HETAS Unsafe Situations Procedure (HUSP)
The HETAS Unsafe Situations Procedure (HUSP) has been developed to create an industry recognised process which identifies all areas of potential risk within an installation, following UK Building Regulation guidelines and the requirements of relevant UK standards. The HETAS warning label identifies scenarios posing an immediate risk, but is not suitable in all circumstances. For example, if an installation does not follow current Building Regulation guidelines or poses a significant risk under continued use, a further assessment is required for a decision to be made regarding what protocol should be followed.
What is HUSP?
HUSP is a procedure that enables a more rounded approach to identifying risks in installations. By encouraging an appropriate assessment to be made across all cases, installers are enabled to identify and take appropriate actions where required to negate risks. HUSP also allows for installers’ findings to be appropriate reported to either provide evidence to the consumer or as a means of carrying out further remedial works.
The procedure uses the installer’s competence, experience, and training as the foundation to identify potentially hazardous situations, providing effective tools for them to make judgements and evidence their reasoning. By equipping installers with the tools to accurately assess risks and communicate these with the consumer, HUSP enables a more thorough examination and safer installations.
HUSP assessment levels
HUSP encourages an appropriate assessment to be undertaken in all cases, with appropriate action to be taken according to the three classification categories:
- Assessed Risk Low – typically categorised as installations that have been installed in a manner that falls outside the current scope of Building Regulation guidelines and relevant standards, but have been identified as having functioned correctly and without risk for a number of years.
- Assessed Risk High – this applies to installations that have been assessed and deemed to contain risks, but none of which are immediate risks. However, continued use of the appliance will result in danger to the occupant/property.
- Immediately Dangerous – as written within the warning label process, this refers to a dangerous appliance or installation that poses an immediate danger to the occupant/property at the time of assessment.
The procedure also provides additional guidance by using some common installation scenarios as a baseline and a guided risk category score for installers to make judgements against. The procedure will be continually developed as new situations, procedures, and innovations occur over time.
What does the assessment cover?
The assessment covers the main five areas of Building Regulations J1 to J5, including ventilation, dispersion of products, CO activation, and protection of buildings, as well as some caveats contained within BSI installation standards BS8303:2018 and BS EN 15287-1.
The characteristics of the property and history of any energy efficiency changes that have been made (such as improved insulation, cavity wall installation, and draught excluders) are also covered in the assessment. Visual checks, appropriate testing, and communication with the consumer are essential to formulate the action required.
The assessment form available is a simplified reference point, providing pointers of what should installers should be aware of when at a property and the appropriate recommissioning checks to carry out, including a signed declaration of the results. All installations must be left safe through confirmation of the appropriate smoke test, flue draught extraction tests, and spillage tests. Guidance on best practices for performing these tests is contained within the electronically supplied document.
Appropriate action
When an appliance or installation is found to be unsafe and an immediate risk, it will have a warning label clearly affixed, advising the consumer not to operate the appliance until the required remedial works have been undertaken. Further, a form containing details of the assessment, identified defects, and outcomes is available, ensuring the consumer has an understanding of the current risk and what needs to be rectified.
Further information and supporting documentation can be found on the HETAS Technical Hub, or you can call the HETAS technical helpline on 01684 278170 (please have your HETAS Registration number ready when calling).
