The first annual Gas Safety Week has been launched this week to raise awareness of gas safety in the home. The event, organised by the UKs governing body of registered gas installers the Gas Safe Register, aims to help homeowners and registered installers work together to make their homes safe.
The Gas Safe register will be touring the country to help raise awareness of gas safety direct to homeowners. If you are already a gas safe engineer it is a great time to raise awareness in the local area to help support Gas Safety Week.
This sparks the question of what are safe practices in the home and how can you ensure that all your gas appliances are in safe working order? Clearly the most important message to put across is to make sure that any engineer that works with gas has taken the relevant gas & plumbing courses which is required to be a member of the Gas Safe Register. Below are some other important gas safety tips to keep homeowners gas safe:
· Make sure any gas appliances, including boilers, cookers and fires are safety checked annually
· Also check any gas appliances you may have yourself for clear faults such as black marks or stains around the appliance or flickering yellow flames instead of strong blue flames
· Make sure whoever works to fit, fix or check gas appliances are Gas Safe registered.
Anybody working with gas has to be Gas Safe registered by law. Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card, and check the back of the card to ensure they are qualified to carry out the work needed. If you’re unsure check the Gas Safe website to see if they are registered.
Another risk when working with Gas in the home is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is why it is important to also be aware of the following to keep your home safe:
· Recognise the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, nausea, breathlessness, dizziness, collapse and loss of consciousness
· Carbon monoxide can leak from appliances and kill - make sure you have a working Carbon Monoxide alarm that is located near to your gas appliances in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance
· Make sure there is appropriate ventilation for your gas appliances to allow them to burn correctly and make sure you aren’t blocking any air vents that provide an air supply
RF Training offer a selection of gas, electrical and plumbing courses. Visit our website to find out more about becoming a registered gas installer today and also get some useful trade tips in our blog.