UK Statutory Instrument
1996
United Kingdom
Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GSMR)
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
19 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides
Penalty landscape
2 of 19 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 17 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Responsible Person 13
- Any Person 6
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Responsible Persons also bound by 104 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- MH(CT)(S)A 2003 2003 45 duties
- Climate Change Levy (General) Regulations 2001 2001 24 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 1995 21 duties
- Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case ) Regulations 2015 2015 21 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 2005 19 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Set up a system to share health and safety information with other duty holders Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Set up audit and reporting arrangements for gas safety Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Demonstrate arrangements for coordinating gas escape investigations Responsible Person
Content and other characteristics of gas
- Keep records proving gas composition complies with standards Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Demonstrate that your gas network maintains adequate pressure Responsible Person
Where the duty holder is the only person conveying gas...
- Provide evidence of arrangements for conveying non-conforming gas Responsible Person
Particulars of the procedures that the duty holder has established...
- Establish procedures to safely restore gas supply after interruption Responsible Person
A general description of the plant and premises the duty...
- Describe your plant, premises and pipe connection points in your safety case Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the management system of the duty...
- Demonstrate management system adequacy for gas safety compliance Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Establish arrangements for ensuring employee competence in health and safety Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Manage work done by non-employees on your premises or plant Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Make sure health and safety information reaches your workers Responsible Person
Particulars to demonstrate that the duty holder has established adequate...
- Create and maintain a detailed supply emergency safety case Responsible Person
Browse 17 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
CONTENT AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF GAS
General
Co-operation
Gas escapes and investigations
Continuity of supply
Supply emergencies
A description of the operation intended to be undertaken by...
Without prejudice to paragraph 18 above, particulars of the procedures...
Interpretation
Particulars of any— (a) technical specifications; (b) procedures or arrangements...
Safety management
Name and address of the person preparing the safety case...
A general description of the network to which the safety...
The same particulars as are referred to in paragraphs 4...
In this Schedule, the reference conditions are 15C and 1.01325...
The gas shall be at a suitable pressure to ensure...
(1) Expressions and the abbreviations used in this Part shall...
Revision of safety cases
- Review and revise your gas safety case Any Person
Duty to conform with safety case
Unlimited fine- Follow the procedures set out in your accepted gas safety case Any Person
Co-operation
- Co-operate with gas networks and emergency services Any Person
Gas escapes and investigations
- Respond to and prevent gas escapes within 12 hours Any Person
Content and other characteristics of gas
Unlimited fine- Ensure gas conforms to safety and quality specifications Any Person
Keeping of documents
- Keep and maintain gas safety cases and audit records Any Person
Browse 9 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
sch. 3 para. 2
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Duties on persons conveying gas
Pipes used to convey biogas or gas made from biogas: transitional provisions
Exemptions
Repeals, revocations and amendment
Review of these Regulations
Transitional provisions: emergency reporting service provider safety case
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- OFG1162 Enforcement Guidelines (March 2023) (opens in a new tab) from Ofgem Detailed Guidance
- How we are regulated (opens in a new tab) Other
- Gas Supply Standard Licence Conditions (consolidated to August 2025) (opens in a new tab) from Ofgem Detailed Guidance
- List of all gas licensees including suppliers (opens in a new tab) from Ofgem Detailed Guidance
- Apply for a gas or electricity licence (England, Scotland and Wales) (opens in a new tab) from DESNZ Detailed Guidance
- OFG1164 Apply for a gas or electricity licence (June 2025) (opens in a new tab) from Ofgem Detailed Guidance
- Submitting gas transporter safety cases (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Gas supply legislation, guidance and submitting gas transporter safety cases (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- A guide to the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (as amended) (opens in a new tab) from HSE Code of Practice
- Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) as amended. Approved Code of Practice and guidance (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- ... and 11 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
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Regulators
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