Gas safety problems can put your staff, customers and visitors at serious risk. This article explains the most common concerns, the warning signs to look for and why regular checks, maintenance and repairs are important for keeping your gas systems safe and reliable.
Common Gas Safety Problems in Commercial Properties
The most common gas safety problems in commercial properties are leaking pipework, faulty appliances, blocked flues and poor ventilation. Leaks can develop if your pipes, joints, valves or flexible connections become damaged, loose or corroded, which can cause gas to escape and create fire or explosion risks.
Poorly-maintained boilers, heaters and catering equipment can also burn gas incorrectly, which can reduce their performance and produce carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas that cannot be seen, tasted or smelled). The main warning signs of this to look out for are soot, stains, unusual flames, repeated shutdowns and condensation.
Gas Leaks and Damaged Pipework
A gas leak is a major safety issue because escaping gas can quickly collect inside a commercial property, and if the gas reaches a flame, spark or hot surface, it can ignite and cause a fire or an explosion. This can put your employees, customers, visitors and the general public at serious risk.
Your pipework can also become damaged over time due to corrosion, impact, poor installation, loose joints, building work or general wear and tear. Buried metal pipes can also become weak over time, especially if their protection against moisture has failed. Even a small leak can become dangerous if gas gathers in an enclosed or poorly-ventilated area.
You should never try to locate or repair a gas leak yourself. Instead, the gas supply should be turned off, and the building may need to be evacuated, before emergency help is contacted.
Poor Ventilation and Airflow
Poor ventilation and airflow can become major issues because gas appliances need fresh air to burn fuel correctly. They also need flues and extraction systems that can remove combustion gases from the building safely.
When the vents are blocked, or the rooms are poorly designed, gas appliances may burn gas incompletely and produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, and it can build up in enclosed areas and cause headaches, dizziness, sickness, unconsciousness and even death.
Faulty Commercial Gas Appliances
Gas boilers, heaters, ovens and catering equipment can all develop problems due to wear and tear, poor maintenance, damaged parts or an incorrect installation. A gas appliance that does not burn gas properly can produce carbon monoxide as well as create serious fire or explosion risks if the gas reaches a flame, spark or hot surface.
Faulty gas appliances can cause fires, heat damage, smoke stains or moisture problems, and they can also stop working suddenly, leaving you stuck without heating, hot water or working equipment.
Carbon Monoxide Risks
Carbon monoxide risks can develop when your burners are blocked, the air vents are restricted, or when the flue is damaged. This is because carbon monoxide can be rerouted back into the building instead of leaving it safely. This gas is extremely dangerous because it has no colour, smell or taste, and people may breathe it in without even knowing.
Carbon monoxide reduces your blood’s ability to carry oxygen around the body, which can cause headaches, dizziness, sickness, confusion, weakness and loss of consciousness, and a high exposure to carbon monoxide can be fatal. Commercial buildings often contain several gas appliances and a fault in a boiler room, kitchen or heating system can end up affecting many people, especially if they are in enclosed or poorly-ventilated areas.
Incomplete Gas Safety Checks
A proper gas safety check should cover all your gas appliances, flues, ventilation system and safety controls. When any of these areas are missed, problems like gas leaks, poor combustion, blocked flues, damaged components or weak ventilation may remain unnoticed.
In busy premises, one unsafe appliance can put your employees, customers, residents or visitors at risk, and incomplete gas safety records can also make it difficult for the building owner or manager to confirm what was inspected, which faults were found and whether any repairs were completed.
Blocked Flues and Chimneys
Blocked flues and chimneys can create gas safety concerns by preventing combustion gases from leaving your building. A blockage can be caused by debris, nesting birds, soot, corrosion, damaged lining or building work that restricts the outlet.
When waste gases can't escape, they can flow back into your rooms, kitchens, plant areas or roof spaces. This can allow carbon monoxide to build up and cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness or death. A blocked flue can also affect how an appliance burns gas, which can lead to issues like poor combustion, soot deposits, overheating or repeated shutdowns.
Warning Signs of a Gas Safety Problem
The main warning signs of a gas safety problem to look out for are the smell of gas, damaged pipework, loose connections or hissing sounds near your gas appliances. A sudden rise in gas usage can also point to a leak or poorly working equipment.
Soot, black marks, yellow staining or excess condensation around your equipment can also indicate that there's poor combustion, and pilot lights that often go out, repeated shutdowns, unusual noises and a reduction in your gas boiler's performance should also be investigated.
Being aware of the signs of carbon monoxide is also important. If carbon monoxide is present, you may experience headaches, dizziness, sickness, tiredness, breathing problems or confusion for seemingly no reason - and if these symptoms clear up after you've left the property, there's a high chance carbon monoxide is present.
Gas leaks and carbon monoxide can't always be detected without a test, so having regular inspections and servicing done by a qualified Gas Safe engineer are essential.
Owl Plumbing And Heating provides commercial gas services for businesses, landlords and public buildings. Our services include installation, maintenance, repairs, safety checks and system upgrade services.
