The new version of Technical Bulletin (TB) 035 replaces the version originally published 19 August 2010 which is now withdrawn. This version has been reviewed and where appropriate revised to ensure that it remains both current and relevant.
Technical Bulletin 035 provides guidance to Gas Safe registered businesses/engineers on the need to be registered (where appropriate) and hold suitable certificates of competence, when required to undertake gas work on inland waterway crafts/ vessels.
Introduction
Clarification is often sought from businesses who would like to undertake gas work on waterway crafts/vessels as to whether they need to be registered with Gas Safe Register to undertake this type of work.
Clarification
Vessels that do not require a national or international load line certificate (i.e. most inland waterway crafts/vessels) – These crafts/vessels are outside the ‘Scope’ of GSIUR(4), but registered engineers will still need to demonstrate competence to undertake gas work. See also Competence requirements below. However, there are exceptions where the business/engineer will need to be registered with Gas Safe Register to carry out gas work on these vessels. Some examples are as follows:
• where the craft/vessel is used for residential purposes, such as a permanently moored house boat;
• where the craft/vessel is hired out to the public and where a business is carried out on the vessel, such as permanently moored holiday accommodation
Permanently moored vessels. When carrying out any gas work on inland waterway craft/vessel that is permanently moored to the bank of the river, canal, marina or in a harbour used for domestic or residential purposes, such work will be within the ‘Scope’ of the GSIUR.
Residential crafts/vessels. When undertaking gas work on vessels which are used for cruising but in which the owner lives for most of the time, or if the vessel is occupied by a tenant and rented from a landlord, these vessels are also covered by the requirements of GSIUR. See also Duties of landlords (below).
Hired vessels. When undertaking gas work on vessels which are made available (hired-out) in the course of a business, e.g. holiday accommodation, floating restaurants and public houses, these crafts/vessels are also covered by the requirements of GSIUR. See also Duties of landlords (below).
Gas work undertaken in boat yards. In the boat yard (factory environment), where gas work is carried out on inland waterway vessel for private domestic or residential purposes only, the engineer will need to demonstrate competence to undertake this work but will not necessarily need to be registered with Gas Safe Register to legally carry out the work.
Sea-going ships. These crafts/vessels are outside the ‘Scope’ of Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (GSIUR) as applied to GB, but registered engineers will still need to demonstrate competence to undertake gas work. See also Competence requirements below.
Gas work requirements
Installation pipework. For newly constructed crafts/vessels or gas system additions to existing crafts/vessels, installation pipework needs to be installed in accordance with BS EN ISO 1 0239(1), with design & commissioning in accordance with PD 54823:2016(2). However, when maintaining existing waterway crafts/vessels reference should be made to PD 54823:2016(2).
Tightness testing methods. PD 54823(2) was published in March 2016 to supplement BS EN ISO 1 0239(1), and it replaces PD 5482-3:2005(3). PD 54823(2) includes all the tightness testing methods to be adopted on any craft/vessel: newly constructed (once charged with LPG) or existing.
There may be occasions when a new craft/vessel has been imported into GB, and not yet put into use, the Gas Safe registered engineer may have to decide the most appropriate tightness testing method that should be applied. The craft/vessel manufacturer should be able to provide
information as to which particular Standard the gas installation has been installed, but if no information is available then the tightness testing procedure as defined in PD 54823(2) should to be used.
Appliances. The appliances installed need to be suitable for marine applications as specified by the appliance manufacturers, in accordance with BS EN ISO 1 0239(1) and PD 54823(3) (as appropriate).
Duties of landlords
Landlords’ gas safety record inspect ions may apply, where landlords provide residential accommodation. For example, it is a requirement of The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR)(4) (Regulation 36 – Duties of Landlords) as applied to GB, that any boat used for hire or reward (such as narrow boats on inland waterways) which provides residential accommodation must have an annual gas safety check carried out, this is often referred to as a ‘Landlord gas safety record’. Boat owners may also have duties under GSIUR(4) Regulation 35, which places maintenance duties upon employers and self-employed persons at places of work.
Note 1: Similar legislative requirements apply in other geographical areas covered by Gas Safe Register. For details of current gas safety legislation, building legislation and industry standards for the geographical areas covered by Gas Safe Register, see the Legislative. Normative & Informative Document List (LNIDL)(5) at Gas Safe Register – login and visit the Technical Information area.
Competence requirements for GB, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Guernsey
In Great Britain (GB), Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man (I0M), guidance on the individual competence required for gas work is given in IGEM publication IGEM/IG/1 – Standards of Training in Gas Work(6).
Note 2: Guernsey applies its own competency requirement supported by Gas Safe Register.
Persons deemed competent to carry out gas work are those who hold a current certificate(s) of competence in the type of gas work to be conducted issued by an awarding body accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) (ACS certification), or a National/Scottish Vocational Qualification (N/SVQ accredited by Ofqual), which is aligned in matters of gas safety or under the above mentioned ACoP arrangement as approved with Gas Safe Register, or any other scheme recognised by Gas Safe Register for registration purposes.
Gas safety competence requirements
Where a craft/vessel is within the scope of the GSIUR(4) as applied to GB, as well as needing to be registered with Gas Safe Register the engineer will need to hold the appropriate proof of competence for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on boats. There are also occasions where vessels are permanently moored and are supplied with natural gas (NG) and in this instance the Gas Safe registered engineer will need to hold the appropriate proof of competence for NG.
The list below provides examples of appropriate ACS assessments that are required for registration purposes and may be used as a means of proving competence.
• Domestic Core element (LPG) CCLP 1 Plus Core element for boats, yachts and other vessels (B)*
• Domestic Core element (NG) CCN 1*
• Commercial Catering Core element (NG) CCCN 1 and where appropriate a ‘Change Over’ Core element NG to LPG CoNGLP 1*
*Plus the appropriate range of sector appliance assessments as required.
Note 3: For general information about the process behind the development of Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the expectations for all Stakeholders, see TB 1000(7) at: Gas Safe Register – login and visit the Technical Information area.
Bibliography
(1) BS EN ISO 10239: 2014 Small craft – Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems.
(2) PD54823: 2016 Guidance for the design, commissioning and maintenance of LPG systems in small craft
(3) PD 5482-3: 2005 Code of practice for domestic butane and propane gas – burning installations – Part 3: Installations in boats, yachts and other vessels
(4) HSE L56 – Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances – Approved code of Practice and Guidance to the Gas Safety Installation and use) Regulations (This document is available online via the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/l56.pdf
(5) LNIDL – Gas Safe Register Legislative, Normative & Informative Document List
(6) IGEM/IG/1 Standards of Training in Gas Work (Communication 1767)
Note: /GEM//G/1 is available as a free download from /GEM and can be viewed online here
(7) TB 1000 – An introduction to Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins
Note: Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the Legislative, Normative & Informative Document List can be viewed at Gas Safe Register – login and visit the Technical Information area.
TECHNICAL BULLETIN 035
Gas Safe Register® has used its best efforts in the production of this information, but makes no warranty about the content and will not be held liable under any circumstances for any direct or indirect damages resulting from the use of this information. Users have the responsibility to ensure the information is current and relevant at the time of application. This document may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of Gas Safe Register® other than for personal reference purposes only. This document is uncontrolled when printed, please visit Gas Safe Register – login and visit the Technical Information area for the controlled (current) copy.
© Capita Gas Registration and Ancillary Services Ltd, 2011.
