The Ultimate Guide to Commercial Gas Safety Certificates
Obtaining a commercial gas safety certificate is a legal requirement for all businesses in the UK. As a gas engineer, ensuring the safety and efficiency of gas appliances in commercial premises through gas safety inspections is paramount.
This guide is tailored to provide you with a detailed understanding of commercial gas safety certificates, including the different types of certificates, the inspection process, how technology can make the process easier, and more! By the end, you’ll have the key information needed to effectively uphold gas safety standards in commercial settings.
Create digital Gas Safety Records, schedule jobs, issue invoices, and much more with Gas Engineer Software.
(Fast & easy setup with no committment.)
What is a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?
A commercial gas safety certificate confirms that all gas appliances or fittings in a commercial property have been tested and approved for use by a registered gas engineer. In the UK, it’s a legal requirement to have a gas safety certificate, which must be reissued every 12 months to ensure compliance.
Why is Having a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate Important?
Gas safety inspections shouldn’t be overlooked for a few reasons.
Firstly, as we just mentioned, not having a valid gas safety certificate puts the owner in breach of the UK’s gas safety regulations. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 stipulate that all commercial properties must have a gas safety inspection completed; otherwise, they’ll face prosecution. Fines can amount to £6,000, and those responsible, either the tenant or the property owner, could face jail time.
Secondly, the safety inspection will ensure there are no gas leaks or problems with the gas appliances that may put the owner/tenant, staff, or clients at risk. Gas safety is everyone’s responsibility because an incident can affect neighbouring properties as well.
Lastly, failure to produce a current gas safety certificate will often render property insurance coverage invalid.
Different Types of Gas Safety Certificates
These commercial gas certificates include:
- Commercial Boiler Commissioning Record (CP15): This certificate is specifically for commercial gas boilers and guarantees their optimal working condition after the appropriate tests have been done.
- Commercial Gas Installation Testing and Purging (CP16): Issued after installation, this certificate assesses the functionality of all gas appliances and includes testing and purging to ensure they meet the required standards.
- Commercial Gas Installation Safety Report (Non-domestic) (CP17): Also issued after installation, this certificate confirms all gas appliances, pipework, and flues within a commercial property meet safety requirements. Often, commercial properties will get both a CP16 and a CP1 certificate.
- Commercial Catering Gas Safety Certificate (CP42): This certificate is designated specifically for commercial kitchens and catering establishments. It covers the inspection and testing of gas appliances used in commercial catering, such as cookers, ovens, and grills.
- Mobile Catering Vehicle Safety Record (CP44): This certificate is for those running a commercial food business out of a vehicle or trailer with gas appliances attached to LPG bottles.
- Landlord Gas Safety Record for the Leisure Industry (CP2): This record is used specifically for landlords of Leisure Accommodation Vehicles (LAVs) and Boats who rent out to members of the public and have gas appliances installed in the vehicles.
When is a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate Required?
Commercial gas safety certificates are issued after gas appliances are installed or after major repairs and must be renewed every 12 months. The safety inspection and certificate issue must happen within 2 months of the expiry date.
For gas engineers, this legal responisibility means that landlords and, in this case businesses, provide a steady stream of work.
The Commercial Gas Safety Inspection Process
The gas safety inspection process is straightforward and involves a combination of visual checks and manual tests.
- Visual Checks: Firstly, examine all the appliances and fittings for signs of damage or misuse to ensure they are in good working order.
- Pressure and Functionality Testing: Then, conduct tests to verify that the pressure and functionality meet the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Issue Notification: If you identify any issues during the inspection process, you must notify the owner and mark the appliance inoperable until it is repaired. In serious cases, the gas line may be disconnected to reduce the safety risk. Repairs must be completed as soon as possible and you will need to inspect the appliance again to ensure everything has been fixed.
- Recordkeeping: Lastly, record all tests and results in the gas safety record form. Just keep in mind that the fields in the form will vary depending on the specific commercial certificate you’re working on. To make things much easier, it pays to go digital. You can download our free commercial gas safety certificate template to use with your customers.
