Why GAS but not Electricity? (LANDLORD REQUIREMENTS)

[1shortcircuit]

I believed that the rented property that I currently reside in may not be up to spec on the Electricity side of things.

Anyway, I decide to check on the .gov website about landlords and found this

Electrical safety

By law, your landlord must make sure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances supplied with the let, like washing machines and toasters, are safe to use. Your landlord must make sure electrical wiring and appliances are maintained in a safe condition for the length of the tenancy.
If your landlord supplies new appliances, he or she should also provide any accompanying instruction booklets.

So I did another search and found this

Gas
The landlord must comply with current Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (which cover Liquid Propane Gas installations) by:

• Arranging for annual gas safety checks to be completed by a GAS SAFE registered contractor and a gas safety certificate obtained
• Ensuring all servicing, repairs and replacements are completed by a GAS SAFE registered contractor
• Providing tenants with a copy of the servicing certificate
• Retaining records of safety checks for at least two years

(Source - Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998)

And some of you guys believe that it's the influx of short course electricians to blame for the lack of work


PS My course and work experience are going brilliantly


Is anyone aware of any regulations that state rented accommodation should comply with the latest regs? Or is it possible to attack this from another angle?

The property in question is using a Wylex fuse board that is not using RCD protection but I have found GAS and WATER bonding but it looks closer to 6mm than 10mm?

Many Thanks to those who can offer any help

 

[acat]

BS7671 are notes for guidance not law, not sure but I would think the gas regs are law. When you talk about appliance thats PAT Testing and a schedule must be kept under the Electricity at Work Regulations and various health and safety regs which are law.


Thats how I see it others may have a different opinion



Chris

 

[Des 56]

The landlord has responsibility to the tennant for the safe use of appliances and the system

How he complies is his buisness,thats how the drive by PIRs and underhand "Lanlord safety certificates"are so numerous (what the hell is a safety certificate ?)

If the tennant dies or gets injured and there is court proceedings brought by the tennant or HSe then he now has to convince a judge that he did all reasonable steps to discharge that responsibility
Its a bit like non or inexperienced electricians doing PIRs,it is open season for this until something goes wrong and competence has to be proved
Either can operate within the law until something goes wrong

Gas is considered much more important than electrics and is demonstrated by the total lack of regulation of the electrical inspections,so other than getting your own inspection done and paying for it,I dont think much can be achieved
You could do so and he could counter with a satisfactory cert from a rouge and can argue that it is an opinion and a report and he is content with his report

 

[1shortcircuit]

The landlord has responsibility to the tennant for the safe use of appliances and the system

How he complies is his buisness,thats how the drive by PIRs and underhand "Lanlord safety certificates"are so numerous (what the hell is a safety certificate ?)

If the tennant dies or gets injured and there is court proceedings brought by the tennant or HSe then he now has to convince a judge that he did all reasonable steps to discharge that responsibility
Its a bit like non or inexperienced electricians doing PIRs,it is open season for this until something goes wrong and competence has to be proved
Either can operate within the law until something goes wrong

Gas is considered much more important than electrics and is demonstrated by the total lack of regulation of the electrical inspections,so other than getting your own inspection done and paying for it,I dont think much can be achieved
You could do so and he could counter with a satisfactory cert from a rouge and can argue that it is an opinion and a report and he is content with his report

Thanks for both of your inputs.

I am currently working with an Electrician and friend of the family who I believe would quite happily test my house for me.

What's made me take a closer look is I have just approached the section on my course that explains the supply systems and equipotential bonding etc and I have been present on a couple of Periodic Inspections recently which has opened my eyes a lot wider to some of the sights you guys must see on many occasions.

 

[rocker]

I don't understand it.
Electricity can kill you in milliseconds.
With gas, you have to be anosmyc (one who can't smell anything), have enough concentration of gas, have a fuel source, and be in a room 'sealed' enough to cause an explosion. And even then you will probably be burned but will survive.
Maybe its something to do with our push-fit plumber friends having a blind stab at boilers for the last twenty years. Who knows?
Don't know how many people die per year from gas, I think electric is about 10 people per year in the UK.

