Gas supply legislation, guidance and submitting gas transporter safety cases
The key health and safety legislation covering gas supply comprise:
This section provides the links to this legislation, its associated HSE guidance and details of the GSMR's safety case submission requirements.
Responsibility for enforcing health and safety law for gas supply management, transportation and storage forms part of the role of the Gas and Pipelines Unit in HSE's Hazardous Industries Directorate.
Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 - GSMR
The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GSMR) apply to the conveyance of natural gas (methane) through pipes to domestic and other consumers and cover 4 main areas:
- the safe management of gas flow through a network, particularly those parts supplying domestic consumers, and a duty to minimise the risk of a gas supply emergency.
- arrangements for dealing with supply emergencies.
- arrangements for dealing with reported gas escapes and gas incidents.
- gas composition.
Gas Safety (Management) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
The Gas Safety (Management) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (GSMAR) amend the 1996 regulations so that a wider range of gas specification may be injected into a gas network. This is primarily through reducing the lower Wobbe Index limit set out in Schedule 3, with this change coming into force on 6 April 2025.
These also amend the 1996 Regulations to:
- allow gas with an oxygen content up to ≤1.0% (molar), where the gas is conveyed in a pipe operated at a pressure of ≤38 barg, and ≤0.2% molar, where the gas is conveyed in a pipe operated at a pressure of >38 barg
- bring pipes used to convey gas from biomethane production facilities and liquified natural gas (LNG) facilities within the definition of a gas "network" for the purposes of those Regulations
- require there to be a sole emergency reporting service provider for each network and sets out the functions of that provider - an emergency reporting service provider is a person who has prepared a specific safety case that is accepted by HSE
- make clear that operators of LNG facilities must co-operate with a person conveying gas in a network, a national emergency co-ordinator and an emergency reporting service provider
HSE guidance on GSMR
A guide to the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 - L80
Submission of GSMR safety case documentation
GSMR requires gas conveyors to prepare a safety case containing the information required by Schedule 1 of the regulations and have it formally accepted by HSE before conveying gas.
The tacit consent provisions of the EU Services Directive on Provision of Services do not apply to the submission of safety cases by Gas conveyors under GSMR. This confirms that a safety case has to be formally accepted by HSE before that dutyholder can convey gas.
The Gas Safety Assessment Manual (SCAM) provides a framework for assessing the GSMR safety cases within which the HSE assessors exercise professional judgement. The manual includes acceptance criteria and document submission details.
Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR)
While GSMR deals with the management of the flow of gas through the network, the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR) [OPSI] are principally concerned with pipeline integrity and aimed at securing safety in the design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of pipelines.
PSR imposes general duties in relation to all relevant pipelines and additional duties with regard to major accident hazard pipelines (for example, for the gas transportation and distribution network, major accident hazard pipelines are defined as those operating at pressures in excess of 7 barg).