Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations

Implementing the Council Directive 90/396/EEC as amended (Gas Appliances Directive - GAD) 

Subject Area

The Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1629 - the Regulations) implement the Directive 93/396/EEC as amended by Council Directive 93/68/EEC to include requirements for CE Marking.

Coverage

The Regulations apply to domestic and commercial gas appliances used for cooking, heating, hot water production, refrigeration, lighting or washing and having where applicable, a normal water temperature not exceeding 105 degrees Celsius and includes forced draught burners and heating bodies to be equipped with such burners. Most appliances for use in industrial processes on industrial premises are excluded. The Regulations also apply to certain fittings.

Intention of Legislation

To remove technical barriers to trade, to establish a Single Market in safe gas appliances and provide a high level of protection for consumers throughout the EEA.

Products covered by this legislation are required to carry the CE Marking. Use of Notified Bodies is also required.

The Regulations cover products when first placed on the market.

The Regulations can be viewed on the HMSO website.

Enforcement

The Regulations are enforced by the local authority trading standards departments in respect of gas appliances intended for use by the consumer, and by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of appliances intended for the workplace.

Local Authority Trading Standards Departments are required to notify us of enforcement actions.

Notified Bodies

Notified Bodies are independent organisations that have been designated by the Member States as being competent with skills and qualifications to undertake type testing, approval of quality systems, production monitoring and surveillance to verify conformity to the Essential Requirements of the Gas Appliances Directive.

The Regulations allow manufacturers to choose different Notified Bodies to undertake the different aspects of product type-examination and production monitoring.

Current Position

The Directive came fully into force on 1 January 1996.

Guidance

A comprehensive Guidance booklet and an up-to-date list of UK Notified Bodies is available from the link on the right. You can order a hard copy of the Guidance online via BERR Publications

The European Commission has its own website dedicated to matters relating to this Directive. Information on this site includes:

NOTE (i): SECOND-HAND GAS APPLIANCES

These Regulations do not apply to second-hand gas appliances or fittings, which have been previously supplied or put into service by a person in the EEA.

Second-hand appliances are covered by other legislation; the type of appliance determines the specific legislation.

NOTE (ii): THE GAS (SAFETY) INSTALLATIONS AND USE REGULATIONS 1998

Within the UK there are strict controls on installations and maintenance of gas appliances, HSE have responsibility for this legislation. This legislation can be viewed from the HMSO website.

The Health and Safety Executive advises that all gas appliances and/or flues should be regularly maintained and a safety check carried out annually or at any other time if there is a safety doubt. This work must be carried out by a CORGI registered installer.

Further information on gas safety installation and maintenance issues can be found on the HSE website.

CORGI (iii): For information on finding CORGI registered installers and questions relating to gas safety issues visit the CORGI website.

For further information, contact Gigi Pardesi at the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, Bay 384, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
Tel: 020 7215 1323, fax: 020 7215 2635
e-mail: gigi.pardesi@berr.gsi.gov.uk

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