There are countless benefits to going digital. The digital form can be completed on-site from a tablet or other mobile device and issued to the customer immediately. Forget double-handling paperwork and having to file records later, only to misplace them. All records can be saved in the cloud so you can retrieve them easily at a later date.
Another benefit is the easy repeat business you can get. With easy access to an organised database of digital records, you’ll effortlessly capture repeat business from old customers who need certificate renewal.
Common Issues to Look for During a Commercial Gas Safety Inspection
When conducting a gas safety inspection on a commercial property, you might encounter some of the following issues.
Non-Compliant Installations: There are rare cases where older properties have appliances that were installed by an unregistered individual. In these situations, there can be many problems with fittings and functionality not meeting performance standards.
Unauthorised Adjustments: Someone may have inadvertently changed a setting or adjusted the placement of appliances, which could affect gas fittings and pressure, potentially compromising safety.
Skipped Inspections: It may become apparent on arrival that the customer has skipped a previous inspection. In this case, there may be some serious underlying issues with the installation. This is similar to the way that homeowners sometimes develop overconfidence in their appliances and choose to neglect gas safety inspections.
Who Can Issue a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate?
Only registered gas-safe engineers can legally issue a commercial gas safety certificate. Gas safe engineers must have an accredited qualification in gas safety engineering, such as a diploma or degree, and must hold public liability insurance in order to carry out inspections. To register or renew your registration, go to the Gas Safe engineers portal.
How Can Gas Engineer Software Help?
We’ve mentioned the benefits of going digital when it comes to completing the gas safety certificate, but you can take it a step further. Heating and plumbing businesses are making good use of Gas Engineer Software to manage all their bookings, documentation, and customer information.
Gas Engineer Software will free you from the seemingly never-ending pile of paperwork and help keep your business organised. Although record keeping is certainly the less glamorous side of running a business, it’s important. And keeping records organised will help you provide the best customer service possible.
At the same time, you can help your customers by setting up automated reminders to alert them when certificate renewals are due. You can also set reminders for yourself about training and licence renewals and easily schedule all your bookings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for arranging a commercial gas safety certificate?
The landlord of the commercial property is legally required to have a valid gas safety certificate. Failure to do so puts them in breach of regulations, and they could face penalties.
Do tenants need a copy of the gas safety certificate every year?
Yes, tenants are required to receive a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of it being issued. In addition, records need to be kept for at least 2 years.
What types of businesses require a commercial gas safety certificate?
Any commercial premises that have gas appliances installed, whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, office, or industrial facility, will need a commercial gas safety certificate.
Is there a grace period for gas safety certificates?
There is no grace period. Gas safety certificates must be valid at all times and can only be renewed within 2 months of the expiry date.
How much does a commercial gas safety certificate cost?
The cost of a commercial gas safety inspection will vary depending on the size of the property and the number of gas appliances. In addition, the location within the UK will also influence the cost of the inspection, with gas engineers potentially charging more where there is less competition or bigger distances to travel.
How long does a commercial gas safety inspection usually take?
The length of the gas safety inspection depends on many factors, but it typically takes only a few hours. A commercial property with many gas appliances or significant problems with gas appliances should expect the inspection to take longer.
How often does a commercial property require a gas safety certificate?
Commercial properties in the UK are required by law to have a gas safety inspection completed every 12 months. However, it’s important to note that the certificate renewal must be completed within 2 months of the expiry date.
Next steps:
If you’ve been thinking about implementing software into your workflow to save time, here’s what you can do next:
- Visit our resources centre where you'll find more articles like this one and our free gas rate calculator.
- Start a free trial to see exactly how our software works for your business.
- Watch our video demo to get an idea of how our software works. You can also book a 1-on-1 session with our customer success team for a more personalised experience.
- Know an engineer who's still using paper? Help them and us out by sending our software their way!
Get the Free Gas Rate Calculator App
Quick, effortless, and 100% reliable gas rating for Android and iOS.
