gas safety in education facilities with reference to current UK standards

Standards and guidance publications relating to gas use are changing at an increasing frequency. Some of these documents relate specifically to education premises – though most apply to a wider range of buildings. This CPD focuses on the area of gas safety in education buildings, and refers to current UK standards and guides.

Gas is used in three main areas within an education building:
• Boiler room for gas-fuelled boilers and water heaters
• Preparation of food within the production kitchen
• Classroom applications, such as in science laboratories.

Access to the first two areas is limited to staff and service personnel, but the third group is likely to present the greatest uncertainty and risk, as these – by their nature – are accessible to ‘non-competent’ persons.

References

1. IGEM/UP/11 Edition 2 Gas installations for educational establishments, IGEM 2010

2. BS6173:2009 Specification for the installation of gas-fired appliances for use in all types of catering establishments (2nd 3rd family gases), BSI 2009.

3. Building Bulletin 100: Design for fire safety in schools, DCSF 2014.

4. IGE/UP/1A Edition 2 Strength testing, tightness testing and direct purging of small low pressure
   industrial and commercial Natural Gas installations, IGEM 2005.

5. IGEM/UP/19 Edition 1 Design and application of interlock devices and associated systems used
   in association with gas appliance installations in commercial catering establishments’, IGEM 2014.

Health and safety

Advice on legal responsibilities for managing and maintaining school buildings and land, and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory standards.

You should make sure that you manage your statutory responsibilities and other health and safety issues in the estate to ensure the safety of pupils, staff and visitors.

To keep the estate in a safe condition, you should:

• clearly define and designate responsibilities for health and safety issues

• identify all property related health and safety issues

• take appropriate actions to minimise any avoidable risks

• monitor risks and issues

You should make sure that you follow the relevant legislation, Statutory requirements are prefaced with ’you must’.

This section is primarily about the health and safety aspects of school buildings and their external areas. It includes fixed fittings and equipment, but not loose equipment (such as portable gym equipment).

Estate related health and safety should be part of your wider school health and safety policy, approach and procedures. Find out more about general health and safety in schools.

Specific health and safety responsibilities for schools undertaking construction projects are not covered in detail in this section. More information about this can be found in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

Find out more about health and safety considerations when managing estate projects.