RAMS, CPP & Site Documents for Gas Engineers

Built for Gas Engineers

Real work, real hazards. Here are examples of what The Site Book creates RAMS for:

CDM 2015 Compliance for Gas Engineers

Gas engineers are already heavily regulated through Gas Safe Registration and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, but CDM 2015 compliance is a separate legal requirement when working on construction sites. Gas work on new builds, extensions, and commercial refits falls under CDM even when the gas installation itself is fully covered by Gas Safe certification. The key CDM risks for gas engineers go beyond gas-specific hazards: working in confined spaces such as plant rooms and boiler cupboards under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, working at height for external flue installations and roof penetrations, and asbestos exposure around old boiler flues, pipe lagging, and boiler cupboard linings in pre-2000 properties. Principal contractors require RAMS that address both the gas-specific hazards — gas escape, carbon monoxide exposure, and burns from hot pipework — and the general construction hazards of working on a building site, including manual handling, coordination with other trades, and welfare arrangements. CDM 2015 Regulation 15 places duties on contractors to plan, manage, and monitor their own work regardless of their Gas Safe status.

Common Hazards We Cover

These are the real risks gas engineers face on site every day. Your RAMS will address each one with specific control measures.

• Gas escape and explosion — working on live gas pipework carries the risk of uncontrolled gas release and ignition
• Carbon monoxide exposure — faulty appliances, blocked flues, and incomplete combustion produce CO, which is odourless and potentially fatal
• Burns from hot pipework, soldering, and contact with hot appliance components
• Asbestos — old boiler flue seals, pipe lagging, and boiler cupboard linings in pre-2000 properties
• Working in confined spaces — plant rooms, boiler cupboards, and ceiling voids with poor ventilation
• Lone working — domestic gas servicing often involves working alone in customers' homes

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need RAMS as a gas engineer?

Yes. Being Gas Safe registered covers your competence to work on gas — but CDM 2015 compliance is separate. On construction sites, principal contractors require RAMS that cover the specific hazards of your gas work on that site, including gas escape procedures, hot work, working at height for flue installations, and asbestos exposure in older buildings.

How long does it take to create RAMS for gas work?

Under 5 minutes with The Site Book. Describe the job — for example, 'combi boiler replacement in a 1970s mid-terrace with external flue' — and the AI generates RAMS covering gas isolation, flue installation at height, asbestos risk in older properties, and all relevant control measures.

Does The Site Book cover Gas Safe and GSIUR?

The Site Book covers the health and safety aspects of gas work under CDM 2015 and references the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 where they affect safe working practices on site. It does not replace your Gas Safe registration, gas work notifications, or certification. What it does is ensure your RAMS properly address gas-specific hazards alongside general construction risks.

What should gas engineers include in a Construction Phase Plan?

Your CPP should cover emergency procedures for gas leaks including isolation point identification, evacuation zones, and notification of the gas transporter. It must address coordination with electrical contractors for equipotential bonding requirements under BS 7671, and flue position compliance with both manufacturer instructions and Building Regulations Part J (combustion appliances and fuel storage). Under CDM 2015 Regulation 12, the CPP must detail management arrangements for gas work phases — particularly the sequence of isolation, purging, testing, and commissioning stages.

Do I need COSHH assessments for gas engineering work?

Yes, for several substances commonly used in gas work. Flux fumes from soldering copper pipework, jointing compound for gas fittings, thread sealant tape dust, and cleaning solvents for degreasing all require COSHH assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Note that carbon monoxide is not classified as a substance under COSHH — it is covered separately under GSIUR 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 — but CO exposure must still be addressed in your RAMS with specific controls including CO detection equipment and ventilation requirements.

How does CDM apply to domestic boiler replacements?

Domestic boiler replacements are construction work under CDM 2015 Regulation 2. The homeowner is the domestic client under Regulation 7, and the gas engineer as sole contractor automatically takes on both contractor duties (Regulation 15) and principal contractor duties (Regulation 13) where no other appointment is made. This means you must plan, manage, and monitor the work, ensure welfare facilities are available, and produce a proportionate Construction Phase Plan if requested. The CDM duties are separate from and additional to your Gas Safe obligations — compliance with one does not satisfy the other.

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