I'm not sure how to say 'increase' in any Eastern European language.....

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Me and my missus rent out a house that we used to live in, It was built in 1897 and has had some electrical works done, the board is a very untidy bs3036 and the upstairs lighting circuit is rubber insulation which is perishing and aliminium conductors which are oxidising, junction boxes are cracked, there is no cpc's in the downstairs lighting as it was cut out by the diy'er who fitted the GU10's, there is a spur in the loft which comes off the shower circuit, the shower cable is 6mm but has a 10kw on it, the cooker has no isolator and is wired straight into the 30A ring, ect ect, but no PIR or safety check was asked off me when we rented, but they were adament that the new boiler be checked!

 

[dufjax]

I don't understand it.
Electricity can kill you in milliseconds.
With gas, you have to be anosmyc (one who can't smell anything), have enough concentration of gas, have a fuel source, and be in a room 'sealed' enough to cause an explosion. And even then you will probably be burned but will survive.
Maybe its something to do with our push-fit plumber friends having a blind stab at boilers for the last twenty years. Who knows?
Don't know how many people die per year from gas, I think electric is about 10 people per year in the UK.

I'm not sure how to say 'increase' in any Eastern European language.....

25 Die according to the HSE Electrical safety at work

Thought the gas safety was more to do with carbon monoxide? Which you can't smell
Carbon monoxide kill 50 people, apparently.

So that's still 75 too many....

Jim

 

[rocker]

WHOA just had a massive deja vu there, have we had this conversation before?

Jim, I couldn't agree with you more. Even 1 is too much. Hope you didn't think I was condoning any deaths or injuries - I just feel that all this part p stuff isn't really regulating anything. I am only 'part p' and I know it's not the best position to be in, but have had a lifelong interest - the old man was a spark - a PROPER spark - and I have been brought up with it. Ok I ballsed up the first 10 'working' years of my life but I haven't scrounged anything off the state and am trying to do something with my life now.

That said, there was about a dozen fellas on my part p course. A few were absolute ---- and failed. A couple were top notch and passed. I like to think I was in the top half but I'm sure I dont know everything, or even anything! then there were all the guys who passed but, to be honest, were coming up to me on the course asking the most stupid questions, just were not very good. They passed, and I'm sure they all went with NIC and are getting more work than me now. Just doesn't make any sense to me. Sorry I'm going off on a tangent and I need to get up for a job tomorrow (a rare occurance).

What I'm trying to say is - I am interested in doing good jobs and above all safe jobs. It seems a lot of people who have taken the same route as me are just interested in a quick buck and couldnt give a ---- who lives or dies. Maybe they should have gone into politics......

 

[wattsup]

I've had a few 'shocks' but not dead...so far I have never been blown up to test which is the most dangerous -

 

[dufjax]

WHOA just had a massive deja vu there, have we had this conversation before?

Jim, I couldn't agree with you more. Even 1 is too much. Hope you didn't think I was condoning any deaths or injuries

No... not at all.

It was aimed more at the fact there is not legislation regarding this, and at Part P (P standing for pathetic)

Jim

 

[1shortcircuit]

No... not at all.

It was aimed more at the fact there is not legislation regarding this, and at Part P (P standing for pathetic)

Jim

I was gob smacked to realise that TWO potential killers, both that cannot be seen, have totally different standards.

I'll upload some pictures of a couple of my findings in my rented accommodation Tomorrow if I get a spare few minutes:thumbsup

 

[offshorealex]

the most important standards are the ones we set ourselves. I think most of us know when we are cutting corners, and should just go that extra distance sometimes.

 

[rocker]

the most important standards are the ones we set ourselves. I think most of us know when we are cutting corners, and should just go that extra distance sometimes.

You're spot on there.

