How much gas evidence needed

[Bil123]

Hi guys I was hoping you guys can help me . I am starting with a gas safe engineer to get my evidence to sit my acs ccn1. My question is how many hours of on site work is required to sit the exam ? I.e how much evidence does bpec require? Thanks guys for your time in advance .

 

[richard978]

Hi guys I was hoping you guys can help me . I am starting with a gas safe engineer to get my evidence to sit my acs ccn1. My question is how many hours of on site work is required to sit the exam ? I.e how much evidence does bpec require? Thanks guys for your time in advance .

I think it's ridiculous and pointless that you have to jump through so many hoops to get on a gas course. I really don't think it improves the outcome at all, as despite all these hoops there are still many many gas engineers out there who know nothing about the boilers they are fitting other than how to fit them.

My preference would be a year long gas course which teaches students everything about regulations, appliances, ventilation, fault finding etc etc. At the end there should be a strict exam both practical and theory.

My issue is the quality of training being provided at many of colleges across the country is so poor that the student is learning everything from their mentor.....and if the mentor is rubbish....then you get a rubbish plumber. Colleges need to look at how they provide training think of better ways of applying this training through day release to companies that have a good record at training people.

 

[kirkgas]

Richard978 if the reassessment exam was too strict some of the guys already qualified wouldn't pass

 

[stevetheplumber]

lets be honest most of the time spent taking acs every 5 years is a waste of time anyone whose working on gas doesnt need to do a tightness test or a gas rate or show he can turn on a fga

 

[richard978]

Richard978 if the reassessment exam was too strict some of the guys already qualified wouldn't pass

You are probably right, but again some of the questions in these exams don't reflect the job in the real world. Plumbers are not scientists and we don't have brains full of British standards and Gas Acts. What is important is that we all know what is safe and what isn't and we all know how to service and fix the appliances we are qualified in. A service these days means sticking the Anton down the flue for many companies.....how can this be safe. If you don't strip the boiler down how will you know the condition of the flue etc etc.

 

[kirkgas]

Steve I wish I had a quid for every reassessment guy who can't purge or gas rate without referring to their notes, and these are guys who can't fault find on flues as they "only install boilers" in their words

 

[Dotty]

It's not the practical aspects that I go for every 5 years. It's the legislative bit. Yes we have access to TB's and so on. It's the British Standards you can't as easily lay your hands on.

I try to acquire copies every time I go to CCTS.

 

[Centralheatking]

At the end of the day its really a Tick Box system - qualified fitters
turn up listen and tick the box-s when they have done that then they are liable

Later if there is a mistake then the liability stops with the fitter.

Newbies have a massive amount to learn and experience - its such a shame
that the apprenticeship scheme stalled in the 80's - maybe its back but
never in its time honoured incarnation which bluntly produced a now lost
generation of good fitters aged 50+ like my lot

CHking

 

[newcastle phill]

British standards - bloooming expensive

 

[kirkgas]

It's not the practical aspects that I go for every 5 years. It's the legislative bit. Yes we have access to TB's and so on. It's the British Standards you can't as easily lay your hands on.

I try to acquire copies every time I go to CCTS.

£75 subscription to Gas Safe gets loads of BS and IGEM docs

 

[newcastle phill]

They should be free imho

 

[kirkgas]

Phill ask the ODPM why they won't give you them free then,

 

[newcastle phill]

I suspect id be wasting my time.
Tradespeople who pay to member bodies and organisations such as gas safe should provide them free.
No least to ensure standards are readily available to those that need to abide by them.
My 2c

 

[kirkgas]

But gas safe don't get them free, that's why they charge £75 to pass them on

 

[Reg Man]

GSR are licensed to give you access, a really good deal. Its commercial accountancy with BSI, they spend huge amounts to set standards and this has to be passed on.