A commercial gas leak detection procedure gives everyone on your site the same ordered response when gas is suspected: recognise it, remove ignition risks, get out, call the right number, keep the site secure and have the fault put right by a competent engineer. This guide sets out that sequence for commercial and multi-occupancy properties across the North East, and shows how to prepare before anything happens. Before you start, have to hand your building's emergency plan, a list of key staff for each shift, and the location of your gas emergency control valve.
Most of the work is done in advance. A procedure that exists only in a manager's head will fail when that manager is off site.
On duties: the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers and those in control of premises to protect the health and safety of employees and others affected by their work. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 add specific requirements for gas appliances and pipework, including that gas work is done by a competent, registered person. Landlords and managing agents of multi-occupancy buildings should check which of these duties fall to them and which to tenants.
Our commercial boiler maintenance and annual inspection services cover the plant side of this preparation.
Natural gas has no smell of its own. A odorant is added so that leaks can be noticed, and it is usually described as rotten eggs or sulphur. Staff should know the signs and feel able to report them without worrying about a false alarm.
Signs of a possible leak include:
Signs of a faulty appliance, which may involve carbon monoxide (CO), include:
No smell does not mean no leak. Some people have a reduced sense of smell, and odour can weaken in certain conditions. If a gauge, alarm, contractor or colleague reports a problem, treat it seriously even if you cannot smell anything yourself.
These are different hazards. A natural gas leak risks fire and explosion and is usually detectable by smell. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion, is colourless and odourless, and can only be detected reliably by working CO alarms or detectors. Requirements for alarms vary by premises type and use, so check current HSE and Gas Safe guidance for your building. Whatever the cause, the response here is the same: leave, then call for help.
Gas needs only a small spark to ignite once it has reached a certain concentration in air. The aim of this step is to avoid creating that spark while you leave.
Inside the affected area, do not:
It is a common misconception that switching a light off is harmless. A switch can produce a spark, so leave it as it is.
If you can do it without delay or risk, open doors and windows on your way out. This helps gas disperse. It is not a reason to stay, and it is not worth going back for. Do not open a window and then wait nearby to see whether the smell clears.
Do not try to find the leak. Do not tighten fittings, inspect the boiler, remove casings or look at the flue. Gas work is never a DIY job: it must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the Gas Safe Register lets you verify that registration.
The most common mistake is spending time investigating before evacuating. A manager sniffing round the plant room to confirm the source is exposed to the very risk the procedure is meant to avoid. Suspicion is enough to act. If you are in any doubt, leave.
If you smell gas and feel confident it is a strong or widespread leak, skip straight to Step 4 rather than finishing every task here. Leaving is the priority.
Evacuation should follow your existing evacuation plan, adapted for gas. The key difference from a fire is how the alarm is raised: a standard call point is an electrical device and should not be used inside the affected area.
Think about people who may need help leaving, such as wheelchair users, people with hearing or visual impairments, or those unfamiliar with the building. Your plan should name who assists them, and lifts must not be used. Cover this in drills so it is not worked out for the first time during a real incident.
Once you are outside and clear of the building, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. The line is free to call and has been operated as a 24-hour service. Confirm the current arrangements on the service's official website before you finalise your plan, as details can change.
Have this information ready:
Call 999 instead, or as well, if there is fire, an explosion, or anyone is injured or unwell. Symptoms such as dizziness, collapse or confusion call for medical help straight away.
If the responsible person is trained to do so, and the ECV can be reached safely on the way out without delay, they may turn off the gas supply there. Never put anyone at risk to reach it. If the valve is inside the affected area, in a locked room or behind obstructions, leave it and tell the emergency service when you call. Do not turn the gas back on afterwards. That is a job for the engineer.
Calling for help is not the end of your responsibility. Until the site is declared safe, your task is to keep people out and to make the engineer's job easier.
Choose one person to meet the engineer and relay information, rather than letting several people speak at once. Tell them about any recent work on site, such as building alterations, new kitchen equipment or a boiler repair, because these are useful clues.
If the site is unoccupied at night or over a weekend, make sure a keyholder is on their way and that the engineer can get in. Delays at the gate are a common problem, and it is better to have it solved before an incident.
Finding and fixing the fault is work for a Gas Safe registered engineer only. They will locate the source, make the installation safe, carry out the repair and test the system for soundness before gas is restored. Where appliances or pipework are unsafe, they may isolate them and issue a warning notice, and you should not use that equipment until it has been put right and passed as safe.
Once the immediate danger has passed, record what happened while it is fresh:
Use these notes to review the procedure and retrain staff. Ask whether the incident points to a wider issue. Ageing plant, missed servicing or a history of minor faults may justify more frequent inspection, regular annual boiler servicing, or a planned maintenance contract for your region. Our FAQ covers common questions on inspection frequency and what a visit involves.
Timing matters in the North East. Heating demand rises sharply once the cold sets in across Tyneside, Wearside, Teesside and Northumberland, and plant that has sat idle over summer is often asked to run hard at once. Book inspections and servicing in early autumn, before the first cold snap, so faults are found when they are easy to schedule rather than during a cold week when engineers are busiest.
Review your procedure at least once a year, and again after any incident, change of staff, building alteration or new tenant. Run a short drill so that responsible persons and deputies can show they know where the ECV is and who calls 0800 111 999. Treat a gas smell as an emergency every time, and never as something to investigate yourself.
Commercial Boiler Solutions is Gas Safe registered, holds a 5-star customer rating and provides inspections, maintenance contracts, gas repairs and emergency callouts for commercial properties across Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Teesside and the wider North East and North Yorkshire. If you would like your boilers and pipework checked before winter, or want a maintenance plan that supports your emergency procedure, get in touch. Learn more about our services