COVID-19 Advice and Guidance

Reviewed 20^th July
Last updated 20^th July

Advice for the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Please be aware: as this is an ever-changing situation information may be updated, amended and added on a regular basis.

General Information: Gas Safe Register Inspecting gas work carried out by registered businesses and investigating illegal gas work

See What we do for information about when Gas Safe will inspect or investigate gas work

Are inspections of gas work and gas businesses taking place?

We are now making on-site inspections, where appropriate.

What are the key changes you have made to inspections?

Over the past year we have used the latest technology to develop new processes, including our Remote Technical Assessment (RTA) which determines whether a subsequent Face to Face inspection is required. These innovations have been well-received and we will continue to use these new approaches alongside face to face interactions and other solutions.

If a Gas Safe Register Inspector attends my property, will they be equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

Your well-being and that of other household members at your property is our priority while carrying out any gas pipework and/or appliance inspections. So that you and our employees stay safe, where appropriate, all our Inspectors will continue to use PPE such as a face covering, and will continue to maintain two-metre social distancing wherever possible. A risk assessment that is specific to your situation will be carried out prior to entering your property, which will determine the appropriate PPE to be worn, for example, gloves, face coverings.

Guidance on keeping yourself safe can be found here: gov.uk/coronavirus

Will Gas Safe Register inspectors want to visit my property if we have symptoms of COVID-19?

So that you, other members of your household and our Inspectors can all stay safe, we won’t visit properties where those living in the home:

• have symptoms of COVID-19
• are self-isolating

We’ll be pleased to carry out an inspection of the gas engineer’s work at your property once you’re feeling well enough and have completed any self-isolation requirements (as per the current Government guidelines) and are happy for us to visit.

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes#homes-2-1
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing

Are there any circumstances where Gas Safe Register will terminate an inspection visit?

We want to ensure customers, gas engineers and our employees stay safe. This means all our visits will start with our inspector undertaking a risk assessment before starting any inspection. If a risk is clearly identified, they reserve the right to terminate the visit to ensure the safety of you, any accompanying gas engineer and themselves.

We’ll need to terminate a visit to your property if our inspector falls ill with COVID-19 symptoms or must self-isolate in accordance with the Governments guidelines.

Will the inspector apply the two-metre social distancing guidelines within my property?

To ensure your safety and that of our employees, our inspectors will continue to apply two-metre social distancing measures. We may also ask you and any other household members to wait in another room or go outside while the inspection is carried out or open doors and windows in the room they are working in.

We’ll call you before our visit to check that you and other household members are well and that no one has suspected COVID-19 symptoms, is self-isolating or shielding.

Which areas of my property will the inspector need to access?

Our inspector will need to access:

• the gas appliance which is the subject of the visit
• the gas meter
• the roof-space (if appropriate) to check the chimney or flue
• we may also need to visually inspect any other installed gas appliances

Will your inspector need hand washing facilities?

Ideally yes, but as part of their PPE our inspectors will have their own hand sanitiser.

Will your inspector require anything else?

We politely ask that the area where the inspector will be working, is clear, tidy and cleaned before the visit.

The inspector will ensure the area of the home worked in is left clean and tidy.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for engineers and assessment centres on maintaining ACS qualifications – updated 19th July 2021

Engineers are expected to take all reasonable measures to maintain their ACS qualifications, including planning ahead, as maintaining gas safety competence is essential for registered gas engineers.

To maintain their Gas Safe registration, engineers must ensure that expired ACS qualifications are renewed. 

After 31 March 2021 Gas Safe Register will only consider renewal of Gas Safe registration without current ACS in exceptional circumstances. Engineers will be expected to evidence that they have made reasonable attempts to find alternate assessment provision (e.g. provision of evidence of rebooked assessments by original provider and correspondence with at least two alternate providers, seeking alternative assessment arrangements) before requesting their circumstances are taken into consideration for renewal of their Gas Safe registration. Renewal of Gas Safe registration in these circumstances, will be considered on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed.

Where an engineer is unable to renew their registration as their qualifications have expired as they have been unable to take their ACS assessments due to health reasons, such as they are self isolating and not working, Gas Safe Register will consider temporarily pausing their registration for a period of 12 weeks which would allow them to re-join with the same registration number and no late payment fees once they completed their assessments, this will also be applicable to registered employees of a business.

Information on ACS assessment Centres in your area can be found at https://www.euskills.co.uk/gas-acs-centre-directory/

You can find information on ACS assessment Centres in your area in the December 2020 edition of Registered Gas Engineer magazine. Log into your account to read this issue of RGE.

Any queries should be sent to enquiries@gassaferegister.co.uk.

Registered Business: Inspections

Are there any circumstances where Gas Safe Register will terminate an inspection visit to my registered business address?

We will terminate a visit to your registered business address if our Inspector has COVID-19 symptoms or must self-isolate in accordance with the Government guidelines. All visits will commence with our Inspector completing a risk assessment. If a risk is identified, they reserve the right to cancel the visit to ensure the safety of you, themselves and your customer.

You will also need to undertake your own risk assessment prior to our visit.

Will Gas Safe Register want to visit a registered business address if I, my family or any members of staff have symptoms of COVID-19?

So that you, other members of your household or staff and our Inspectors can all stay safe, we won’t visit properties where those who maybe present:

• have symptoms of COVID-19
• are self-isolating

As a registered business, if I am arranging for gas work I have carried out, to be inspected in my customers' properties, what do I need to do in respect of COVID-19?

Please contact your customer to establish if they are self-isolating, shielding or fall within a vulnerable group. You will also need to check if they are happy to apply the social distancing guidelines. Please also ask your customer if they and any other household members will be willing to:

• Wait in another room or go outside while the inspection is carried out
• Open doors and windows in the room which we are working in

If any risks are identified, please arrange another inspection appointment.

Which areas of my customers’ property will the Inspector need to access?

Our Inspector will need to access:

• the gas appliance which is the subject of the visit
• the gas meter
• the roof-space (if appropriate) to check the chimney or flue
• we may also need to visually inspect any other installed gas appliances

Please explain to your customer that we may need to access these areas.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for engineers on working in people’s homes

The latest detailed guidance on working safely in people's homes can be found on the UK Government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

If you are a member of the public, guidance on keeping yourself safe can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. Please note, if you have COVID-19 symptoms, and you have a planned visit from a Gas Safe Register Inspector, or a gas engineer from any business, you must make all parties aware and have the appointment re-arranged.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for landlords Safety Checks

The HSE has provided a wealth of new information for landlords including a variety of scenarios which may help provide some clarity for those concerned for their well-being or the well-being of their customers.

Please visit: https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/covid-19-advice-and-guidance/landlords/

If you smell gas, or if you have concerns about the safety of your appliances, you should call the gas emergency service provider on 0800 111 999, and switch off appliances until the gas emergency supplier, or a registered gas engineer, has attended and advised that the appliances are safe to use.