Install, service, repair and remove gas fired ducted air heaters

This standard is about working on gas fired ducted air heaters in domestic settings.  Air heaters can be basic warm air units or combined warm area units and can be configured as down-flow, up-flow, horizontal-flow or slot-fit and include open, room-sealed, or fan draught chimneys.

As well as servicing and repairing, this standard covers the work activities of installing and removing gas fired ducted air heaters including when required for new installations or when exchanging, replacing or repositioning gas fired ducted air heaters. It  includes the disconnection, de-commissioning, testing and commissioning that is involved.  It can apply to any type of fuel gas or combinations of fuel gas including, but not restricted to, natural gas, LPG, blended or 100% hydrogen.

This standard should be used in conjunction with:

• EUSDSG5 Prepare to work on gas systems or appliances in domestic settings; and

• EUSDSG15 Carry out gas tightness testing and check system safety  in small settings.

If applicable, this standard could also be used in conjunction with:

• EUSDSG4 Design and size systems for new installations or conversions in domestic settings.

This standard is for gas engineers who work in domestic settings.

1. Make sure all required pre-work checks have been carried out prior to starting installation, service, repair or removal activities

2. Carry out all stages of the work in line with installation, maintenance or removal plans or activities

3. Carry out installation, service, repair, test and removal processes in accordance with manufacturers’ specification, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations

4. Carry out installation, service, repair, testing and removal in line with recognised industry practices, work standards, routines and sequences

5. Check that conditions within gas and electricity systems will permit safe de-commissioning and commissioning

6. Use designated safe isolation procedures and warning notices to prevent the unauthorised use of un-commissioned or de-commissioned gas appliances, gas systems, electrical systems and components 

7. Use the correct tools, test equipment and other equipment for each stage of the work being carried out

8. Assemble duct systems and gas and electricity system components to meet requirements of plans

9. Minimise damage to customer property and building features throughout all stages of the work

10. Confirm position of new, replacement or repositioned air heaters meet location, siting and clearances required by manufacturers’ instructions, industry standards’ specification and building regulations

11. Confirm ventilation, return air path and any chimneys for new, replacement or repositioned installations meet industry standards and manufacturers’ instructions

12. Ensure existing systems are clean and free of debris

13. Fix and connect all relevant pipes and components to gas fired ducted air heaters in line with plans

14. Confirm the operation of condensate disposal systems in line with manufacturers’ instructions

15. Use tightness testing and purging, safe isolation and electrical testing procedures to confirm the integrity of systems and appliances

16. Use industry standard checks and testing procedures to confirm the integrity of chimney systems and appliance flue seals

17. Check appliance operating pressure and gas rate meet industry standards and manufacturers’ requirements

18. Use industry standard visual checks and flue gas combustion analysis with approved test equipment to confirm combustion performance 

19. Check gas fired ducted air heaters and systems are balanced, function safely, interact with existing systems and operate in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

20. Check electrical systems and components function safely and operate in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

21. Complete and submit all relevant documentation and paperwork in line with industry standards and legislative requirements

22. Instruct property occupiers on the correct operation of appliances and systems and provide them with their copy of appliance literature

23. Resolve problems within own area of responsibility and competence in accordance with approved procedures 

24. Advise of any delays to the work, unresolved problems, unsafe situations and required remedial actions to those who require the information

1. Regulations and guidance governing health and safety in the workplace, environmental protection and the use of risk assessments including safe access, working at heights, those relating to substances hazardous to health and building regulations

2. Legislation covering your general responsibilities for your own safety and that of others

3. The limits of your own autonomy and responsibility

4. Gas industry unsafe situations procedures and how to isolate unsafe gas appliances, gas systems and components 

5. Potential hazards that could arise from all de-commissioning, installation, service, repair, removal and commissioning activities and checks to be carried out before work takes place

6. How to access and interpret normative documents, industry standards guidance documents, manufacturers’ instructions, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations

7. Required pre-work checks including operating pressures and volumes 

8. Industry practices, work standards routines and sequences for installing, servicing, repairing, exchanging, replacing, repositioning, testing, connecting, removing, de-commissioning and recommissioning gas fired ducted air heaters and associated systems and components 

9. Types of warm air central heating appliances to ensure correct heater selection including downflow, upflow, horizontal flow, & slot-fit

10. Procedures and work methods for sizing warm air central heating appliances

11. Tests and checks to confirm the suitability of gas combustion performance including the use of approved flue gas analysers

12. Tests and checks to confirm the integrity, suitability, interaction with other systems, performance, operating pressure, gas rate and safe functioning of gas fired ducted air heaters including the use of test equipment

13. Tests and checks to confirm the integrity, suitability and performance of chimneys, ventilation systems and the return air path including natural & fanned air supply

14. Procedures and appropriate test equipment for checking gas fired ducted air heaters performance including pressure, flow rate and temperatures 

15. How to balance gas fired ducted air heating systems

16. How to measure and record installation and site details for prefabrication 

17. The industry practices and work standards for fabricating new or existing duct systems for the installation of warm air central heating appliances, systems and components

18. How to confirm that services and system requirements are adequate for gas system and components

19. Safe isolation methods, tests, and procedures for temporary and permanent de-commissioning of gas and electricity systems, components and appliances including use of temporary continuity bonds, non-contact voltage detectors, voltage indicators, proving units, multimeters

20. Measures to prevent un-commissioned and de-commissioned appliances or systems being brought into operation 

21. Components of gas fired ducted air heaters including warm air ducting, return air ducting, plenums, plenum adaptors, transfer grilles, registers grilles and condensate drains

22. Positioning and fixing requirements for gas fired ducted air heaters and components including in airing cupboards, compartments, roof spaces, slot-fit and under stairs

23. Methods of working which protect building décor, customer property and existing systems and components

24. Safe processes and procedures for applying tightness testing and purging, safe isolation and electrical testing to appliances, gas systems and components to ensure safe functioning

25. How to safely collect and dispose of system contents that may be hazardous to health or the environment

26. The steps to take when problems arise with work activities 

27. Job management structures and methods of reporting and recording job progress or problems delaying progress

28. How to complete documentation and records and which statutory body to submit it to including building regulation self certification

29. System and appliance handover and demonstration procedures