REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | INDUSTRY STANDARD UPDATE
Industry Standard Update 108 IGEM/G/5 Edition 3 Gas in multi-occupancy buildings Date issued: 16 March 2022
This Industry Standard Update provides an overview of the recently published revised Industry Standard IGEM/G/5 Edition 3 Gas in multi-occupancy buildings, and highlights areas of significant change that the revision has introduced.
Introduction During February 2022, IGEM published a revision to IGEM/G/5 Edition 2 Gas in multi-occupancy buildings(1). IGEM/G/5 Edition 3(2) (Communication 1855) supersedes Edition 2 (Communication 1762), which is now obsolete. The revision to this standard comes into effect immediately. To allow registered businesses time to carry out internal update training to reflect the technical requirements of the amended standard, Gas Safe Register will inspect to its new requirements from 1 June 2022. However, this should not restrict businesses from applying the specification sooner. The following is a brief overview of the amendments made to IGEM/G/5 Edition 3. General References to legislation and current standards have been updated throughout where required. Significant amendments have been made, which include: • Reviewed risk hierarchy for timber and traditionally constructed buildings • Revision of figures and the addition of new figures • Reviewed responsibilities associated with new work, replacement work and ongoing operation inspection and maintenance • Updated requirements for inspection of network pipelines • Updated references to materials standards • Reviewed competence requirements • Reviewed record keeping and information to be presented to the responsible person for the building • Decommissioning. Section 2: Scope IGEM/G/5 Edition 3 covers gas infrastructure to and within multi-occupancy buildings, including those designated
as high-risk buildings and the individual dwellings and commercial units within such buildings. The standard covers new, replacement and like-for-like component replacement of gas network pipelines, meter installations, installation pipework (including secondary meters), appliances and chimneys. The standard defines requirements covering the core areas of safety for gas in multioccupancy buildings, such as: • Planning, risk assessment and minimising risk • Meter installations and location of gas meters with respect to escape routes and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) and Building Regulations • Network pipelines, types of building entry, risers, laterals and isolation valves • Ventilation of network pipelines, meter installations and installation pipework • Access for inspection and maintenance to network pipelines, meters, installation pipework and appliance chimneys • Modifications, repairs, testing, re-commissioning and decommissioning of existing network pipelines • Energy centres and their associated risks • Installation pipework, gas appliances and chimneys • Materials • Location of valves • Inspection, maintenance and decommissioning • Electrical safety and equipotential bonding • Roles, responsibilities and competence. Section 4: Responsibilities and consultation IGEM/G/5 Edition 3 applies to various scenarios. In Section 4, it provides guidance on applicable responsibilities to the most common scenarios: • New building development with
new gas supply •E xisting building with new first-time gas supply •O ngoing operation, inspection and maintenance of gas infrastructure to and within a multi-occupancy building •R eplacement of gas infrastructure initiated by building refurbishment •R eplacement of gas infrastructure initiated by gas transporter (GT) •D ecommissioning at end of life. Where scenarios are not specified in the standard, the principles that underpin it shall be applied. Section 5: Typical installations This section includes diagrams of typical primary meter installations and their associated controls and fittings. Section 6: Competency Section 6 describes the requirements of businesses with regard to competencies, qualifications, understanding and knowledge of any person engaged in the design, construction, commissioning, inspection, maintenance, decommissioning and auditing of gas infrastructure in multi-occupancy buildings. Section 7: Planning and design of new and replacement gas infrastructure 7.1.1 states that the design objectives shall be to: •E nsure gas will be delivered to consumers at a suitable pressure to ensure the safe operation of any gas appliance which they could reasonably be expected to operate •M inimise the risk of fire and/or explosion resulting from the ignition of gas escaping from the proposed gas infrastructure •M inimise the risk of serious aggravation of any building fire •E nsure that additional third-party
safety risks are not created • Ensure that the gas infrastructure can be inspected and maintained in the future • Ensure the fire integrity of the building is not adversely affected. Several factors may have a bearing on overall safety, such as: • The presence of combustible cladding on external walls • Method of ventilation • Position of meters • Number of meters in a meter bank • Access to components • Number of joints • Length of pipe and pipework in buildings • Means of escape • Future access for inspection and maintenance •T ype of chimney (individual or shared). Guidance includes that safety information should be documented and left with the client/responsible person for the building. Information that should be passed to the client/ responsible person for the building includes: •B rief description of the works •P lans and/or line diagrams •L ocation of pipeline isolation valve (PIV) marker plate •C onfirmation that the works were designed and constructed in compliance with PSR and/or the GSIUR •C onfirmation that the materials used in the building to convey gas to consumers are noncombustible •T he location, function and the need for permanent access in the event of an emergency of the PIV •L ocation of supplementary valves and associated access requirements •V entilation, including its purpose, the requirement to maintain the free flow of air to disperse any credible leak, and the location and size of vents •S ealing/fire stopping of sleeves where pipes breach internal compartment walls or floors
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