CENWAT Gas Safe Regulations & Commissioning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is RIDDOR and does it apply to gas incidents?
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 — yes, dangerous gas escapes and CO incidents must be reported (Correct answer)
- RIDDOR does not apply to gas work
- RIDDOR applies only to electrical incidents
- RIDDOR is only for construction site accidents
Correct answer: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 — yes, dangerous gas escapes and CO incidents must be reported
RIDDOR 2013 requires reporting of work-related injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences. Dangerous occurrences including serious gas escapes and CO incidents that result in injury must be reported to the HSE.
Question 2: What is a Gas Safety Warning Notice?
- A formal notice issued by a Gas Safe engineer to the property occupier when an immediately dangerous or at risk situation is found, describing the fault and required action (Correct answer)
- A notice issued by the gas supplier to a non-paying customer
- A marketing document from Gas Safe Register
- A manufacturer's recall notice
Correct answer: A formal notice issued by a Gas Safe engineer to the property occupier when an immediately dangerous or at risk situation is found, describing the fault and required action
A Gas Safety Warning Notice is issued by the attending engineer when a dangerous or at risk gas situation is found; it describes the fault, the safety classification, the required action, and must be signed by the occupier.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a soundness test as distinct from a tightness test?
- In modern Gas Safe terminology they refer to the same concept — testing for leaks in the gas installation pipework (Correct answer)
- A soundness test checks only the meter connection
- A tightness test checks for leaks, a soundness test checks for noise
- A soundness test uses leak detection fluid, a tightness test uses a manometer
Correct answer: In modern Gas Safe terminology they refer to the same concept — testing for leaks in the gas installation pipework
In current Gas Safe and IGEM/UP/1B guidance, tightness test and soundness test are used interchangeably to describe the pressure test of the gas installation to confirm it is free of leaks.
Question 4: What is the purpose of IGEM/UP/1B in the gas industry?
- It is an industry standard providing guidance on tightness testing and direct purging of small low-pressure domestic gas installations (Correct answer)
- It is a certification standard for gas engineers
- It sets gas pressure standards for the national grid
- It is a gas meter installation standard
Correct answer: It is an industry standard providing guidance on tightness testing and direct purging of small low-pressure domestic gas installations
IGEM/UP/1B is the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers standard for domestic gas installation purging and tightness testing; it specifies procedures engineers must follow for safe commissioning of domestic gas systems.
Question 5: How is a domestic gas installation purged of air before lighting an appliance?
- Following IGEM/UP/1B, the installation is purged at each appliance by releasing gas briefly to displace air, with precautions against ignition (Correct answer)
- By leaving the gas supply open for one hour
- Only by the gas transporter
- By using nitrogen to purge the pipework
Correct answer: Following IGEM/UP/1B, the installation is purged at each appliance by releasing gas briefly to displace air, with precautions against ignition
IGEM/UP/1B specifies a controlled purging procedure where gas is released in small quantities at each appliance point to displace air from the pipework, with precautions to prevent accumulation of a flammable mixture.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the central heating system hand-over pack that must be left with the occupier?
- To provide the occupier with the Benchmark commissioning record, user instructions for all controls and appliances, and information on annual servicing (Correct answer)
- Only the boiler manual
- Only the Gas Safe certificate
- Only the system pressure gauge reading and fill procedure
Correct answer: To provide the occupier with the Benchmark commissioning record, user instructions for all controls and appliances, and information on annual servicing
The handover pack must include the completed Benchmark logbook, user instructions for the boiler and all controls, information on annual servicing, emergency contacts, and any relevant compliance certificates.
CENWAT Gas Safe Regulations & Commissioning 4
What is RIDDOR and does it apply to gas incidents?