Gas Safe Technical Bulletin 140…

The following is a summary of recommendations that CEDA has issued to its members based on best practice and clause 14 of the standard.

– When working on gas equipment in any kitchen for the very first time.
– When carrying out routine maintenance of gas equipment.
– After installing any additional or replacement gas fired item.

In any kitchen where it is suspected that the extraction/make up air system may not be working satisfactorily i.e. very hot working environment, high levels of condensation, catering staff complaining of working environment.

Finally, the bulletin introduces a second ceiling for CO2 levels of 5000ppm whereas CAIS 23(1) stipulated that anything over 2800ppm was considered a problem. Prior to the publishing of TB140, if an engineer found that the CO2 level was above 2800ppm he would advise the person responsible for the installation to open windows and doors and shut down appliances until the level has settled below 2800ppm.

If this was achieved, the installation would be considered ‘At Risk’ under the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure and the person responsible would have to sign to say that they took responsibility.

If it was not possible to reduce the CO2 levels below 2800ppm, then the installation would be considered ‘Immediately Dangerous’ under GIUSP and the engineer would have to turn off the supply and report the installation. This was a common sense approach which erred on the side of safety.

The wording of TB140 is similar to that in CAIS 23(1), however the flow chart which is appendix 1 now introduces a second ceiling of 5000ppm at which an installation automatically becomes ‘Immediately Dangerous’.

This suggests that anything between 2800 and 5000ppm cannot be ‘Immediately Dangerous’ and is therefore ‘At Risk’. This could be interpreted by a caterer as OK to carry on using once the engineer has left the premises. The CEDA Technical Steering Group considers this to be misleading and could lead to unsafe situations.

CEDA and colleagues from CESA have registered their concern about the bulletin with Gas Safe Register and asked for it to be withdrawn until a clearer document can be published. Gas Safe Register has stated that they cannot just withdraw the bulletin, but they have agreed to convene a meeting to hear the concerns and hopefully act upon them.”

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