EUSDSG3.10/3.11  Install, service, repair and remove gas fired ducted air heaters

Overview

This standard is about working on gas fired ducted air heaters in domestic settings.  Air heaters can be basic warm air units or combined warm area units and can be configured as down-flow, up-flow, horizontal-flow or slot-fit and include open, room-sealed, or fan draught chimneys.

As well as servicing and repairing, this standard covers the work activities of installing and removing gas fired ducted air heaters including when required for new installations or when exchanging, replacing or repositioning gas fired ducted air heaters. It  includes the disconnection, de-commissioning and commissioning that is involved.  It can apply to any type of fuel gas or combinations of fuel gas.

This standard should be used in conjunction with:

  • EUSDSG3a Prepare to work on gas systems or appliances in domestic settings; and
  • EUSDSG3.6 Carry out gas tightness testing and direct purging in small settings

This standard is for gas engineers who work in domestic settings.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. Carry out all stages of the work in line with installation, maintenance or removal plans or activities
  2. Carry out installation, service, repair and removal processes in accordance with manufacturers’ specification, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations
  3. Carry out installation, service, repair and removal in line with recognised industry practices, work standards, routines and sequences
  4. Check that conditions within gas and electricity systems will permit safe de-commissioning and commissioning
  5. Use designated safe isolation procedures and warning notices to prevent the unauthorised use of un-commissioned or de-commissioned gas appliances, gas systems, electrical systems and components
  6. Use the correct tools and equipment for each stage of the work being carried out
  7. Assemble duct systems and gas and electricity system components to meet requirements of plans
  8. Minimise damage to customer property and building features throughout all stages of the work
  9. Confirm position of new, replacement or repositioned air heaters meet location, siting and clearances required by manufacturers’ instructions and industry standards’ specification
  10. Confirm ventilation and any chimneys for new, replacement or repositioned installations meet industry standards and manufacturers’ instructions
  11. Ensure existing systems are clean and free of debris
  12. Fix and connect all relevant pipes and components to gas fired ducted air heaters in line with plans
  13. Confirm the operation of condensate disposal systems in line with manufacturers’ instructions
  14. Use tightness testing and purging, safe isolation and electrical testing procedures to confirm the integrity of systems and appliances
  15. Use industry standard checks and testing procedures to confirm the integrity of chimney systems and appliance flue seals
  16. Check gas system operating pressures meet industry standards
  17. Check appliance operating pressure and gas rate meet industry standards and manufacturers’ requirements
  18. Use industry standard visual checks and flue gas analysis to confirm combustion performance
  19. Check gas fired ducted air heaters and systems function safely and operate in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions
  20. Check electrical systems and components function safely and operate in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions
  21. Complete and submit all relevant documentation and paperwork in line with industry standards
  22. Instruct property occupiers on the correct operation of appliances and systems and provide them with their copy of appliance literature
  23. Resolve problems within own area of responsibility and competence in accordance with approved procedures
  24. Advise of any delays to the work, unresolved problems, unsafe situations and required remedial actions to those who require the information

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. Regulations and guidance governing health and safety in the workplace, environmental protection and the use of risk assessments including safe access and working at heights
  2. Legislation covering your general responsibilities for your own safety and that of others
  3. The limits of your own autonomy and responsibility
  4. Gas industry unsafe situations procedures and how to isolate unsafe gas appliances, gas systems and components
  5. Potential hazards that could arise from all de-commissioning, installation, service, repair, removal and commissioning activities and checks to be carried out before work takes place
  6. How to access and interpret normative documents, industry standards guidance documents, manufacturers’ instructions, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations
  7. Industry practices, work standards routines and sequences for installing, servicing, repairing, exchanging, replacing, repositioning, connecting, removing, de-commissioning and recommissioning gas fired ducted air heaters and associated systems and components
  8. Types of warm air central heating appliances to ensure correct heater selection including downflow, upflow, horizontal flow, & slot-fit
  9. Procedures and work methods for sizing warm air central heating appliances
  10. Tests and checks to confirm the suitability of gas combustion performance including the use of flue gas analysers
  11. Tests and checks to confirm the integrity, suitability, performance, operating pressure, gas rate and safe functioning of gas fired ducted air heaters
  12. Tests and checks to confirm the integrity, suitability and performance of chimneys and ventilation systems including natural & fanned air supply
  13. Procedures for checking gas fired ducted air heaters performance including pressure, flow rate and temperatures
  14. How to measure and record installation and site details for prefabrication
  15. The industry practices and work standards for fabricating new or existing duct systems for the installation of warm air central heating appliances, systems and components
  16. How to confirm that services and system requirements are adequate for gas system and components
  17. Safe isolation methods, tests, and procedures for temporary and permanent de-commissioning of gas and electricity systems, components and appliances including use of temporary continuity bonds, voltage sticks, voltage indicators, proving units, multimeters
  18. Measures to prevent un-commissioned and de-commissioned appliances or systems being brought into operation
  19. Components of gas fired ducted air heaters including warm air ducting, return air ducting, plenums, plenum adaptors, transfer grilles, registers grilles and condensate drains
  20. Positioning and fixing requirements for gas fired ducted air heaters and components including in airing cupboards, compartments, roof spaces, slot-fit and under stairs
  21. Methods of working which protect building décor, customer property and existing systems and components
  22. Safe processes and procedures for applying tightness testing and purging, safe isolation and electrical testing to appliances, gas systems and components to ensure safe functioning
  23. How to safely collect and dispose of system contents that may be hazardous to health or the environment
  24. The steps to take when problems arise with work activities
  25. Job management structures and methods of reporting and recording job progress or problems delaying progress
  26. How to complete documentation and records and which statutory body to submit it to
  27. System and appliance handover and demonstration procedures