Commercial Gas Safety Guide
Created:11/03/2022
Updated: 02/02/2024
Gas appliances form the backbone of day to day operations for restaurants, laundrettes, cafes, and any number of other commercial hospitality ventures. Business owners all over the UK rely on the effectiveness of their appliances. With so many other business necessities to think about, it can be easy to forget commercial gas safety.
Commercial gas safety should be on the top of your priority list. Washing machines, ovens, fridges, freezers, and even air conditioning units run on gas. When you consider how many essential appliances operate on gas, it is clear to see why regular safety checks are important.
There are very strict rules and regulations regarding business gas appliances.
Business owners can protect themselves and their employees against technical faults, fires, explosions, and CO poisoning by securing a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate.
The world of gas safety is often muddied by rules, regulations, and even fraudsters. It is important to ensure that any work is completed by registered commercial gas engineers.
One of the most common questions that business owners ask us is, ‘What is a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?’
What Is a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?
A commercial Gas Safety Certificate tells regulatory bodies that gas appliances have been checked by a qualified, experienced engineer. It is sometimes referred to as a Gas Safety Record Form or even a CP12.
Annual Gas Safety Certificates will ensure that your appliances are safe for use. These will be carried out by engineers who are gas safe registered. This is a legal requirement as they have the necessary commercial gas training.
They will also identify problems that could save you a large lump sum. Business gas appliances can be unsafe if left unchecked. Business owners and landlords must get their gas appliances checked once every twelve months. If they do not complete this legal requirement, they will be subject to hefty fines and even imprisonment.
There are four main elements to the test. Your engineer will conduct a visual, pressure, functionality, and operation test. Some business gas appliances also undergo an extra test. If an appliance expels gases that were made during the combustion process, your engineer will check that the extraction system works correctly.
All engineers have a personal registration number that will be visible on your commercial Gas Safety Certificate. They record the name of the business gas appliance and the location within your premises. They also note the result of the tests and make recommendations about fixes.
Who Needs a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?
Anyone who owns or is responsible for commercial premises that contain gas appliances must test their appliances once a year. They must book an experienced engineer and get a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate for their records. Once the tests are conducted, they must also complete any fixes and ensure that their business gas appliances are safe for use.
Landlords are subject to the same rules and regulations. They are obligated to perform regular checks on their appliances.
Commercial business owners and landlords must follow the rules set out in the Gas Safety Regulations act of 1998. This act outlines rules for both natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It contains rules for appliances in both commercial and rented residential properties.
Gas safety regulations state that commercial business owners and landlords have to have an in-date safety certificate. Commercial gas appliances can be checked anywhere between the 10th and 12th months after the last check.
What Is the Gas Safety Register?
The Gas Safe Register was first launched in the UK in April 2009. It is an official, regulated register. Gas businesses must be on the register, and gas engineers are only accepted onto the register if they have undertaken all the relevant qualifications. Every gas engineer that is on the register has a unique number. This number ensures that the regulatory body can track engineers and the Commercial Gas Safety Certificates that they work on.
How to Get a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?
The first step towards securing a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate is to book a visit from a Gas Safe engineer. Business owners should be wary of fraudsters. All Gas Safe registered engineers will have an ID card with them. Make sure to check their ID card before any tests are conducted.
There are lots of unregistered engineers who will make big claims about the validity of their work. Ultimately, any checks that they complete will be void. Business gas fraudsters are so common that the Gas Safe Register has created a search tool for people who want to find qualified engineers.
Once you have booked an appointment with a qualified engineer, they will handle the rest of the process. They will arrive at your premises and conduct as many tests as necessary to ascertain whether your appliances are safe or not. At the end of the visit, you will receive a Gas Safety Certificate. Your certificate will detail appliances that have passed, appliances that have failed, and appliances that require attention.
Compare Business Gas Prices
Commercial Gas Safety Certificates and energy tariffs are the two most important things that business owners can think about every year. Each year, business owners lose hundreds of pounds to rising energy prices. One of the easiest ways to reduce monthly energy bills is to compare tariffs. With the upcoming price increase, it is more important than ever to compare energy prices.
At Business Energy, we help business owners secure the best energy deals on the market. Our experts have created a comparison generator that is quick and easy to use. Simply input your details and we will find you commercial gas deals in just 30 seconds.