The audit process

Applications that are deemed medium or low risk may, in the future, be selected for an audit by ESV.

The inspector will determine the risk category and notify the applicant that the gas installation or Type B appliance has been conditionally accepted, and provide the conditions that will apply to your application. This will usually be via email or fax.

There will be common standard conditions to be met for a complex gas installation. This will be a signed Start Work Notice, a signed Compliance Notice and a Consumer Piping Test Report. There may be other conditions also required such as Confirmation of the Method used to Protect Combustible Surfaces, or an Appliance Commissioning Check Sheet. For a Type B appliance; a signed Start Work Notice, a signed Compliance Notice and a completed commissioning sheet will be standard conditions.

In addition to the set conditions, ESV will also provide the applicant of a complex gas installation the ESV number and lodge a Gas Supply Approval with the gas distribution business. The applicant can then request gas supply from the retailer at a time of their choosing. The gas supply can now be factored in as part of the build schedule.

ESV expects that the set conditions be met within a few days of completion of the installation or commissioning of the Type B appliance. Thus, the applicant needs to send the various statements, check sheets or letters set out in the conditions to the inspector within a few days of the completion of their job. When the inspector receives these documents and they are satisfactory, the gas installation or Type B appliance will be accepted and the job sent to an audit data base.

The audit data base will select, at random, a percentage of jobs for audit each month. The inspector will contact the applicant to arrange a mutually acceptable time to carry out the audit. The licensed person must attend the audit.

The audit process will involve an on-site examination by the inspector of the complex gas installation or Type B appliance with the licensed person in much the same way as an inspection is carried out. The inspector may ask for some tests to be carried out, i.e. a pressure test or an interlock trip.

Identified non compliances will be recorded and a Notice of Non Compliance issued to the licensed person. The inspector will grant reasonable time for the outstanding items to be rectified. When the installation has been rectified, a signed Compliance Notice and signed Notice of Non Compliance are returned to the inspector. A subsequent follow-up audit may be carried out.

Where an immediately unsafe situation is encountered, the inspector will instruct the licensed person to take appropriate action to immediately render the complex gas installation or Type B appliance safe. This may involve disconnecting and capping a section of the installation or disconnecting and capping the gas supply.

An Improvement Notice or Prohibition Notice may also be issued to the licensed person where non compliances are identified. These Notices are supported by the Gas Safety Act 1997 and carry penalties for failing to comply with the Notice. Refer to the Gas Safety Act 1997 for details.

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