EUSDSG3a  Prepare to work on gas systems or appliances in domestic settings

Overview

This is about preparing to work on new or existing gas systems or appliances in domestic settings.  This could be in preparation for any work in a domestic setting including installing, servicing, repairing, exchanging, replacing or removing gas systems, appliances, meters or  pipework including the disconnection, de-commissioning and commissioning that is involved.

This standard includes recording job requirements, confirming compatibility and siting of system components and appliances, assessing risks and organising materials, tools and equipment prior to starting work.  It can apply to any type of fuel gas or combinations of fuel gas.

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

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. Identify, record and agree customers’ job requirements in appropriate formats
  2. Confirm that proposed siting of any new, replacement or repositioned appliances and input services meet location and clearances specified in manufacturers’ instructions and industry standards
  3. Ensure service, system, components and appliances meet manufacturers’ and industry standards’ requirements and are compatible
  4. Survey work sites for any key structural features and existing defects that could affect work and record them, advising property occupiers of any defects found
  5. Identify and assess the risks for all aspects and planned stages of the work
  6. Check and confirm all materials, tools and equipment necessary for all stages of the work are available, safe and are fit for purpose
  7. Use appropriate materials and work methods to protect work sites and building fabric against possible damage
  8. Check existing installations for any unsafe appliances and system components, applying gas industry unsafe situations procedures when required

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. Potential hazards that could arise from all work in the domestic gas industry and checks to be carried out before work takes place
  2. Legislation covering your general responsibilities for your own safety and that of others
  3. Safety provisions to be considered when assessing risks including those relating to work site, access to work site, movement of workforce, members of the public, and the movement and safe storage of materials, tools and equipment for the job
  4. How to access and interpret normative documents, guidance documents, manufacturers’ instructions, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations
  5. Industry practices, work standards routines and sequences for installing, servicing, repairing, exchanging, replacing, connecting, removing, de-commissioning and recommissioning gas systems, components and appliances
  6. Information to communicate to building occupiers when agreeing work plans
  7. How to record damage or defects to existing building features
  8. The use of site diagrams and how to interpret them
  9. Tools, equipment, materials and components required for the work, procedures for ordering, supplying, checking and delivery and steps to take if they are not available
  10. Care, maintenance and storage requirements of tools and equipment, and checks for safe condition including the purpose of PAT testing
  11. Methods of working which protect building décor, customer property and existing systems and components
  12. How to confirm that the services and system requirements are adequate for installation and extension of the new gas appliance, gas system and components
  13. Gas industry unsafe situations procedures and how to isolate unsafe gas appliances, gas systems and components