The subject of Gas Safety Certificates in the catering
industry can be confusing at times. Is a CP42 certificate the same as a
standard gas safety certificate? Who can issue a certificate and how long do
they last?
In an attempt to cut through jargon, urban myths, and
misinformation, below you will find our list of frequently asked questions and
statements on the subject. If we haven't included something you'd like the
answer to, please do let us know via this link and we'll update this section accordingly.
Is a Commercial Catering Gas Safety
Certificate a legal requirement in the UK?
Also known as a CP42 Certificate, this document is
issued by a suitably qualified and registered Gas Safe engineer and covers
the gas, ventilation and extraction systems within a catering kitchen,
including all connected gas-fired appliances. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use)
Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) specify that it is a legal requirement for catering
premises to have gas systems and appliances checked and certified. Click here
to read more.
Our plumbing contractors are Gas Safe
engineers. Can they test the kitchen while they are servicing our boilers? The Gas Safe Register is a list of businesses and engineers that are
legally permitted to carry out gas work under the trading name that they have registered.
Registered engineers and businesses have a Gas Safe registration number. That number can be checked on the
Gas Safe register and it is worth checking that the engineer or business you
want to use is currently registered and that they are qualified to carry out
work on catering systems and appliances.
I only rent or lease the property, so should
not the Landlord take care of Gas Safety? It is worth checking with whoever owns or
manages the building, but commercial leases usually place full responsibility
for Gas Safety on the leaseholder. Our advice is do not leave it to chance.
Check the small print, and if in any doubt at all, write to the building owners
and agents to clarify matters.
How long does a CP42 Gas Safety Certificate
last? Certificates cover appliances and systems in place at
the time of testing and usually last for 12 months from date of issue. Heavy
use kitchens are sometimes tested more frequently.
I do not have a Catering CP42 Gas Safety
Certificate. How quickly can I get one? As
mentioned above, The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 state that
it is a legal requirement, so you are breaking the law and could be prosecuted.
Also, your buildings and contents / business interruption insurance would
almost certainly be void. Depending on workload, we can usually provide an
estimate over the phone, then arrange a suitable appointment within a few days
or so. Ring us on: 01793 521119 for more details.
What does a catering kitchen Gas Safety
Certificate cover? A prescribed
list of safety checks is carried out during gas safety testing. Qualification
and ongoing training for catering engineers is both expensive and time
consuming, so you can expect high-quality, thorough standards and charges that
are commensurate with professional services. Gas appliances, pipe work,
extraction and interlock systems will all be tested and scrutinised and you
should expect clear, concise, and accurate feedback once testing is complete.
We provide you with comprehensive paperless documentation and we maintain full
electronic records in-house.
My insurance company have never mentioned a
Gas Safety Certificate, so why should I bother? All UK insurance companies now insist on having sight
of a current CP42 Gas Safety Certificate, regardless of whether premises are
leased, rented or freehold. Most insurers insist on an electronic copy being
sent annually, but sometimes those requests are ignored or they simply slip
through the net. It would be foolhardy in the extreme to expect anything other
than a rejected claim if the worst was ever to happen without a currently valid
Gas Safety Certificate being in existence.
Gas interlock systems can only be installed
and repaired by F GAS 2079-certified engineers
F Gas 2079-certified engineers work on refrigeration systems.
Only a Gas Safe registered catering engineer can test, report on and issue
certification documents to declare your system and appliances as safe for
continued use.
Is a gas safety certificate transferable to
the new owner if I sell my business? We issue gas safety certificates
to our clients and they cover specific appliances and systems that
were present at the time of testing - with no exceptions. For obvious reasons
we have no way of knowing if or when a particular business is sold or transferred
or if alterations and modifications have been made after testing, so whilst we endeavour
to work with all parties at all times, our certificates are non-transferable.