We are responsible for ensuring that the gas pipework and all gas appliances in the housing stock are safe to use.

Under the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1998 we must:

• Ensure that we use only CORGI-registered persons to carry out work on gas fittings
• Not permit a gas appliance to be used if we suspect it to be unsafe or inadequately ventilated
• Undertake an annual safety check on gas pipework and appliances
• Keep records of all inspection defects and actions taken
• Provide tenants with records of gas servicing or safety checks

Why it is Important to Check that Gas Appliances are Safe to Use

Most gas appliances need a chimney or flue to remove the fumes after burning the gas and fresh air. They make sure that the fumes from the gas appliance are not mixed with the fresh air you need to breath.

Gas appliances need air to burn safely. With enough air, gas appliances produce carbon dioxide and water in safe amounts, which are normally taken away by a chimney or flue. However, a gas appliance will produce carbon monoxide if there is too little air or the chimney or flue is blocked.

Carbon monoxide gas is highly poisonous both to people and animals. It is difficult to recognise because it has no colour, smell or taste.

The danger signs from a gas appliance are stains, soot or discolouring around the top of a gas fire or at the top of gas water heater or boiler. A conventional gas appliance should have a normal blue flame - not yellow or orange.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those caused by other illnesses, such as colds or flu. However, if you suffer from unexplained headaches, chest pains, muscular weakness, sickness, diarrhoea, stomach pains, sudden dizziness when standing up, or general lethargy after using a gas appliance, stop using it, report it to the council and go to your doctor.

How We Make Sure that Gas Appliances are Safe to Use

We have an annual programme to visit all properties with gas pipework or gas appliances to check that they are safe to use. We only use CORGI-registered engineers to carry out inspections or work on gas appliances. They will normally visit homes using council vans and will always carry identification cards.

We carry out our gas servicing and safety check programme throughout the year, by targeting properties in each area. A repair acknowledgement and customer satisfaction slip is sent out about two weeks before this work is due to be carried out. A specific date is given when the engineer will call with either a morning or afternoon appointment. If this is inconvenient you can contact us, on a number given on the repair card, to arrange a mutually convenient time for this work. Where we have been unable to gain access we may, in some cases, need to take legal action to inspect gas appliances and gas pipes.

We service and maintain all gas appliances installed by the council. We carry out a safety check on all gas appliances installed by tenants, which may include boilers, water heaters, fires and cookers. In addition, we check all gas pipework to make sure there are no leaks.

Where a gas appliance is suspected as being unsafe or inadequately ventilated it is, with the tenant's permission, isolated to prevent it from being used. In addition, a warning notice is attached to the appliance.

The gas engineer records the inspection or what work has been carried out and leaves a copy of this report with the customer. A copy of the gas service or safety check is also issued before the start of a new tenancy.

Gas safety checks are also undertaken as part of our normal day-to-day repairs service. These are usually undertaken when a tenant suspects they have a faulty or dangerous appliance.

What Work is Undertaken to Service a Gas Appliance

We carry out an initial examination, which includes:

• Asking the tenant if they have any specific requirements
• Checking the room ventilation
• Making sure that any appropriate warning labels are fixed to the appliance
• Checking the location of the flue
• A visual check for stains, soot or discolouring of the gas, which indicates it is a faulty appliance
• Checking the flame
• A visual check on the electrical installation

Servicing a gas appliance includes:

• Isolating the gas and any electrical supplies to the appliance
• Removing any dust or deposits from within the appliance casing as necessary
• Checking the condition of any electrical connections, cleaning as necessary
• Cleaning the internal components and checking their condition for any signs of cracking or damage
• Easing any stiff control taps as necessary
• Checking the flue for any obstructions and ventilation
• Checking the operation of the flue and ventilation
• Reconnecting the appliance to the gas and electrical supplies
• Testing all disconnected gas joints for leaks
• Setting the appliance to burn efficiently
• Advising the customer of any further work required
• How we carry out a gas safety check:
  We check:
• The effectiveness of any flue
• The ventilation requirements
• The burning efficiency of any appliance
• Its safe functioning

What You Can do to Make Sure Your Gas Appliances are Safe to Use

Act without delay if you suspect you have a faulty gas appliance. Turn-off the appliance and ventilate the room. Contact the council to arrange for the gas appliance to be tested. Do not be tempted to re-use the gas appliance until our engineers have checked it.

• Never use a gas appliance, which you suspect may not be working properly
• Under no circumstances try to alter or repair a gas appliance yourself
• Never block any vents, this will shut out the fresh air that your gas appliance needs to burn safely
• Check that nothing is obstructing outside grilles, flues or airbricks. This includes trees, shrubbery etc
• Only use gas appliance’s for what they were designed for. For example, do not use a cooker to heat a room

Even though the council inspects all gas appliances, you still have a responsibility to have your own gas appliances serviced to ensure that they operate efficiently and safe.

Take care if you are buying second-hand gas appliances, make sure that the dealer gives you a written guarantee and always ask for a copy of the user instructions.

If you are carrying out a modification to your home, which may include altering or fitting a gas appliance, you should notify the council. We will visit your home and offer advice and guidance on alterations or modifications work. In addition, you may be entitled to reimbursement for certain works, under rights to compensation for improvement work, should you end your tenancy. However, you must ensure that you use a CORGI-registered installer to carry out work on gas fittings in your home.

What You Can do to Assist with the Gas Servicing or a Safety Check Programme

• The most important thing you can do is allowing access to your home for a gas service or safety check to be undertaken
• If you are unavailable when we visit, contact us to make an appointment
• Make sure that you keep any appointments
• Treat your gas appliances with respect by ensuring they are serviced each year

Gas Leaks

If you suspect you have a gas leak in your home, however slight, you should:

• Do not smoke or strike matches
• Put out any cigarettes or naked flames
• Open all doors and windows to ventilate the affected rooms
• Turn off the gas supply at the meter
• Do not operate electrical switches or door bells, they can cause sparks
• Do not use any phone in your home to report the gas leak
• Keep people away from the affected area
• Act immediately by contacting Transco (British Gas) Emergency Freephone number: 0800 111 999. They will make your home safe and advise you on what action to take.