Gas safety and the Löfstedt review

Following the recommendation that the HSE review all its approved codes of practice (ACOPs), it has proposed that two ACOPs on gas safety, L56, Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances and COP20, Standards of training in safe gas installation, should be consolidated into a single revised ACOP (L56). In addition, L81, Design, construction and installation of gas service pipes was withdrawn and replaced with streamlined HSE web-based guidance and referrals to existing industry guidance.

The new L56 ACOP (fourth edition) includes the following key changes:

• guidance and ACOP on standards of training in safe gas installation have been included (in Part B);

• guidance for landlords under regulation 36 has been removed and replaced with a small amount of ACOP text. Detailed guidance for landlords can be found on the HSE website;

• the material on “requirements for appliances and flues” formerly contained in Appendix 1 has been updated and can now be found in Appendix 3;

• examples of unsafe situations have been removed — details are in the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations procedure: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PDF/GIUSP_Edition_Consumer_web_site_Version_-_2_April_12.pdf;

• lists of standards and regulations have been removed. A list of appropriate standards is available from Gas Safe Register, and a summary of relevant legislation is available on the HSE website;

• minor revisions have been made to the definition of gas fitting and gas work (regulation 2), and to regulation 27 material (to reflect concerns around flues in voids); and

• the material in Part C, Meters and regulators, has been updated, partly to reflect the introduction of smart meters.