Please Follow Cooker Safety Regulations;
You should always install a gas cooker with great care. Things can terribly go wrong if the cooker is improperly installed, or if you don’t have thorough knowledge of cooker safety regulations
As the buyer of the appliance you are not expected to know cooker installation regulations; you should, however, be aware of them so you can buy a cooker that is right for your home. Your new cooker should come with the manufacturer’s installation instructions, if it doesn’t please insist on having them. Read these carefully before you call a certified engineer to install the cooker in your home.
To help you, here is a list of general cooker safety regulations:
- All gas cookers must be installed only by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Ensure that you have adequate space in the kitchen for a freestanding cooker with a high-level grill. This is because all such appliances must have a minimum clearance above the grill. Also, there should be a minimum clearance, provided in the installation instructions for either side of the appliance.
- In the case of gas or electric hobs, there is frequently a minimum overhead gap of 750mm. Any wall units built on either side of the hood and either side of the hob will also have minimum clearances given by the manufacturer. The should be checked against building regulations by your qualified installer.
- All cookers must have an inbuilt flame failure device. The flame failure device is part of the gas burner system. The device cuts off the gas supply if the cooker flame extinguishes for any reason. This safety feature is especially important if you stay in a flat or a multi-dwelling building (such as a flat above a shop).
- Under the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations (1998), if you are a landlord it is your legal responsibility to ensure that a Gas Safe Registered engineer certifies all gas appliances in the house annually. If you are a tenant it is your responsibility to ensure that your landlord obtains the gas safety certificate; it is essential for the safety of your family. Depending on the number of gas appliances on the property, the certification process may take between thirty minutes to an hour.
A word of warning
An incorrectly installed cooker may affect the product guarantee, as well as your insurance policy. Worst still, if you don’t have the annual Gas Safe Certificate for your property it could invalidate your household insurance claim.