As a business owner, it is your duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment, and regular gas testing is a key part of this. All businesses are required by law to have annual gas safety inspection tests carried out. This is part of the 1998 Health and Safety “The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations”.

This includes testing gas appliances and flues to make sure that all safety requirements are met. These tests need to be carried out by an engineer that is Gas Safety registered. Read on to discover more about the importance of testing your commercial properties gas supply.

What Do the 1998 Health and Safety “the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations” State?

In short, these regulations state that every self-employed individual or employer has a duty to make sure that any gas installation pipework or gas appliances are installed in a safe condition at the place of work, even if you have your buildings for sale at the moment. You are responsible for ensuring gas safety is adhered to so that injuries are prevented.

What Happens During a Gas Tightness Test?

Gas tightness tests are a requirement for all employers when maintaining their systems. A tightness test is important because it can spot a number of different issues. This includes spotting any wear and tear before it becomes a hazard, as well as locating any possible risks from incorrect pressures and revealing any leaks in the system.

Do You Need a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?

The short answer to this question is ‘yes’ – this is one of the key reasons why a gas safety test is a must. It is a criminal offense if you do not have a valid yearly Gas Safety Certificate. The company you hire should be able to provide you with this once they have checked your gas supply.

Aside From Yearly Tests, When Else Should You Get a Gas Safety Test?

While it is important to get your company’s gas supply tested each year, there are certain circumstances that will require testing. The tightness and strengthening tests are required immediately before purging pipework, where there has been a total loss of pressure for any reason, where there is a known or suspected gas leak, before any work on existing pipework, new extensions to current pipework, and the re-use, replacement or alteration of existing pipework, as well as when new pipework is installed. In terms of direct purging, this is also needed when the pipework is being taken out of service on a permanent or temporary basis, where there is the chance of air being present in the pipes, where there has been a total loss of pressure for any reason, new extensions to existing pipework, and the re-use, replacement or alteration of existing pipework, and when new pipework is installed.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the importance of commercial property gas testing. It does not matter what type of business you run, whether it is a small office or a large industrial warehouse, gas tests are pivotal for health and safety reasons.