1 Safety
1.1
Benchmark
1.1.1
Building Regulations and the Benchmark Commissioning
Checklist
Building Regulations (England & Wales) require notification of the installa
tion of a heating appliance to the relevant Local Authority Building Control
Department. This can be achieved via a Competent Persons Self Certifica
tion Scheme as an option to notifying the Local Authority directly.
The Health & Safety Executive operates the ’Gas Safe Register’, a selfcer
tification scheme for gas heating appliances.
This company is a member of the Benchmark initiative and fully supports
the aims of the programme. Its aim is to improve the standards of installa
tion and commissioning of central heating systems in the UK and to en
courage the regular servicing of all central heating systems to ensure safe
ty and efficiency.
Building Regulations require that installations should comply with manu
facturer’s instructions. It is therefore important that the commissioning
checklist is completed by the installer. The relevant section of Building
Regulations only relates to dwellings. Therefore the checklist only applies
if the appliance is being installed in a dwelling or some related structure.
The flowchart opposite gives guidance for installers on the process neces
sary to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.
1.1.2
The Benchmark Scheme
Benchmark places responsibilities on both manufacturers and installers.
The purpose is to ensure that customers are provided with the correct
equipment for their needs, that it is installed, commissioned and serviced
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by competent persons
and that it meets the requirements of the appropriate Building Regulations.
The Benchmark Checklist can be used to demonstrate compliance with
Building Regulations and should be provided to the customer for future ref
erence.
Installers are required to carry out installation, commissioning and servic
ing work in accordance with the Benchmark Code of Practice which is
available from the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council who manage
and promote the Scheme. Visit www.centralheating.co.uk for more infor
mation.
Fig.1
Benchmark
AD-3000725-01
1 Safety
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