Can i service my own boiler if am not gas safe registered

[mutley racers]

Well, this seems to be a hard question to answer.

From the regs, it seems that i can, as long as i am not accepting any kind of payment for it.

It is when you start getting paid, that its illegal.

Also, i read that you have to be competent.

How do you define competent?

So, am i allowed legally to service my own boiler?

Regards

Mutley

 

[Jonwells]

I think, and have know to be wrong, that under the old regs, if you were classed as competent you can service an appliance as long as there is no financial gain, (wage), but I think gas safe shut the loop hole saying, if you touch any gas appliance, your own or not and your not registered, it against the law.
It was changed to stop landlords blowing up students, I cannot quote bylaw or case histories, but I'm sure it true.

Best thing to do mate, is leave it alone, depending on what boiler it is, rsf, balanced flue, HE, open flued etc, depends on the checks you need to do, if it's a modern HE, YOU need a flue gas analyser, get it done safely for the sake of £50 or so.
But don't listen to me, I have saved about 20 peoples life's in my 31years in the trade, due to poorly or not serviced correctly appliances. Jon

 

[tamz]

but I think gas safe shut the loop hole saying, if you touch any gas appliance, your own or not and your not registered

Gas Safe, no matter how the sales rep comes across, do not make the rules. They are made by others.

 

[armourer]

I agree with you tamz too many people think that Gas Safe or Corgi are the law.

When we were all Corgi registered, I had no end of arguments with people that say you "had" to be Corgi registered to work on a gas appliance when in fact you had to show competence and if you had passed ACS you were deemed as competent.

Its just years of clever advertising by Corgi.
For instance has anyone ever been asked to see their ACS card??

Of course not. Joe public have never even heard of ACS.

In what other trade do you have to qualify and then pay to register with someone else to be able to work?

 

[shorticus]

So in summary, yes you can service your own boiler but...there's not a single person on this forum who'd want to be in your shoes should things go bandy!!

 

[tamz]

Well even i have never serviced my own boiler.............ever............can't be rsed. If it coughs i will get the boy to fit a new one :lol:

 

[armourer]

Well even i have never serviced my own boiler.............ever............can't be rsed. If it coughs i will get the boy to fit a new one :lol:

I still have a 15 year old GW swiftflow in my house.
I must have changed everything inside of it and every time I say thats it Im fitting a new one.

Still not got around to it.
You know what they say "never buy a house from a builder" its certainly true in my case, ffs I have condemned better.

Just too much like a bus-mans holiday when you get home.

 

[shorticus]

Well even i have never serviced my own boiler.............ever............can't be rsed. If it coughs i will get the boy to fit a new one :lol:

stuck a probe in mine once just to see what the reading was and it was sweet as, one 'non-intrusive' service completed!

Did powerflush my system a couple of weeks ago though just to see what came out, pretty clean as it happens...

 

[shorticus]

Just too much like a bus-mans holiday when you get home.[/QUOTE]

...you should see my bathroom...second thoughts best not

 

[tamz]

I've got a capped blow off on mine:smilewinkgrin:

 

[shorticus]

I've got a capped blow off on mine:smilewinkgrin:

no worries if the wet vac is to hand eh!

 

[tamz]

I don't really care. The hoover is her job. More chance of winning the lottery.

 

[Jonwells]

Just checked about doing your own gas work, 1998 regs, in a nutshell, if your doing it for no reward and are deemed competent, you can do what you like. great.

 

[tamz]

Just checked about doing your own gas work, 1998 regs, in a nutshell, if your doing it for no reward and are deemed competent, you can do what you like. great.

That is the proviso!

 

[Bagsy]

I think this is dangerous even to discuss this as there are so many differences of opinion. To be sure you should ask the appropriate authorities. I have found this on the Gas Safe website which some of you may find interesting http://www.User PlumbersForums.net Instead - Copy the content, don't link to it.co.uk/pdf/Who can legally work on a gas appliance.pdf after all they are appointed by the HSE. So one would assume that they would not give out false information.

 

[RoryD]

I actually can't believe this is a serious thread

 

[sanddobber]

So there you are finished with the ratrace and retired your Gas safe registration lapsed and the boiler packs up.
Well.........................?

 

[sparra1100]

Wow guys, such a large response. Awesome. In all these replies i can find what i am looking for. I know it is a touchy subject for all.

I have been Plumbing for just over 3 years now and trained with a gas engineer. I have sat most of my acs exams apart from the practical part as i am still collecting evidence for fires. But i shall finish the practical hopefully this month if i get some free time.



But, to sign up for registration and to buy the FGA is a lot of money, which i will not be able to buy until next year.

I have just moved area to, so am not able to use my old boss's equipment.

Regards


Mutley

its not a touchy subject would you be allowed in court to represent someone without the relievent qualys NO you can represent yourself but you wont get anyware cos you wouldnt no what your talking about same with the gas how do you no how to do a tightness test and what it is and when to do it how do you no what parts youve got how do you no when you disconect something its not leaking the slightest amount that can become id over a few days plus a boiler is a gas fitting and you have to be compentant and be of a chosen orginisation which is gas safe at the moment dont think money comes into it except when you have to pay a big fine out go on the hse website and see all the people whove been done for not being gas safe who were corgi but its run out they would be classed as competetant but they still got done ad leave well alone mate and get some one in

 

[mitchellplumber]

under no circumstances should anybody who is not gas safe registered carry out gas work on any property. Anyone doing so can be reported here. Gas Safe Register | Ensure your gas engineer is registered. Hope tthis helps ;0)

 

[mitchellplumber]

So there you are finished with the ratrace and retired your Gas safe registration lapsed and the boiler packs up.
Well.........................?