 

[chris murphy]

I don't understand it.
Electricity can kill you in milliseconds.
With gas, you have to be anosmyc (one who can't smell anything), have enough concentration of gas, have a fuel source, and be in a room 'sealed' enough to cause an explosion. And even then you will probably be burned but will survive.
Maybe its something to do with our push-fit plumber friends having a blind stab at boilers for the last twenty years. Who knows?
Don't know how many people die per year from gas, I think electric is about 10 people per year in the UK.

I'm not sure how to say 'increase' in any Eastern European language.....

"Hello rocker",

I `Lost` the message that I had typed out which went into a fair bit of detail to Answer some of your points - When I tried to Submit it [This keeps happening on here] - As I type with ONE Finger and it took Me about 30 Minutes to compose and type I cannot bring Myself to recompose and retype it - I will have to start `Copying & Pasting` to keep what I write before trying to Submit it on here.

BUT - The MAIN reason for Landlords Safety Inspections on Gas Installations / Appliances is to prevent the Gas Appliances from getting into the `State` where they produce Carbon Monoxide - `The Silent Killer`.

Although there has been a VERY Big emphasis on Carbon Monoxide within the Gas Industry and at least a 10 YEAR `Public Awareness` campaign - CORGI / GasSafe and the Carbon Monoxide Awareness Trust - the amount of People that have been Killed by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning has INCREASED !

I think that I am correct in stating the number of People who have Died from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the U.K. in the last 2 Years is approximately 150.

Many People will have been Exposed to levels of Carbon Monoxide that `Luckily` for them have NOT been `Deadly` - OR where the Carbon Monoxide has been found before it Built Up enough to Kill them.

It is fairly obvious to Me that these Deaths have mainly been caused by the fact that Gas Appliances have either been Installed by `Non Registered` Persons / NOT Gas Installers - OR they have NOT been Inspected on a regular basis - OR BOTH - And have developed into `Deadly` - Carbon Monoxide producing Appliances !

Gas Explosions are VERY Rare although there are many Gas Leaks discovered during these Landlords Safety Inspections.

I do completely agree that there should also be `Landlords Inspections` for Electrical Installations and Appliances - Perhaps the Appliances being Inspected every Year and depending upon the condition of the Wiring etc. on the Initial Inspection a longer period between Inspections of the Electrical Installation [?] - OR perhaps a 5 Yearly Inspection with the Mandatory Certification by Registered Electricians of ANY Addition or Alteration to the Installation ?


Chris - Registered Gas Installer / Heating Engineer

 

[Geordie Spark]

I don't understand it.
Electricity can kill you in milliseconds.
With gas, you have to be anosmyc (one who can't smell anything), have enough concentration of gas, have a fuel source, and be in a room 'sealed' enough to cause an explosion. And even then you will probably be burned but will survive.
Maybe its something to do with our push-fit plumber friends having a blind stab at boilers for the last twenty years. Who knows?
Don't know how many people die per year from gas, I think electric is about 10 people per year in the UK.

I'm not sure how to say 'increase' in any Eastern European language.....

No you don't !!

The main killer is the product of the combustion of gas i.e. Carbon Monoxide which is produced by all gas appliances but more so with badly maintained gas appliances where the gas is not being burned properly.

The other cause of co poisoning is blocked or damaged flues which leak the producs of combustion into the room, and / or inadequate ventilation of the room causing vitiation which means that the gas appliance burns-up all the oxygen in the room thus depriving the occupant of the room of said oxygen.

The victim will be totally unaware of any danger as carbon monoxide has no smell or taste and - like electricity - you can't see it. T make matters worse, the human body actually likes carbon monoxide - it can't get enough of it - and the victim will gently drift off to sleep under its effect.

Often the victim's brain will realise something is wrong after a while, but by that time the carbon monoxide will have had a detrimental effect on the body's muscles and the victim will find it difficult or impossible to move to a place of safety. Then the heart which is a muscle will fail causing the death of the victim.

Geordie Spark - retired gas fitter.