just double checking on gas laws

hello,
im about to do a self-build,and have read through quite a few posts on the subject of non corgi installers,but have got slightly confused by some of the replies,so if a corgi qualified engineer can reply to these quick queries,i would be most appreciative-i want to work within the law,but more importantly,safely;
1-one of the posts said that if you ring the manufacturer,they will send the local installer of their kit to comission-seems fair-if he gets a good rate for the job,everyone is happy.but what i want to know is;the post i read said he would commission,but would not get involved with the pipework-surely it is only ok for me to fit hot and cold,condensate and flow and return-so who does the pipe to the nearest gas run? that would mean breaking into gas pipe,then putting a water gauge on to check,and purging,and whatever else is involved? or is it ok for me to prepare the pipe up to the boiler,ready to connect-and at the other end,up to where the gas is to be cut into,and he will connect the gas supply to the boiler?
ive asked corgi-as one post suggested-they just quote different regulations,probably someone simply going from a pre-printed sheet as opposed to CLEARLY saying - you CAN do this,that etc., but MUST NOT do x,y,z-thats all i want,but my next query,also quite straightforward,got a "flues must be fitted in accordance with regs x,y,z,1b,etc;
i simply asked-when i install my boiler-which the shed has said they can legally supply,along with the flue,according to the manufacturers instructions-especially with regard to flue termination-im going out through a side wall with nothing within 2 metres-windows,doors,facing walls,anything;all i want to know is-i intend to put the boiler in an airing cupboard on the first floor,and would like the flue to run between two joists,so i dont have to box in.the floor above is floorboards,so they could be removed if there was a need to get access,replace,etc.
is this ok? its a condensing boiler,so flue temp is low-itsa plastic flue,so i cant see combustion being a problem ? and out of interest,would a non-condensing flue cause any problems,legal or technical?
it doesnt seem like rocket science,but the waffle they gave me-my brother built a car,and had a hundred and one questions,and the government body he dealt with answered qucikly,and in laymans terms-saying things like-"in order to comply with reg so and so,you need to do this" or "you need specialist equipment to do that-and certain qualifications,so dont touch it-car air-con.

sorry for waffle-if i wasnt to such a tight budget,i would get someone to do the lot-but that isnt happening,so i would appreciate your advice.
once again,please only reply if you are corgi reg-i know there are people out there who have fitted these for years,but i dont want well-meaning but incorrect advice causing me more delays and stripping out and refitting.
thanks to all

You definitely can't cut into your existing pipe or break into the gas supply in any way and most engineers would say you cannot install any part of your boiler (corgi do), especially the flue. If you do no-one will come in and connect your gas because they will then be responsible to the entire installation which, in order to be properly checked, will most likely need to be half ripped back out. Not sure how you intend to size the supply pipe to the boiler that is your main problem, it's just not worth doing it yourself for the fairly simple job it is for an installer.

Not sure I follow the flue idea, why not download the installation guide to see if what you intend is permiisable, main problems with getting the correct rise in the flue for condensing boilers and the length.

If I was to fit radiators on walls and install all the water pipework for a combi but not put the boiler on the wall, fit any gas pipework or do anything with a flue would a corgi registered plumber be happy to fit the boiler, run the gas pipework and attach the flue and then commisson the whole system?

puzzbah, this'll irritate you, as I'm not corgi registered. But what you must have is an installation document from the installer, or from the building control department before ANYONE can commission it. This is a legal necessity to comply with building regs.


Peter anderson, it would be better if you started your own thread, (they're free), and hyjacking someone elses makes it confusing when the thread gets longer.

peter anderson said:

If I was to fit radiators on walls and install all the water pipework for a combi but not put the boiler on the wall, fit any gas pipework or do anything with a flue would a corgi registered plumber be happy to fit the boiler, run the gas pipework and attach the flue and then commisson the whole system?

