missing flame supervision device that was never fitted as original equipment
- An appliance with a flue that is incorrectly terminated but with no current evidence of fume spillage into the room (Correct answer)
- A gas fire producing significant carbon monoxide with visible sooting and staining
- A gas pipe that has been completely severed and is releasing gas
Correct answer: An appliance with a flue that is incorrectly terminated but with no current evidence of fume spillage into the room
An incorrectly terminated flue with no current evidence of spillage would typically be classified as At Risk (AR). While not immediately spilling products of combustion, the incorrect termination means the flue could fail under certain conditions (e.g., adverse wind). A severed pipe or significant CO production would be ID classifications.
Question 3: Under RIDDOR, within what timeframe must a dangerous gas fitting be reported to the HSE?
- Within 24 hours
- Within 48 hours
- As soon as is reasonably practicable (Correct answer)
- Within 7 working days
Correct answer: As soon as is reasonably practicable
Under RIDDOR, a Gas Safe registered engineer must report a dangerous gas fitting to the HSE as soon as is reasonably practicable. There is no specific fixed deadline in hours, but it should be done promptly — typically the same day or as soon as the engineer has access to the online reporting system.
Question 4: What information must be recorded on a warning label attached to an unsafe gas appliance?
- Only the engineer's name and phone number
- The engineer's Gas Safe registration number, date, and the classification of the defect (ID, AR, or NCS) (Correct answer)
- Just the words 'DO NOT USE'
- The manufacturer's serial number and model
Correct answer: The engineer's Gas Safe registration number, date, and the classification of the defect (ID, AR, or NCS)
A warning label must include the engineer's name and Gas Safe registration number, the date of inspection, the classification of the unsafe situation (ID, AR, or NCS), details of the defect found, and a warning not to use the appliance. The label should be attached to the appliance in a visible location and must not be easily removed.
Question 5: An engineer servicing a gas fire finds the CO/COâ‚‚ ratio is 0.006. What is the correct GIUSP classification?
- Not to Current Standards (NCS) — recommend a service
- At Risk (AR) — the ratio exceeds the normal limit
- Immediately Dangerous (ID) — the appliance must be disconnected immediately (Correct answer)
- No action required — this is within acceptable limits
Correct answer: Immediately Dangerous (ID) — the appliance must be disconnected immediately
A CO/COâ‚‚ ratio of 0.006 exceeds the Immediately Dangerous threshold of 0.005 for a gas fire (the general ID threshold for room heaters). The appliance is producing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and must be disconnected immediately, labelled as ID, and the situation reported under RIDDOR.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a RIDDOR-reportable dangerous gas fitting?
- A gas cooker that has a slightly noisy burner
- A boiler that needs its annual service
- A flue terminal that is positioned too close to an opening window, allowing combustion products to re-enter the property (Correct answer)
- A gas meter box with cosmetic damage to the door
Correct answer: A flue terminal that is positioned too close to an opening window, allowing combustion products to re-enter the property
A flue terminal positioned too close to an opening window that allows combustion products to re-enter the property is a dangerous situation that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. This must be classified under GIUSP (likely AR or ID depending on the specifics) and, if considered dangerous to the extent it could cause death, loss of consciousness, or hospitalisation, must be reported under RIDDOR.
CCN1 Unsafe Situations Procedure (RIDDOR) 2
When an engineer identifies an Immediately Dangerous (ID) situation and the customer refuses to allow disconnection, what must the engineer do?