New ACOP now published after the consultation earlier this year

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

Just received this email:
Dear All,

Following a process of extensive consultation (see CD252 ? Consultation on proposals for a Revised Approved Code of Practice on "Safe installation and use of gas systems and appliances" (L56) & CD241 - Proposals to review HSE?s Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) ), HSE has updated the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L56which covers safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances. The new, fourth edition of L56 can be found at Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances.

The ACOP and guidance give practical advice on the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations and is for anyone who may have a duty under the Regulations, including those who install, service, maintain or repair gas appliances and other gas fittings as well as landlords.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to contribute to the consultation and revision process. The results of the consultation and an analysis of the responses can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd252-analysis.pdf . You will see from the analysis that we decided, given the strength of opposition, to retain the "appendix 1" material on "requirements for appliances and flues". This material has been updated as part of the review and can now be found in Appendix 3 of the revised ACOP.


The other main changes to the document include:

• the introduction of guidance and ACOP on standards of training in safe gas installation have been included (in Part B) from COP20 ‘Standards of training in safe gas installation. Approved Code of Practice’, which is due to be withdrawn early 2014
• Guidance for landlords under regulation 36 has been removed and replaced with a small amount of ACOP text. Detailed guidance for landlords can be found on the HSE website (Landlords' responsibility for gas safety )
• The material on ‘requirements for appliances and flues’ formerly contained in Appendix 1 has been updated and can now be found in Appendix 3
• Examples of unsafe situations have been removed – details are in the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations procedurewhich is freely available from Gas Safe Register Unsafe situations | Gas Safe Register
• Lists of standards and regulations have been removed. A list of appropriate standards etc is freely available from Gas Safe Registerhttp://www.User PlumbersForums.net ...afe+Register+Industry+Document+List+oct13.pdf , anda summary of relevant legislation is available on the HSE website(Summary of legislation interfacing with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 )
• Minor revisions have been made to the definition of gas fitting and gas work (regulation 2), and to regulation 27 material (to reflect concerns around flues in voids)
• The material in Part C, Meters and regulators, has been updated, partly to reflect the introduction of smart meters

Thanks again to all of you who participated in this process.

Jill

Jill Wakefield
Work Environment, Radiation and Gas
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Bootle

Tel: 0151 951 4395 (vpn: 523 4395)
Work pattern Mon-Weds
​

Jill Wakefield
Work Environment, Radiation and Gas
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Bootle
​

 

[lame plumber]

At last it seems they have given some clear diefinition of who can do things with gas and when, let the arguements commence 🙂
Work in relation to a gas fitting
[FONT=Helvetica 45 Light,Helvetica 45 Light][FONT=Helvetica 45 Light,Helvetica 45 Light]51 For the purposes of these Regulations, ‘work’ includes do-it-yourself activities, work undertaken as a favour for friends and relatives, and work for which there is no expectation of reward or gain, eg voluntary activity for charities. This means that anyone carrying out such work must have the necessary competence, as required by regulation 3(1). However, membership of an HSE approved class of persons (under regulation 3(3)) is required only by businesses carrying out gas fitting work.
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[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

At last it seems they have given some clear definition of who can do things with gas and when, let the arguments commence 🙂

Someone had to throw it out there.... and run!

 

[lame plumber]

Someone had to throw it out there.... and run!

naw only one 🙂