A planned preventative maintenance (PPM) contract turns gas maintenance from a string of one-off call-outs into a schedule you can plan around. For a Lancashire factory, warehouse or commercial building with several pieces of gas plant, it is usually the simplest way to keep everything serviced, certificated and recorded.Not every contract is worth having, though. This guide explains what a good gas PPM contract should include, how to set one up, and what affects the cost, so you can judge any proposal you're given, including ours.
A PPM contract is an agreement for a contractor to service and inspect your gas plant on a fixed schedule, issue the right records and certificates, and report any defects. It is not an insurance policy. It doesn't usually cover the cost of major parts or replacement plant unless the contract says so. A good contract makes clear what is included and what will be quoted separately.
The contract should start with a list of every gas appliance in scope: boilers, steam plant, process burners, radiant tube and warm air heaters, interlocks, and the installation pipework. Record the make, model, location and service frequency for each one. If an appliance isn't on the list, assume it isn't covered.
Service dates should be planned around how you work. That means heating plant before winter, and process plant during planned shutdowns or quieter shifts. Visits that clash with production are a sign the schedule hasn't been thought through.
Most appliances need servicing at least once a year. Plant that runs for long hours, or works in dusty or harsh conditions, may need more frequent visits. Frequencies should follow the manufacturer's instructions and any requirements from your insurer.
Your annual gas installation safety inspection (CP17), servicing records (CP15), and any testing and purging (CP16) or catering inspections (CP42) should be planned into the same visits, so nothing lapses.
Every defect should be recorded with its priority, what has been done to make it safe, and a quote for the repair. You should be able to see at a glance what is still open.
The contract should set out how breakdowns are reported, who answers outside working hours, and how call-outs are charged. Write the response arrangements into the contract rather than relying on a verbal promise.
Reports should be clear enough to hand to an insurer or auditor without explanation, and kept so you can find any appliance's history quickly.
PPM prices depend on the site, so be wary of anyone who quotes without seeing it. The main factors are:
Grouping several pieces of plant, or several sites, under one contract usually makes better use of each visit than booking appliances one at a time.
If you have sites in different parts of Lancashire, or across the North West, one contract gives you one asset register, one schedule and one set of reports in the same format for every site. That makes it much easier to see where you stand on compliance across the business.
It depends on how much gas plant you have and how much a breakdown would cost you. For a single small boiler, an annual service booking may be enough. Once you have several appliances, or plant that production relies on, a contract is usually easier to manage.
It can. How call-outs are prioritised and charged should be written into the contract.
Terms vary. Many are reviewed every year. Make sure the contract states the term and the notice period.
Yes. We work across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the wider North West.
Send us a list of your sites and gas plant, or ask for a site survey to get started.SMR Gas Maintenance Ltd
Unit 10 Higher Walton Mill, Cann Bridge Street, Higher Walton, Preston PR5 4DJ
📞 07882 898492 (24/7 commercial emergency call-out)
📧 andy@smrgasservices.co.uk
🌐 www.smrgas.co.uk
Gas Safe Register No. 562186. Industrial and commercial work only.