Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Act 1916
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to authorise as respects gas undertakings the substitution of a standard of calorific power for a standard of illuminating power. |
|---|---|
| Citation | Gas Act 1948 |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 3 August 1916 |
| Repealed | 1 May 1949 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Gas Act 1948 |
Status: Repealed | |
The Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Act 1916 (6 & 7 Geo. 5. c. 25) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulated and amended the quality of coal gas supplied to consumers.
Background
From the early days of the British gas industry in the 1810s coal gas had been used for lighting, whether by open flames or a gas mantle. The quality of gas supplied was therefore optimised to maximise the lighting power of gas.[1] As the industry developed so new uses of gas were found such as heating and cooking. The old standard of illuminating power was inappropriate where the majority of gas was used for heating. The act authorised gas to be sold in terms of its calorific (heating) value.[1]
Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Act 1916
The Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Act 1916 received royal assent on 3 August 1916. Its long title is, 'An Act to authorise as respects gas undertakings the substitution of a standard of calorific power for a standard of illuminating power.'
Provisions
The act comprises two sections.[2]
- Section 1: Power to substitute a standard of calorific power for a standard of illuminating power.
- Section 2: Short title.
Amendments
The Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Act 1916 was repealed by the Gas Act 1948 which nationalised the British gas industry.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b Hansard, House of Commons, Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Bill, 4 July 1916, Second Reading.
- ^ "Gas (Standard of Calorific Power) Act 1916". Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
- ^ "Gas Act 1948, UK legislation,". Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.