Diagnose and rectify electrical faults on domestic gas appliances

This standard is about working to resolve electrical faults on gas appliances in domestic settings.  Appliances can include cookers, tumble dryers, wet central heating boilers, warm air central heating units and any other gas appliance which has an electrical aspect.

This standard covers the work activities of identifying, diagnosing, isolating and rectifying electrical faults including the disconnection, de-commissioning 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 is for gas engineers who work in domestic settings.

1. Check that conditions within gas and electricity systems will permit safe working

2. De-commission domestic gas appliances to industry standards and manufacturers’ instructions

3. Gather information about faults from customers or property occupiers to verify that faults are electrical

4. Carry out a visual inspection and operate appliances, components or systems to verify the status of electrical faults 

5. Use safe isolation methods and dead testing before diagnosing electrical faults

6. Use industry approved codes of practice, manufacturers’ instructions, wiring diagrams, and fault finding charts to diagnose and locate electrical faults 

7. Use electrical testing equipment and industry standard procedures to confirm the correct diagnosis of electrical faults 

8. Analyse all evidence in order to assist in fault diagnosis and plan for rectification 

9. Rectify electrical faults on appliances, components and systems in line with industry standard procedures

10. Re-connect electricity system components to appliances in line with manufacturers’ instructions

11. Use industry standard electrical safety testing procedures to confirm the integrity of re-connected electrical systems and appliances

12. Confirm the complete appliance installation complies with the manufacturers’ specification, guidance documents, industry standards, safety schemes and regulations

13. Re-connect and re-commission gas system and components in line with industry standard procedures and manufacturers’ instructions, using appropriate test equipment 

14. Check the operation of appliances in line with manufacturers’ instructions and industry regulations

15. Check gas appliances and electrical and gas systems and components function safely and operate in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

16. Liaise with other trades when required during fault identification and rectification

17. Complete all relevant documentation and paperwork in line with industry standards

18. Instruct property occupiers on the correct operation of appliance, system and components and provide them with any required paperwork

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

20. 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 and working at heights

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 electrical faults on gas appliances, components and systems and checks to be carried out before and after work takes place

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

7. Checks, tests and test equipment to confirm correct operation of appliances and systems

8. The purpose and processes relating to safe isolation methods and dead testing 

9. Industry practices, work standards routines and sequences for de-commissioning, recommissioning and diagnosing and rectifying electrical faults on gas appliances, components and systems 

10. How to collect information about faults from customers and property occupiers 

11. Aspects to include in visual inspection and when checking operation of appliances 

12. How to access and interpret wiring diagrams and fault-finding charts

13. The uses and operation of electrical testing equipment

14. 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

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

16. The points in the de-commissioning, electrical fault finding and re- commissioning process where co-operation and liaison with other trades and property occupier may be required

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

18. How to complete documentation and records 

19. Documentation that needs to be handed to property occupiers