Manufacturing & Engineering

Which repair and installation regulations apply to your business

Repairing, maintaining and installing machinery and equipment shares a workplace-safety foundation, then adds a specific approval or certification for the systems you work on — gas, refrigeration and air-conditioning, pressure systems, aircraft or ships. Use this guide to find the route that matches your business and the guides you need to follow.

UK-wide
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UK-wide

Repair and installation of machinery and equipment covers a wide range of businesses — from general machinery repair and industrial installation to specialist trades working on gas appliances, refrigeration and air-conditioning, pressure plant, ships and aircraft. They share a starting point: the work carries machinery, electrical, lifting, working-at-height and hazardous-substance risks, often on the customer's site, so the workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply to all of you. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.

On top of that, several kinds of equipment can only be worked on under a specific approval or certification. Use the routes below to find the guides you need.

Find your route

Every repair and installation business needs the spine below; add the specialist approvals for the systems you actually work on. Then confirm everything with the checklist.

  1. 1

    Run a safe business and employ people

    Whatever you work on, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe repair and installation business" for your health and safety, COSHH controls, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, insurance, equality and data protection duties.

  2. 2

    Get the specialist approvals for the systems you work on

    If you work on gas appliances, refrigeration and air-conditioning, pressure systems, aircraft or ships, you need a specific registration or certification first. Follow "Get the specialist approvals for the systems you repair and install".

  3. 3

    Confirm you have covered everything

    Finish with the repair and installation compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.

Open the guide you need

Match the systems you work on to the specialist guide: pressure systems are in section A, gas appliances in section B, refrigeration and air-conditioning (F-gas) in section C, ships in section D, and aircraft in section E.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for repair and installation.

Structural works compliance checklist

Pre-start checklist for structural works covering demolition notices, asbestos surveys, temporary works design, excavation permits, LOLER examinations, and CPCS competency cards. Use this before beginning any structural, demolition, or deep excavation work on a construction project.

Film and TV production tax reliefs and regulation

How to access UK film and television tax reliefs, including Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) rates, BFI cultural test certification, child performance licensing, health and safety requirements, and filming permits. Essential compliance and planning guidance for production companies.

Excavation and foundation safety

HSE requirements for safe excavation and foundation work on construction sites. Covers trench support systems, edge protection, safe access, cable and pipe avoidance, inspection duties, and emergency procedures for collapse. Trench collapse is a leading cause of construction fatalities in the UK.

Manage hazardous construction materials

How to comply with COSHH 2002 when working with cement, silica dust, solvents, lead paint, and wood dust on construction sites. Covers COSHH assessments, workplace exposure limits, health surveillance, RPE selection, and dust suppression controls.