RAMS & CPP for Plumbing & Heating
What compliance documents you need for boiler installations, pipework, and heating systems — and how The Site Book handles it for you.
Written by Nicola Dobbie, Founder, The Site Book — Last reviewed
TL;DR
- CPP: Required — CDM 2015 applies to every construction project.
- RAMS: Strongly recommended — near-mandatory on commercial sites and good practice for boiler and unvented system installs.
- Key hazards: Gas leaks and carbon monoxide exposure, hot works (soldering/brazing) and fire risk, and legionella in stored water systems.
What compliance do you need?
Plumbing and heating work involves a wide range of risks — from gas safety and hot works through to legionella and asbestos. Whether you're fitting a new boiler, running pipework on a new build, or replacing a heating system, CDM 2015 applies alongside gas safety regulations.
Do you need a CPP?
Yes. A Construction Phase Plan is required under CDM 2015 for all construction work. For plumbing and heating, your CPP should cover gas safety procedures, isolation of services, hot works management, and how you'll work safely in confined spaces like lofts and airing cupboards.
Do you need RAMS?
RAMS are strongly recommended for plumbing and heating work. Gas work, hot works, and confined space entry all carry significant risks. On commercial sites, RAMS are almost always mandatory. They're also good practice for domestic work, particularly boiler installations and unvented systems.
Common hazards
- Gas leaks and carbon monoxide exposure
- Scalding from hot water and steam
- Hot works — soldering, brazing, and use of blowtorches
- Working in confined spaces (airing cupboards, lofts, risers)
- Legionella risk in stored water systems
- Asbestos disturbance in older pipe lagging and boiler flues
- Manual handling of boilers, cylinders, and radiators
- Slips and trips from water spillage
How The Site Book handles it
Describe your job — "boiler swap, combi to combi, 2-bed flat" — and The Site Book creates your RAMS and CPP automatically. It identifies plumbing-specific hazards including gas safety, hot works, legionella risk, and asbestos in older pipe lagging.
Frequently asked questions
- Do plumbers need RAMS?
- RAMS are strongly recommended for plumbing and heating work, especially for boiler installations, unvented hot water systems, and gas work. Most commercial clients and principal contractors will require RAMS. They're also good practice for domestic work where there are significant risks like working with gas, hot water, or in confined spaces.
- What gas safety requirements apply?
- All gas work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes boiler installation, gas pipework, and flue work. The engineer must leave a Building Regulations compliance certificate and notify the work to the local authority. Gas safety is regulated under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
- Do I need a CPP for a boiler installation?
- Yes. Under CDM 2015, a Construction Phase Plan is required for all construction projects, including boiler installations and heating system work. Your CPP should cover gas safety procedures, hot works permits if soldering, working in confined spaces like loft and cupboard installations, and coordination with other trades.
What's included at each tier
| Feature | Starter£0 | Pro Monthly£39/mo | Pro Annual£30/mo | Business£99/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First project free | — | — | — | |
| RAMS generator | ||||
| PDF download | ||||
| Worker sign-off | ||||
| Unlimited projects | ||||
| CPP generator | ||||
| COSHH library | ||||
| Team members | — | — | ||
| Priority support | ||||
| Site inductions | — | |||
| Toolbox talks | — | |||
| Multi-site rollout | — | |||
| Save £108/yr vs monthly | — | — | — |
Honest pros and cons
Pros
- Hot-works permit issue-and-log flow built in
- Confined-space entry controls ready to attach to the project
- COSHH for flux, solder, and pipe-cleaning chemicals ready to pick
- Legionella risk notes baked into domestic-system method statements
Cons
- No Gas Safe notification / commissioning forms generated
- WRAS product compliance lookup is still manual
- Legionella risk assessments need a qualified specialist sign-off
Why The Site Book
- Only UK construction compliance tool that ships RAMS + CPP + COSHH + inductions + worker sign-off in one flat-rate subscription.
- AI-generated documents are site-specific from a natural-language brief, not a template library you hand-fill -cuts writing a RAMS from 2 hours to under 5 minutes.
- Worker sign-off, PCPP import, cert tracking, and document checking are included at the entry tier, not locked behind an enterprise plan.
- Transparent flat-rate pricing starting at £30/mo -no per-seat surprise as the team grows.
Get your plumbing docs sorted
Describe your job, get professional RAMS and CPP in minutes. No credit card required.