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Gas installations are among the few parts of a building where a defect can put lives at risk. That is why Portuguese law requires periodic inspections by bodies recognised by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG). Many condominiums, however, do not know when their next inspection is due, who should request it or what happens if the installation fails. In this guide we explain the rules on gas inspection in a condominium in force in 2026, the deadlines for each type of building, how responsibility is split between the condominium and the owners, and the steps to book an inspection.
In short
- Gas installations are subject to periodic inspections by a gas inspection body (EIG), or the gas supply can be cut off.
- In residential buildings with an installation completed by 21/08/2018, the 1st periodic inspection is due by 26/08/2028 or at 20 years from installation, whichever comes first; after 21/08/2018, at 10 years.
- Subsequent inspections in residential buildings are every 5 years.
- Maintenance in the common parts is the condominium’s responsibility.
- Alterations, conversions or leaks require an extraordinary inspection, and the periodic deadline then runs from that date.
What the law says
The rules on gas installations in buildings are in Decree-Law 97/2017, amended by Law 59/2018 and Decree-Law 11/2023. The DGEG sums up the rule like this:
«As IG também estão sujeitas a inspeções periódicas, realizadas por EIG, sob pena do corte do abastecimento de gás.» — DGEG, Gas Installations in Buildings
In plain English: gas installations must also undergo periodic inspections by a gas inspection body, or the gas supply will be cut off.
The gas installation starts at the building’s main shut-off valve and ends at the shut-off valves of the appliances. In a block of flats, it therefore includes the rising main and the pipes in the common parts, which belong to the condominium, and the pipes and appliances inside each unit. Only a registered gas installer (EI) can carry out, repair or maintain the installation, and only a gas inspection body (EIG) can inspect it. The DGEG publishes lists of both.
Periodic inspection deadlines
| Type of building | 1st inspection, installed by 21/08/2018 | 1st inspection, installed after 21/08/2018 | Later inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I – Residential | By 26/08/2028 or at 20 years, whichever comes first | 10 years | 5 years |
| Types III to XII (offices, schools, shops, hotels and restaurants, among others) | — | — | 3 years |
Source: DGEG. Buildings are classified according to the fire safety in buildings regime.
In a mixed building, with shops or restaurants on the ground floor, check with the inspection body which frequency applies to the non-residential parts.
Extraordinary inspection
Besides the periodic inspection, the installation must be inspected whenever:
- it is converted (for example, to another type of gas);
- there are changes to the route, size or type of piping in the common parts or inside the units, or components are replaced by components of a different type;
- there is a gas leak or the supply is interrupted because of a type G defect.
According to the DGEG, when there is an extraordinary inspection, the periodic inspection deadline runs from that date. Simply changing supplier or contract holder does not require an extraordinary inspection, as long as there is a valid inspection certificate and no appliances or ventilation systems have been replaced.
Who is responsible and who pays
- Common parts (rising main, shared pipes, shared ventilation): maintenance is the condominium’s responsibility, according to the DGEG. The cost is shared among the owners in proportion to their permillage (article 1424 of the Civil Code).
- Inside the units: responsibility lies with the owner or the usufructuary. In a let unit, it passes to the tenant only if the contract says so.
- The administrator: must make sure the legal provisions concerning the condominium are carried out and take the necessary steps to preserve the common parts (article 1436 of the Civil Code). In practice, the administrator should keep track of deadlines and propose the inspection to the general meeting.
Learn more about preventive maintenance, the role of the condominium administrator and the legal obligations of condominium administration in 2026.
What happens if the installation fails
After the inspection, the inspection body issues a certificate of approval or failure, listing the defects and limitations. If the certificate mentions an NG-1 defect, it is valid for only 60 days. Critical defects can lead to the supply being cut off immediately. If the periodic inspection is not carried out, the law provides for a notice to carry it out and, as a last resort, for the supply to be cut off (Decree-Law 97/2017).
How to book an inspection, step by step
- Confirm the date the installation was completed and the date of the last inspection (inspection certificate, design, building documents).
- Ask for quotes from gas inspection bodies on the DGEG list.
- Approve the cost at the general meeting or in the annual budget.
- Give the owners advance notice: the inspection may require access to the units to check appliances and ventilation.
- Correct any defects with a registered installer and ask for the certificate of compliance of the work.
- Keep the inspection certificate in the condominium’s records.
Smell of gas: what to do
Periodic inspection reduces the risk, but every resident should know how to react to a suspected leak. The usual safety advice is simple:
- Do not use switches or electrical appliances, and do not light flames.
- Open doors and windows to ventilate the space.
- Close the gas shut-off valve for the unit or, if you know where it is and it is safe, the building’s valve.
- Leave the premises and, once outside, call the gas distributor’s emergency line or 112.
- Tell the condominium administrator, so that the shared installation is checked by an inspection body before it is used again.
Putting these instructions up at the building entrance and showing where the main shut-off valve is located is a simple measure the condominium can approve at a general meeting. If the building does not yet have piped gas and wants to install it, remember that with at least eight units, approval by a majority of the owners representing a majority of the building’s value is enough (article 1425(2) of the Civil Code). See innovation works.
Condominium checklist
- Date of the last periodic inspection recorded.
- Next inspection scheduled in the maintenance plan.
- Inspection and compliance certificates filed.
- Ventilation in the common areas kept clear.
- Owners informed of the rules for the inside of the units.
How Condoroo helps
Condoroo manages more than 600 condominiums and includes gas inspections in each building’s maintenance plan. We keep track of the deadlines, ask recognised inspection bodies for quotes and file the certificates with the condominium’s records. Our team carries out more than 35 inspection visits a day, around 700 a month, so we know the condition of the common parts.
Gas inspection in a condominium: frequently asked questions
How often is a gas inspection compulsory in a residential building?
After the first periodic inspection, every 5 years. The first depends on when the installation was completed: by 26/08/2028 or at 20 years for installations completed by 21/08/2018; at 10 years for later ones.
Who can carry out the gas inspection?
Only a gas inspection body (EIG) recognised by the DGEG.
Who pays for the inspection of the common parts?
The condominium, with the cost shared among the owners according to their permillage.
I changed gas supplier. Do I need a new inspection?
No, as long as there is a valid inspection certificate and no appliances or ventilation systems have been replaced.
What happens if we do not carry out the inspection?
Failing to carry out the periodic inspection can lead to the gas supply being cut off.
Does an extraordinary inspection count towards the deadline?
Yes. According to the DGEG, the periodic inspection deadline then runs from the extraordinary inspection.
This article is for information only and does not replace technical advice. Information checked on 26 October 2026.
