Unsafe Situations, Warning Notices and Emergency Procedures
What the exam tests
Unsafe situations, warning notices and emergency procedures. You must classify defects correctly, take immediate action, notify the responsible person and record what you did.
Core rules
- Immediately dangerous (ID) means there is an immediate risk of death, injury or major property damage. At risk (AR) means a defect that could become dangerous if left. The action differs: ID requires immediate isolation and a danger notice; AR requires a warning notice and arrangements to rectify.
- Typical ID situations: escaping gas, products of combustion entering a room, unacceptable CO levels, seriously defective flueing, or an appliance that cannot be made safe.
- Turn off the ECV or isolate the appliance, ventilate if safe, warn occupants, attach the correct notice, and report to the responsible person and RGII as required.
- Do not reconnect or leave an unsafe appliance operating to keep the customer happy.
- Emergency response to a gas leak: no flames, no switches, no mobile phones in the affected area; evacuate, call the emergency number and Gas Networks Ireland.
Worked example
A service reveals a boiler flue joint disconnected in a ceiling void, with combustion products entering the room. The installer classifies it immediately dangerous, turns off the gas at the appliance isolation valve and ECV, opens windows, warns the occupier, attaches a danger notice and arranges isolation of the boiler until repair. He records the defect and reports it. The reasoning: products entering the room are an immediate life risk, so isolation comes before repair paperwork.
Marks-losing traps
Calling every defect at risk; leaving an ID appliance connected because the customer refuses; attaching a warning notice but not telling the occupier; failing to record the notice number and action taken.