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When Do You Need a CP42 Certificate?
The CP42 certificate is given for gas safety. It is issued annually by a registered Gas Safe engineer to cover all gas installation and appliances in commercial kitchen facilities. Any business with a commercial kitchen that has any type of gas appliances is required to have their equipment inspected and certified by a Gas Safe engineer once a year.
Whether the appliances are Natural Gas or LPG doesn’t matter, and insurance cover will depend on whether you have a current CP42 Gas Safety Certificate.
What Is a CP42 Certificate?
A CP42 certificate is a Commercial Kitchen Gas Safety Certificate, and it is an official document that verifies that your kitchen’s gas equipment is safe to use and safely installed. It is legally required for all commercial kitchen facilities.
It is a legal requirement for all commercial kitchens. Failure to have one and keep it up to date could result in prosecution under Regulation 35 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.
What Type of Business Needs a CP42 Certificate?
As stated, any business with a commercial kitchen with any kind of gas appliances needs a CP42 certificate. The types of businesses included are as follows:
- Restaurants, cafes, and clubs
- Take-away shops and fast food
- Staff, schools, MOD, NHS, government canteens
- Catering companies, mobile or fixed kitchens
- Food production centres
- All kitchens in private and public sectors
What Are the Legal Requirements for a Gas Safety CP42 Certificate?
Anyone with a commercial kitchen must have a valid Gas Safety CP42 Certificate. This applies to any gas appliances of any kind, including permanent and portable.
All kinds of commercial operations require a gas safety check, including housing associations, hospitals, hostels, colleges, hotels, boarding schools, and more. Whoever provides the building that offers any services to groups or individuals is responsible for maintaining the gas appliances and machines.
If you don’t have the CP42, your insurance can be invalidated. In addition, some fines and penalties can be pretty severe. You can be fined up to £6000 and jailed for up to six months if you don’t have a valid certificate.
In addition, if there is an event that leads to the death of another person, you can be held accountable and criminally charged for manslaughter. You can be prosecuted in the crown court and sentenced to prison for life.
The consequences are severe, so it is always best to ensure that your certificate is up to date.
What Does a Gas Safety Engineer Do?
Before your CP42 certificate is issued, the engineer will come and inspect any equipment and machinery you have that has a gas supply. For example, they will thoroughly examine your pipework, the extraction in your kitchen, and your gas interlock system.
It is important to choose an engineer who is Gas Safe so that you can have confidence in the work they do. In fact, a recent study shows that two-thirds of the work completed illegally is unsafe.
A qualified Gas Safe engineer has the skills and experience necessary to inspect your gas equipment and issue the CP42 certificate.
How Long Is the CP42 Certificate Valid?
The CP42 certificate is valid for 12 months from the date it is issued. It expires at that point, and you must have another gas safety check and get a new certificate. The general rule is that you must have the inspection done once a year to ensure that you always have a valid CP42 certificate.
What Happens If an Issue Is Identified During the Inspection?
If you have been in compliance and your annual inspection reveals an issue, you need to take care of it immediately. Sometimes, the problem can be corrected during the safety inspection, but other times, you may need to set up an appointment.
Until the gas appliance is completely safe and functional, you should not use it under any circumstances. Ensure that your tenants understand that it must be serviced or repaired before use.
Often, you can prevent significant issues by addressing any concerns or problems throughout the year. In other words, don’t wait until your inspection to mention minor problems that have popped up.
Ensure that your tenants understand the importance of addressing even the most minor problems, as not addressing them could lead to this situation. Gas safety should be a priority for everyone, regardless of the requirements.
When Do You Need a CP42 Certificate?
If you have a commercial kitchen, you need a valid CP42 certificate at all times. It is essential to keep track of when your certificate expires so that you can have your gas appliances inspected in time to renew it.
You must have the CP42 certificate in place before you open your commercial kitchen, and you need to have it any time you are serving food to paying customers. If these circumstances apply to you, you need to have a Gas Safety engineer come and inspect your gas appliances and issue the certificate.
Your insurance will also require a copy of the certificate. They often request an electronic copy of the CP42 certificate, but even if they don’t, you may have an insurance claim denied if yours isn’t valid.
Gas appliances can be hazardous when they aren’t used or maintained correctly, which is why it is so important to have regular inspections. Leaks, functionality, and faults need to be repaired as soon as possible so that your commercial kitchen doesn’t pose any threat to people.
The CP42 certificate verifies that all of your gas equipment and machinery are in good working condition and are safe for use.
Conclusion
A CP42 Certificate is issued to anyone who has a commercial kitchen with gas appliances. It is required by law and must be reissued after an inspection every 12 months.
The building owner needs to know that they have ultimate responsibility, even if the agreement is for the tenants to organise it. The penalties for failing to satisfy this requirement can be pretty severe.
You can call a professional if you need your gas appliances inspected.
