If gas appliances, such as ovens, cookers, and boilers, are not properly installed and maintained, there is a danger of fire, explosion, gas leaks, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 came into force on 6 April 2018. This guidance is for anyone who might have a duty under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, including those who install, service, maintain or repair gas appliances and other gas fittings.

Employers of gas installation specialists and manufacturers need to comply with the relevant regulations to help ensure worker and public safety.

Key Gas Installation Standards

Gas installation standards include guidance, recommendations, and requirements on the installation, design, inspection, and commissioning of equipment such as smart meters and domestic appliances.

The key standards for gas installation include:

BS 6173:2020 Installation and maintenance of gas fired catering appliances for use in all types of catering establishments (2nd and 3rd family gases). Specification.

This newly revised British Standard aims to improve the accuracy of installation and maintenance tests of gas-fired catering appliances.

The publication coincides with catering establishments reporting that they have been required to close unnecessarily due to equipment failing tests that were not of themselves accurate. The methodology outlined in BS 6173:2020 can help improve the accuracy of the newly cited test procedures.

The standard covers the safe installation, servicing, and maintenance of new and previously used gas-fired commercial catering appliances that burn 2nd or 3rd family gases, including natural and liquefied petroleum gas. It applies to a wide range of appliances such as cookers, fish and chip frying ranges, fryers, ovens, café boilers and urns, bain-marie units, tandoori ovens, kebab grills, and barbecues. It also applies to the installation of typical domestic cookers or leisure appliances such as barbecues when installed in commercial catering sites or establishments.

It has been prepared by experts across the fields of gas, catering, and food industries. It will be used by commercial catering gas installers, commercial catering kitchen designers, and facilities management companies to ensure accurate testing.

To learn about how standards support fire safety in the construction industry, click here.

BS 5864:2019 Installation and maintenance of gas fired ducted air heaters.

BS 5864 covers how engineers should choose, install and maintain certain types of gas-fired warm air heaters, specifically in accordance with the EU’s Energy Related Products Directive.

This is the only recognized industry standard for the installation and maintenance of gas-fired warm air units. Its purpose is to help engineers safely install warm air heaters, particularly in accordance with the new EU Energy Related Products Directive.

The standard specifies requirements for the selection, installation, and maintenance of flued, gas-fired, ducted-air heaters of rated heat input not exceeding 70 kW, based on net calorific value, burning 2nd or 3rd family gases to heat one or more rooms or internal spaces in either domestic premises or commercial premises.

It applies to warm air heaters that incorporate a fan to circulate the warm air, to combined air heater/circulator installations, and to the servicing and maintenance of heaters that distribute warm air by natural convection.

BS 6400-2:2018 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation, maintenance and removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6 m3/h. Medium pressure (2nd family gases).

BS 6400-2 exists to help gas meter installers meet the requirements of 16 UK and European regulations, including the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations. It was updated to align with the UK Government’s mandate for the installation of gas smart meters in all homes by 2020.

The standard is used by gas meter installers and a range of other professionals within the gas industry. It specifies requirements for the installation, exchange, relocation, maintenance, and removal of credit or prepayment diaphragm and ultrasonic gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6 m³/h.

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Ensure your organization is working to gas safety best practices when it comes to installing gas appliances, by adding these key gas safety standards to your collection today.