IGEM/SR/29
Dealing with gas escapes
Licensed Gas Transporters have a duty under the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GS(M)R) to provide a public help line (0800 111 999) manned 24 hours a day and 365 days a year along with the facility to attend reported gas escapes and make them safe.
The Standard reinforces these obligations and provides assurance to the public that the requirements of legislation and the safety of persons and property is foremost in the way gas escapes are reported and managed.
This Standard replaces IGEM's IGE/SR/10 'Dealing with escapes of gas into underground plant' and IGE/SR/20 'Dealing with reported gas escapes'.
IGEM/SR/29 will assist those staff who are involved with the detection and/or dealing with gas escapes, by detailing the proper procedures. This includes a check to ensure the operative is competent to carry out their duties.
The Standard sets out the requirements for dealing safely with un-ignited gas escapes and primarily, deals with gas escapes from Natural Gas piped supplies and systems. As such it details what action to take, from the identification of a gas escape to making the incident safe along with appropriate notifications to the relevant parties including the HSE.
The Standard will not always be appropriate for escaped fuel that remains in a liquid phase, when further or alternative requirements may need to be applied. The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GS(M)R) lay down statutory requirements also for dealing with escapes of carbon monoxide, however the Standard does not deal with the technical issues involved with reported carbon monoxide "incidents". For such incidents, the principles outlined in the non-technical sections of IGEM/SR/29 will be appropriate and further reference should also be made to IGE/GL/8 'Reporting and investigation of gas related incidents'.
IGEM/SR/29 can be ordered online using the following link IGEM/SR/29.