Fianna Fáil TD for Laois and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Seán Fleming, has called on the Government to urgently address the appalling lack of regulation of non-domestic gas installations.
Deputy Fleming was commenting as the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) confirmed to him that gas works regulations currently extend to the domestic sector only.
All other buildings such as hospitals, schools, hotels, offices, factories, all places of work and other commercial buildings are not covered by regulations.
Therefore, the installation of heating systems, cooking facilities and gas appliances and fittings in these buildings are totally unregulated in Ireland.
Deputy Fleming states that this may put the lives of people who use and work in these buildings at unnecessary risk.
He explained, “A registered gas installer has to go through a lot of training and various courses to get certified. They must provide this certification to work on a person’s house.
“There are no rules or regulations of installers working on non-domestic buildings. I think it’s absurd and people should be aware of this. This is a major health and safety issue that many are unaware of.
“The rules and regulations for the installation of gas fittings in houses are in place for a very good reason. We are all too aware of possible unnecessary deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning which take place each year.”
“Public buildings and commercial businesses should be subjected to a high standard and should have only registered gas installers working on their gas installations.
“The CRU has informed me that from 2021 it is their intention that the regulatory scheme will be extended to the non-domestic sector, but this is simply not good enough.
“The regulations and the registration of installers must be introduced immediately,” he concluded.
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