Acs

[mighty-metal]

I am considering taking ACS gas course.
Can anyone who has passed one tell me how easy/difficult it is?
What the best method is for it's preperation?

 

[wiggikins]

How much experience have you got of working on natural gas, Have you built up a portfolio and compiled alog of type of work you have done, supervisorcountersigned only will be acceptable??

 

[fuzzy]

you can apply but it woul depend on what quals u currently have etc

u need between 60-120 days experience

 

[Paultheplumber]

just passed the ACS you have six exam papers to do first time round five open book one closed book i think the best thing to do is buy the viper gas book and get used to referencing it. As it is already easy to use compared to the corgi manual this wont take long but it is a life saver when your under pressure to find an answer you can use it on your practical as well but by then its all still fresh in your head so you should be ok.

 

[dam]

read,read ,read ,read ,read and then read some more oh and make sure you have lots of money.

 

[phillgas]

I am currently on my work attatchment building up my portfolio having completed my 150 minimum hours college. I agree with paultheplumber the viper is easier to get around. If you get to your job placement tag on to a guy who has done his acs using the portfolio method as he will know the type of photos you need and he will also be more sympathetic to your needs.

 

[Piper]

The ACS centres each have their own requirements, so ask them.
For the ACS assessment itself, it depends how able you are.
Some people with almost no practical experience can just read up over a weekend and pass on the following Monday.
Others never make it.

 

[zaral]

Some people with almost no practical experience can just read up over a weekend and pass on the following Monday.
Others never make it.

Exactly , which is where it is all wrong, practical experience in the first instance is what is required, and so often an after thought ????

Believe me, as the last 'competent' person in the house, you will be held responsible for the safety of the gas installation, appliances and occupants, should anything go wrong.
Not something to read up on over the weekend, and most definately something to seriously consider before thinking thats what you want to do.

 

[phillgas]

well thanks for all your possitive feed back.the reading the book on the weekend thing sounds great. But if you think back to the good old days of one day a week college(2 hours) with no health and saftey and making tea and fetching chips most the time(unless you learnt from a relative)

I have been in college for a whole 150 hours and have to gather up 40 seperate jobs with photo evidence(find an engineer to show you and to become david bailey).If your engineer is on back boiler servicing thats great but i only need three services in the range so a week of servicing back boilers is great for experience but does not enable me to go back to college after the weekend to take my 6 written papers and 7 practical assessments.
This is not a winge just an eye opener to the hard working old school about new entrants in to the gas industry.I was taught how to work on gas safely and not how to service/install boilers fire etc so being the last person in that premice i know it was left in a safe manner after my job was complete.

 

[fuzzy]

well thanks for all your possitive feed back.the reading the book on the weekend thing sounds great. But if you think back to the good old days of one day a week college(2 hours) with no health and saftey and making tea and fetching chips most the time(unless you learnt from a relative)

I have been in college for a whole 150 hours and have to gather up 40 seperate jobs with photo evidence(find an engineer to show you and to become david bailey).If your engineer is on back boiler servicing thats great but i only need three services in the range so a week of servicing back boilers is great for experience but does not enable me to go back to college after the weekend to take my 6 written papers and 7 practical assessments.
This is not a winge just an eye opener to the hard working old school about new entrants in to the gas industry.I was taught how to work on gas safely and not how to service/install boilers fire etc so being the last person in that premice i know it was left in a safe manner after my job was complete.

i can ensure you i never did only 2 hours a week at college or fetch chips for 4 years. i think you need to look at the facts again

 

[Piper]

I say again, ask the ACS centre, not all will demand the same portfolio.
The Viper book is OK, but going out of production soon.

 

[chelsea]

just to add to this i am currently doing my acs and the viper book has been phased out now. the 5th edition has come out now and its changed and the viper would be no good