Unvented cylinder not notified

[GreenwichGardener]

We had a plumbing job done as part of a larger building job via a contractor.

All the plumbing was redone and a new boiler and unvented cylinder was fitted. Today someone came around to commission the job - seems the guys who installed the system use him or contract under him?

He checked the system. He then wrote some stuff into the boiler book but never filled the installer details and I noticed that he put a signature that was different to the one he used elsewhere (only spotted this afterwards). I asked why he never put his details and he said that he does different paperwork as he is a valliant approved installer. He said he would send off his own paper work and I will receive a letter from valiant confirming extended warranty. He said he would also be notifying the boiler to gas safe.

I then asked about the plumbing and unvented cylinder and he said he can't commission that because he doesn't have a g-free ticket pr something like that. He told me not to worry and they dont check.

Are they having me on? Should he have given me a boiler installation certificate? The electrician gave me an installation certificate.

 

[simond]

It is not permitted by Gas Safe Register for unqualified people to fit boilers, flues and gas pipe and then someone registered to come along separately and sign it off.

Similarly, it is against building regulations to fit a G3 appliance without registering it. Unqualified people can fit them but they need a qualified person to certify their work.

So it sounds like your builder is working outside the law in every respect. Not at all unusual, thats the problem with this country, ever increasing regulations, no chance of enforcing them all - hope it was cheap.

 

[ScottishGasMan]

The benchmark commissioning certificate in the back of the boilers installation instructions must be filled out in its entirety or your warranty may be void.

 

[ScottishGasMan]

Also if the cylinder is not registered/appropriate paperwork in place it may have no warranty either. If you want to be sure give vaillant ring and ask them

 

[GreenwichGardener]

It is not permitted by Gas Safe Register for unqualified people to fit boilers, flues and gas pipe and then someone registered to come along separately and sign it off.

Similarly, it is against building regulations to fit a G3 appliance without registering it. Unqualified people can fit them but they need a qualified person to certify their work.

So it sounds like your builder is working outside the law in every respect. Not at all unusual, thats the problem with this country, ever increasing regulations, no chance of enforcing them all - hope it was cheap.

Embarrassing but yes was cheap but not cheap enough to have made me worry that illegal. I did check that the electrician and plumber would register the work. I never knew that the cylinder needed a separate qualification.

Are there g3 holders who would come and check this and certify?

 

[GreenwichGardener]

The benchmark commissioning certificate in the back of the boilers installation instructions must be filled out in its entirety or your warranty may be void.

He did take the warranty card and he stuck one of those bar code sticker and he said he was going to register as he is an approved installer. If he does this will warranty be invalid if the benchmark is filled out just without his information?

 

[ScottishGasMan]

The benchmark commissioning certificate in the back of the boilers installation instructions must be filled out in its entirety or your warranty may be void.

As above. Why would someone not want to put their name and Gas safe number against the installation paperwork?

In event of a warranty call out, the engineer doesnt know who fitted the boiler, they find an installtion or saftey issue they look at the benchmark andfind no one has put their name to it?

 

[GreenwichGardener]

Any advice on how to get the cylinder notified? Would a g3 plumber be happy to come and disconnect it and then reconnect?

 

[simond]

Get your builder to do it, and fill out the benchmark for the boiler.

No-one in the trade likes authenticating moody installs that probably undercut them, carried out by unlicensed bodgers running without the overheads that we have to pay to be legitimate and law abiding. By inspecting them and signing them off we would just be perpetuating the problem.

 

[JohnHarrison]

It is not permitted by Gas Safe Register for unqualified people to fit boilers, flues and gas pipe and then someone registered to come along separately and sign it off.

Will you please point to the law that says so?

 

[ollski]

It is not permitted by Gas Safe Register for unqualified people to fit boilers, flues and gas pipe and then someone registered to come along separately and sign it off.

Will you please point to the law that says so?

There isn't one, building control will happily approve your own handiwork.........for a substantial fee.

 

[PullerGas]

Did you get a Completion Certificate from your LABC?? Most LABC inspectors ask for both Boiler Benchmark & Unvented Cylinder Benchmark before they'll issue a completion certificate, well, that's certainly the case here in Scotland.

Your Building Contractor should've ensured that, or his work is incomplete.

I take it you had a Building Warrent for the work??

 

[JohnHarrison]

It is not permitted by Gas Safe Register for unqualified people to fit boilers, flues and gas pipe and then someone registered to come along separately and sign it off.

Will you please point to the law that says so?

There isn't one, building control will happily approve your own handiwork.........for a substantial fee.

Don't they send around a Gas Safe man who is on their "approved" list to inspect. They do that with unvented cylinders, by sending out a G3 man. They do not have their own men as such. A Building Control Officer can sign an unvented cylinder off and they do. They do it when selfbuilders install their own unvented cylinders. The BCO man is being paid for by the selfbuilder.

What I have seen on a number of clustered new builds is that unregistered men fit all, rads, pipes, boilers, flues, unvented cylinders, etc. They are just bits of metal until commissioned. They fill up with water and put in the X-100 in the radiators. Most installations are the same in each house, so easy after the first. NO heat is applied to the unvented cylinder. They cap off the gas pipe at the meter position and install a test nipple on the pipe at the boiler. They air test the gas installation, then cover over the pipes in screed, etc. The BCO signs off the unvented, not a G3 man. The Gas supplier fits the meter and tests with gas in the pipes. A Gas Safe man commissions and signs off the boiler.

 

[simond]

When you have witnessed this work from start to completion, in what capacity were you on site?

 

[Agile]

As far as I can tell from the legislation, unlike gas work, there is nothing to prevent any G3 person from commissioning and registering an unvented which he has not fitted.

Tony