Call in a Gas Safe Registered engineer.... stand over him and watch he's doing it right! ;0) Ask him loads of questions about what regs have changed since you were a lad ;0)

 

[RoryD]

Right can't resist this!!no person can work on Gas unless competent to do so [ Rule 3 (1)] A competent person is someone who is a member of a recommended body by the H.S.E. [rule 3. (3)] namely Gas Safe, If you are not a member you cannot work on a Gas appliance.... game, set and match

 

[mitchellplumber]

Well said Rory D :0)

 

[leelister6]

Right can't resist this!!no person can work on Gas unless competent to do so [ Rule 3 (1)] A competent person is someone who is a member of a recommended body by the H.S.E. [rule 3. (3)] namely Gas Safe, If you are not a member you cannot work on a Gas appliance.... game, set and match

Can't believe it took 80 posts to come to this conclusion!!! But CAN he service his boiler if he's not GSR??!! LOL

 

[fuzzy]

absolutely correct in my last post, phone h&S or gas safe there in no question on this absolutely. If you think otherwise you need to do some revision and get specific answers to your thoughts. The original post was can I service my gas boiler If am not gas safe registered. The answer is no you cant. Nothing to do with competetance..read the regs

read em mate, im afraid i am right

 

[fuzzy]

Right can't resist this!!no person can work on Gas unless competent to do so [ Rule 3 (1)] A competent person is someone who is a member of a recommended body by the H.S.E. [rule 3. (3)] namely Gas Safe, If you are not a member you cannot work on a Gas appliance.... game, set and match

where does it say in the regs "A competent person is someone who is a member of a recommended body by the H.S.E." ?
Here is an extract from the regs below

3.—(1) No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so.(2) The employer of any person carrying out such work for that employer, every other employer and self-employed person who has control to any extent of such work and every employer and self-employed person who has required such work to be carried out at any place of work under his control shall ensure that paragraph (1) above is complied with in relation to such work.(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (1) and (2) above and subject to paragraph (4) below, no employer shall allow any of his employees to carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or service pipework and no self-employed person shall carry out any such work, unless the employer or self-employed person, as the case may be, is a member of a class of persons approved for the time being by the Health and Safety Executive for the purposes of this paragraph.(4) The requirements of paragraph (3) above shall not apply in respect of—

(a)​

the replacement of a hose or regulator on a portable or mobile space heater; or

(b)​

the replacement of a hose connecting a re-fillable cylinder to installation pipework.

 

[fuzzy]

Right can't resist this!!no person can work on Gas unless competent to do so [ Rule 3 (1)] A competent person is someone who is a member of a recommended body by the H.S.E. [rule 3. (3)] namely Gas Safe, If you are not a member you cannot work on a Gas appliance.... game, set and match

i am right in saying that to work on gas for no gain you only have to be competent but to work for gain you must be registered.
However what you have added is an interpretation of competence, if so it adds another dimension that suggested competence means registered?? seems to contradict the previous statement, however if you prove me wrong ill gladly admit it, i would just like to see where it says what you have posted as i cannot find it

BTW I dont agree with the interpretation, but im happy to abide by it if its proven. You may ask why i dont agree with it, its becaus ei have a friend who worked at BG all his life, helped set up acops, heped set up ACS, was an inspector for year, he is now retired, if he wants to service his boiler, by your understanding he is not competent, i would disagree

 

[ecowarm]

I have to agree with you Fuzzy, also some right muppets who are supposedly competant I wouldn't let loose with a gas lighter!

 

[fuzzy]

I have to agree with you Fuzzy, also some right muppets who are supposedly competant I wouldn't let loose with a gas lighter!

ive added info in terms of an edit, that explains why i dont agree, however if this interpretation is proved law ill happily abide, even if i dont agree

 

[quality]

Its a wording thing is competence I did at the very start of my working life a mechanical / electrical engineering degree (7 years) and when I was presented my stupid hat was I ready for really proving my competence
To be honest no not really it has taken over 20 years to prove that to my self let alone anyone else, if some one can prove previous experience or simply be successfull in siting an assessment then competence is proved
Am I correct or not

 

[ecowarm]

i am right in saying that to work on gas for no gain you only have to be competent but to work for gain you must be registered.
However what you have added is an interpretation of competence, if so it adds another dimension that suggested competence means registered?? seems to contradict the previous statement, however if you prove me wrong ill gladly admit it, i would just like to see where it says what you have posted as i cannot find it

BTW I dont agree with the interpretation, but im happy to abide by it if its proven. You may ask why i dont agree with it, its becaus ei have a friend who worked at BG all his life, helped set up acops, heped set up ACS, was an inspector for year, he is now retired, if he wants to service his boiler, by your understanding he is not competent, i would disagree

Exactly if you are quallified for gas work for 30yrs and stop paying GS for some reason, like retirement or for any other reason are you now a cowboy? or incompetant? of course not, and if you service your own boiler or familly and freinds for no gain, are you likely to leave in a dangeous state or not working correctly, of course not.

 

[fuzzy]

Exactly if you are quallified for gas work for 30yrs and stop paying GS for some reason, like retirement or for any other reason are you now a cowboy? or incompetant? of course not, and if you service your own boiler or familly and freinds for no gain, are you likely to leave in a dangeous state or not working correctly, of course not.

Id say not mate, you are possibly much safer than a newly qualified gsr. im not convinced by the wording suggested and think i good layer could defend you, however im looking forward to reading it for myself when it is pointed out were it is