To fit your own boiler? Mines pretty old and has issue. Im a competent mechanic and recon i could fit a boiler no problem. But is it legal. Do i need to be qualified by law?
Is it legal
- Thread starter judderi
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Assuming it's gas, we get asked this question every week. There are answers, opinions, arguments all over the web.
You don't have to be corgi registered, but it's specified in law that to work on gas you DO have to be competent. That competence isn't defined.
If you do anything "wrong" though, you've broken the law:
(3) No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel otherwise than in accordance with appropriate standards ...
Fat chance of getting it "In accordance" unless you know what the "appropriate standards" are.
You also need a corgi to Notify the installation as being done by him, to Corgi and the Building Regs people, so get one on board early and decide who does what.
You don't have to be corgi registered, but it's specified in law that to work on gas you DO have to be competent. That competence isn't defined.
If you do anything "wrong" though, you've broken the law:
(3) No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel otherwise than in accordance with appropriate standards ...
Fat chance of getting it "In accordance" unless you know what the "appropriate standards" are.
You also need a corgi to Notify the installation as being done by him, to Corgi and the Building Regs people, so get one on board early and decide who does what.
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I thought it was fairly straightforward, but...
http://www.trustedtradesmen.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6201&PN=1
http://www.trustedtradesmen.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6201&PN=1
The problem with the concepts of competence and working otherwise than in accordance with appropriate standards, is that the prosecuting authority (HSE?) would have to prove incompetence and/or non-accordance with appropriate standards.
It is difficult to see how such a prosecution could be successful unless the work carried out had defects sufficient to indicate incompetence or non-accordance with standards. Competence only has to relate to the work carried out, so someone connecting a hob need know nothing about gas fitting beyond what is involved in that particular job.
The practical up-shot is that if the work carried out is basically sound there is little chance of a prosecution being brought, even less of a conviction being obtained, even if the person carrying out the work would be judged incompetent if subjected to an ACS type assessment. And if a conviction cannot be obtained it can hardly be said to be illegal.
It is difficult to see how such a prosecution could be successful unless the work carried out had defects sufficient to indicate incompetence or non-accordance with standards. Competence only has to relate to the work carried out, so someone connecting a hob need know nothing about gas fitting beyond what is involved in that particular job.
The practical up-shot is that if the work carried out is basically sound there is little chance of a prosecution being brought, even less of a conviction being obtained, even if the person carrying out the work would be judged incompetent if subjected to an ACS type assessment. And if a conviction cannot be obtained it can hardly be said to be illegal.
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If the Installation has serious flaws, surely that is tantamount to the incompetence of the Installer, registered or not........?
Yes I have a speedometer. I don't believe the laws of the land take account of the Uncertainies of Heisenberg.
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While it's true that prosecutions usually follow accidents, if you read GSIUR the requirements on competence and on what is actually done (ie "work in relation to gas fittings") are exactly the same whether one is corgi regd or not. It doesn't say "unless you're diy".
The only "higher standard" required of employed persons is that they have to take steps to ensure/maintain/manage their competence. In GSUIR it says "follow appropriate standards".
btw In the Corgi blue book it say that IF we (corgis, we have to assume) don't follow standards then we have to adopt a no-less-safe procedure etc. But WE are in a better position to judge that, than joe public.
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