Gas Safe ACS - Accredited Certification Scheme Gas Safety Legislation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, what is the legal requirement for a landlord regarding the gas safety record for a new tenancy?
- Provide the tenant with a copy of the current gas safety record before they occupy the premises. (Correct answer)
- Provide the tenant with a copy of the current gas safety record within 30 days of the tenancy starting.
- Verbally inform the tenant that all gas appliances have passed a safety check.
- Display the gas safety record in a communal area of the property.
Correct answer: Provide the tenant with a copy of the current gas safety record before they occupy the premises.
Regulation 36(6)(b) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 explicitly states that a copy of the last gas safety record must be given to any new tenant before that tenant occupies the premises.
Question 2: A Gas Safe registered engineer identifies a gas appliance that is classified as 'Immediately Dangerous' (ID) according to the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP). The responsible person refuses permission to disconnect the appliance. What is the engineer's immediate legal responsibility?
- Issue a warning notice and leave the appliance in operation.
- Disconnect the appliance without permission as it poses an immediate danger.
- Advise the customer to stop using the appliance and arrange a return visit.
- Turn off the appliance, attach a 'Danger Do Not Use' label, and immediately report the situation to the Gas Emergency Service Provider (ESP). (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Turn off the appliance, attach a 'Danger Do Not Use' label, and immediately report the situation to the Gas Emergency Service Provider (ESP).
According to the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP), if an engineer identifies an 'Immediately Dangerous' situation and the responsible person refuses permission to disconnect, the engineer must turn off the appliance, apply appropriate warning labels, and immediately contact the Gas Emergency Service Provider (e.g., Cadent, SGN) to report the unsafe situation. This ensures the danger is averted by a body with the authority to take further action if necessary.
Question 3: Which of the following situations involving a gas installation requires a mandatory report to be made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)?
- Discovering a gas cooker with a faulty ignition switch.
- A gas boiler installation that does not meet current standards but is otherwise safe.
- A gas appliance that has been incorrectly installed by a non-registered person, which is found to be dangerous. (Correct answer)
- A minor gas escape from a fitting that is immediately repaired and made safe.
Correct answer: A gas appliance that has been incorrectly installed by a non-registered person, which is found to be dangerous.
RIDDOR Regulation 11(2) requires a report to be made by a Gas Safe registered engineer if they find a gas fitting that, due to its design, construction, installation, modification, or servicing, is or has been dangerous, potentially causing death, loss of consciousness, or requiring hospital treatment. An appliance installed dangerously by a non-registered person falls directly into this category. The other options do not meet the specific reporting criteria for dangerous gas fittings under RIDDOR.
Question 4: An engineer is installing a new gas fire with a gross heat input of 12 kW in a bedroom. According to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, what specific safety feature must this appliance have?
- It must be a flueless appliance.
- It must be connected to a power supply for an electric fan.
- It must be a room-sealed appliance or incorporate a safety control to shut it down if combustion products build up. (Correct answer)
- It must have a minimum efficiency rating of 85%.
Correct answer: It must be a room-sealed appliance or incorporate a safety control to shut it down if combustion products build up.
Regulation 30(2) of the GSIUR 1998 states that a gas fire installed in a room used for sleeping accommodation must be a room-sealed appliance. An exception is made for appliances with a gross heat input of not more than 14kW, which can be installed if they incorporate a safety control designed to shut down the appliance before a dangerous quantity of combustion products can accumulate in the room.
Question 5: According to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, a landlord must keep records of gas safety checks. For how long must they retain the record of each annual check?
- For a period of 12 months from the date of the check.
- Until two further safety checks have been carried out. (Correct answer)
- For a minimum of 6 years, in line with other financial records.
- Indefinitely, for the entire duration of the property's rental history.
Correct answer: Until two further safety checks have been carried out.
Regulation 36(3)(b) of the GSIUR 1998 requires landlords to keep a record of each gas safety check until two further checks of the relevant appliance or flue have been made. This ensures a history of at least the last three checks is available for inspection.
Question 6: A Gas Safe engineer is servicing a boiler in a domestic property and finds the main equipotential bonding is missing from the gas installation pipework. What is the correct course of action according to industry best practice and regulations?
- Carry out the bonding themselves as part of the service.
- Classify the situation as 'Immediately Dangerous' and disconnect the gas supply.
- Inform the responsible person, in writing, that the installation may require equipotential bonding and advise them to consult a qualified electrician. (Correct answer)
- Ignore the issue as it is an electrical matter and outside the scope of gas work.
Correct answer: Inform the responsible person, in writing, that the installation may require equipotential bonding and advise them to consult a qualified electrician.
While gas engineers are not electricians, Regulation 18(2) of the GSIUR 1998 places a duty on them to notify the responsible person where it appears the equipotential bonding may be required. The industry standard is to provide written notification to the customer, advising them that a competent electrician should be engaged to assess and, if necessary, install the correct bonding. It is not classified as Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR) unless other faults are present, but it must be formally brought to the customer's attention.
Gas Safe ACS - Accredited Certification Scheme Gas Safety Legislation Questions and Answers
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, what is the legal requirement for a landlord regarding the gas safety record for a new tenancy?