Gas engineers have a responsibility to advise you when they find dangerous gas installations onsite. Their actions are determined by the requirements of the Gas Safe (Installation & Use) Regulations and the guidance given in the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure.

When a gas engineer identifies a defect on an installation or judges any to be unsafe situations, the priority is to rectify the defect where practically possible and with the agreement of the client. Where this is not possible, a risk assessment would be carried out to determine which category the defect/s would fall into, and the engineer would raise a defects notice on the engineers report along with the classification of the defect.

Where faults are classed as ‘At Risk’ or ‘Immediately Dangerous’ we  would attach a Warning label to the dangerous gas fitting or appliance showing the ‘defect category’.

Defect Categories 

‘Immediately Dangerous’ (ID)

An “immediately dangerous” installation is one of which, if operated or left connected to a gas supply, is considered to be an immediate danger to life or property.

The installation would be made safe with your permission and must not be used until the necessary work has been carried out to repair the defect(s). If you continue to use an immediately dangerous installation you could be putting you or others lives in danger.

If you refuse the gas engineer permission to make safe the installation or an appliance, it is required that we report this to the Gas Emergency Service Provider (ESP). The ESP has legal powers to demand entry to make the situation safe or may disconnect the gas supply to the property

‘At Risk’ (AR)

An “at risk” installation is where one or more recognised faults are present which could constitute a danger to life or property without further faults developing.

With your permission, the installation would be isolated and made safe and should not be used again until the fault has been repaired.

Concern for Safety

If the Gas Emergency Service Provider has visited a property as a result of a reported smell of gas or fumes and cannot confirm the installation is safe, they may use a further category – ‘Concern for Safety’ and issue an appropriate notice.

Where a ‘Concern for Safety’ notice has been issued by the Gas Emergency Service Provider, you will be told not to use the installation or appliance until it has been checked by a Gas Safe engineer. It is your responsibility to get the installation checked. Do not use the installation or appliance until it has been checked.