The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998

Emergency controls

9.—(1) No person shall for the first time enable gas to be supplied for use in any premises unless there is provided an appropriately sited emergency control to which there is adequate access.

(2) Any person installing an emergency control shall ensure that—

(a) any key, lever or hand-wheel of the control is securely attached to the operating spindle of the control;

(b) any such key or lever is attached so that—

(i) the key or lever is parallel to the axis of the pipe in which the control is installed when the control is in the open position; and

(ii) where the key or lever is not attached so as to move only horizontally, gas cannot pass beyond the control when the key or lever has been moved as far as possible downwards;

(c) either the means of operating the key or lever is clearly and permanently marked or a notice in permanent form is prominently displayed near such means so as to indicate when the control is open and when the control is shut; and

(d) any hand-wheel indicates the direction of opening or closing of the control.

(3) Where a person installs an emergency control which is not adjacent to a primary meter, he shall immediately thereafter prominently display on or near the means of operating the control a suitably worded notice in permanent form indicating the procedure to be followed in the event of an escape of gas.

(4) Where any person first supplies gas to premises where an emergency control is installed, he shall ensure that the notice required by paragraph (3) above remains suitably worded or shall, where necessary, forthwith amend or replace that notice so as to give effect to the provisions of that paragraph.

(5) This regulation shall not apply where gas is supplied in a refillable cylinder except where two or more cylinders are connected by means of an automatic change-over device.