Industry Standard Update 123: IGEM/G/11
IGEM/G/11 Edition 2 with amendments July 2022 and June 2024: Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP)
Date issued: 18 July 2024
This Industry Standard Update provides an overview of the key areas of change arising from the revision of IGEM/G/11 Ed 2 the GIUSP with amendments (July 2022 and June 2024).
Introduction
During In June 2024, an updated version of IGEM/G/11 Edition 2 with amendments July 2022 and June 2024 Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure(1) (GIUSP) communication 1887, was released. This revised procedure supersedes the IGEM/G/11 Edition 2 with amendments July 2022 Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure(2) (GIUSP) communication 1866, which has been withdrawn. The revision to this standard comes into effect immediately.
Scope
The guidance in this standard is relevant to all competent engineers and is based on the assessed risk when they encounter situations which have a potential or an immediate effect on safety. The priority for gas engineers when dealing an unsafe situation is to safeguard life and property. The standard covers all commissioned gas installations, equipment and appliances installed in all domestic and non-domestic premises.
The following is a brief overview of the amendments made in the update to IGEM/G/11.
Main document
The scope of GIUSP has been expanded to include natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and hydrogen, as defined in Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998(3) (GSIUR).
Clause 3.1 clarifies that anyone working on gas installations is duty bound to comply with the law (particularly The Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974(4) and GSIUR), and that IGEM/G/11 is a guidance document that provides an agreed industry approach on how those working on gas installations may comply with those requirements of law.
A note below Clause 3.3.2 clarifies that where non-metallic (eg, PE) service pipework is connected to metallic pipework within the building, the metallic pipework may not require equipotential earth bonding.
Table 1
Table 1 gives examples of unsafe situations. However, the list is not exhaustive and engineers shall use their engineering judgement if their situation differs from Table 1. There have only been two changes to Table 1 in this update, which are:
- Scenario 2.8 gives expanded guidance on dealing with a potential pathway for to gas to enter property from meter boxes (eg, damaged boxes). Where a damaged meter box cannot be repaired or sealed, ensure the gas user/responsible person is advised and the gas supplier is informed where a pathway for gas into the property exists.
- 3.19 gives guidance for where equipotential bonding is not installed or inadequate but clarifies that this guidance is only for where bonding is required and refers back to clause 3.3.2.
Visual risk assessment of gas appliances
Appendix 5 of IGEM/G/11 gives guidance on the procedure of a visual risk assessment of a gas appliance. This guidance has been changed to clarify that generally a visual risk assessment is for visually apparent defects only and does not require moving an appliance or any building infrastructure, unless the gas engineer has any concerns.
It also now states that the expression ‘safe to use’ is not to be applied to a visual risk assessment, as this would imply that a full 26 (9) examination has been performed.
You can view IGEM/G/11 by logging into your Gas Safe Register online account and visiting the technical information area at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/sign-in
It’s also available at www.igem.org.uk
Bibliography
(1) IGEM/G/11 Ed 2 Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure with amendments July 2022 and June 2024 (Communication 1887)
(2) IGEM/G/11 Ed 2 Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure with amendments July 2022 (Communication 1866)
(3) GS(IU)R Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (amended)
(4) The Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974
