Did you know that you have to do the inspection and verification of the gas networks and extensions you have at your local accommodation every 3 years?
The Government has established new procedures and rules for gas inspections to simplify and reduce consumer costs.
Upon entry into force January 1, 2018, Decree-Law 97/2017 of 10 August eliminated several obligations related to gas installations in buildings, ensuring that despite simplification, security is fully assured.
Among the various measures approved by the new Decree-Law, the ones we must emphasize are the end of the need to gas installation project approval, since the term of responsibility of the project author that certifies its compliance with regulatory and technical standards is sufficient, and also if does not require further inspections whenever the gas contract title change or the trader changes.
However, do not think that periodic inspections cease to exist, on the contrary, they go from every 2 years to 3 in 3 for public establishments.
If installations have been in place for more than 10 years and have not been refurbished, they must be Periodic inspection every 5 years.
If the periodic inspection is not carried out within the deadlines, the Directorate General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) notifies the gas distributor to cut off supplies by giving notice, as appropriate, to the trader or consumer.
The inspection is performed by a Gas Inspectorate (OIG) and should be present EI gas technicianas well as the distributor representative for the purpose of gas connection, provided that the gas supply service has been contracted and, where possible, the designer.
THE OIG proceed, during inspection, the following assessment and verification operations:
(a) assessment of compliance with applicable regulations and technical standards;
(b) an assessment of the conformity and suitability of the visible parts of the installation with the design of the gas installation and the certificate of compliance, and where not applicable, mention thereof;
(c) verification of compliance with ventilation conditions for the operation of gas appliances, taking into account the ventilation information contained in the installation design;
(d) verification of the installation and operation of gas appliances;
e) Verification of the operation of the cutting devices and their condition.
After the inspection, the OIG issues one inspection statement from the same gas installation.
It is up to the owner or usufructuary of the installation or gas appliance to carry out the inspection and to bear the respective charge.
Exception is made to this standard, the common parts of building constituted in horizontal property, whose responsibility for promoting the inspection lies with the condominium and the rented fractions, when the relevant contract transfers this responsibility to the lessee.
In addition, most of the piped gas facilities in condominiums is approaching 10 years or has even surpassed them, and this reform of the law reinforce the guarantee that periodic inspections of the plumbing are carried out, as well as the safety of condominiums assured.
According to Decree-Law No. 97/2017 of August 10, updated by Law No. 59/2018 of August 21, Gas inspections of buildings are mandatory every 5 years for installations performed for more than 10 years.
In the case of public establishments, such as Local Accommodation, the obligation is every 3 years!
Guarantee with yours insurance company liability in the event of an accident!
LEGISLATION
- Law No. 59/2018, of 21 August, makes the first amendment, by parliamentary appraisal, to Decree-Law 97/2017, of 10 August, which establishes the regime of installations of combustible gases in buildings.
- Decree-Law No. 97/2017, of 10 August, which establishes the regime of installations of combustible gases in buildings, hereinafter referred to as gas installations, and of the appliances they supply, except appliances directly powered by gas cylinders. place of consumption, as well as the definition of the supervision and regulation system of the activities associated with them.
Law No. 59/2018 of August 21
«Article 21
Installations subject to periodic inspection
1 - All gas-fired installations affecting buildings and enclosures classified under Decree-Law No. 220/2008, of 12 November, as amended by Decree-Law No. 224/2015, of 9 October, must undergo periodic inspectionaccording to the following Frequency:
The) Every three yearsfor gas installations in buildings and enclosures classified as standard uses:
III (Administrative buildings receiving public)
IV (School Buildings)
V (Hospitals and nursing homes)
VI (Concert Halls and / or Meetings)
VII (Hotels and restaurants)
VIII (Commercial Buildings and Transportation Gares)
IX (Sports and Leisure Buildings)
X (Museums)
XI (Libraries and Files)
XII (Industrial Buildings, Workshops and Warehouses)
Or others that do not fit the standard uses described, but that are public;
b) Every five years, gas installations which have been in operation for over 10 years and which have not been remodeled. '
This article has been reviewed and approved by SRP & E Sociedade de Advogados, attesting that its content is in accordance with the legal regime in force.
SRP & E is composed of a multidisciplinary team of lawyers who, through the specialization of the services rendered, intends to provide its clients with the best possible follow-up.