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I wouldn't do it because I don't want phonecalls every day about the trv's banging, air in the system, leaks etc. You may not do that but how would I know?.
I would happily do a boiler swap if I could see the existing system working (after a powerflush).

hi,
thanks to oilshi and others for quick reply-but i think i should clarify-
all i intend to do is attach the boiler to the wall,connect the non-gas pipework to it,and the 240v.
the flue length will not be a problem,nor rise of flue from the boiler.
i dont understand about a commissioning engineer having to "rip back half the installation"-why? to check its on the wll correctly? because,apart from non-gas piping,thats the only work i would do,besides the flue,which being visible,not boxed in,will be as easy to inspect as it would if it were having a yearly safety check and service-actually easier,as it wont be boxed in.
there is no mention in any of the boiler install manuals that ive looked at prohibiting running flue under the floorboards,in line with the joists,between floors,but just because it isnt mentioned doesnt mean corgi forbids it-thats what im trying to ascertain-i dont want the position of commissioning engineer saying he cant do it because flue is wrongly sited,and that because its not mentioned in install manual,its ok...

i saw posts where gas engineers said they would be happy to commission properly installed boillers,as long as the authorities had been notified,proper paerwork was issued,and that no gas work had been touched,and that they would put their name in the commmissioning box on the benchmark book,with whoever installed it putting their name in the appropriate box.
so now-im still as confused!
i understand some engineers saying they personally wouldnt commission a per-hung boiler,so i would have to find one who would-but that wouldnt be hard-a diy shop 2 miles from me offers cheap central heating installs,and he uses a corgi engineer to commission his boilers,afetr his heating installer has fitted the system,so i would approach him.what i want to know,is,if i do this,is it ok?
regards
puzzbahh

hello,again,
have looked on corgis website and it states diy gaswork is dangerous and MAY be illegal.
see what i mean-if they aren't saying it IS illegal,and they are the governing body,how is someone like me,or a lot of corgi engineers,judging by posts to this site,know what they can and cant do.

some other posts on this site

marlow wrote-we charge £100 to commission a boiler,and extra for the gas supply to boiler.-he is corgi, so obviously wouldnt do anything that might put him at risk

tayndo writes-anyone can install,but cannot run the gas supply

yet another,on this same site says they would charge about £200 to commision a part-installed combi.

so-all corgi-and from corgis own site,they all appear to be right- i take corgi stating "may be illegal" to be totally different from "IS illegal"-just like give way means you do not have to stop- a stop sign means you HAVE to stop.

it might be easier if a solicitor decided to make the £100k the papers say you all make a year, and he looked at the wording-he might be able to persuade corgi to put a simple list of what is or isnt allowed-other posts have asked the question-can i change the pump in my boiler-or is this "working on a gas appliance" ?
another one-is a qualified electrician,fitting the 240v and signal from sensors,breaking the law if he goes in the next day,and takes the cover off to connect the electrics?
last point on this issue-can any of you corgi engineers tell me of a plumber,or diyer who has been prosecuted for this? i dont mean for a dangerous installation-thats fair enough-but simply for the offence of installing,then getting a corgi engineer to test+commission? because if this is simply another regulation that has no teeth,i will go ahead-there are loads of "heating and plumbing" companies in my yellow pages offering heating installation-with no corgi number.
ps-unless someone can give a definitive answer,it seems to me that a lot of corgi engineers are missing well paid work-offering to commission,on the strict understanding that they are NOT listed as the installer,building control has signed it,and that they are ONLY responsible for the gas supply to it,and commissioning-if the system throws a heating,noise,etc wobbly,that is their installers problem-not theirs. instead of people getting a "mate" to do it,then dying because he fitted it wrong,but couldnt find a corgi person to test/commission it,the corgi engineer would catch the faults,and stop the appliance being used-garages doing mots let you use others for repairs-they are happy to get the test fee-and,just like a car that failed its mot-you engineers would most likely be given to you-the expert-especially when the faults are explained to be dangerous-would you bring a car back to a garage that prepared it for mot and left it in a lethal condition? so you would get the testing/commissioning fee,the repair work-AND potentially save lives-which is meant to be the purpose of corgi,after all.

seems to be a lot of bother with this subject but here goes. As i understand it you as a house holder can do what you want as a diy er including gas work,boilers building work or wiring as long as its in your own home. thats the law. if it blows up , tough. if you fit in a house which you do not live in or do not own then that is a criminal offence. my advice is pay a pro to do all the work .

uncleben said:

seems to be a lot of bother with this subject but here goes. As i understand it you as a house holder can do what you want as a diy er including gas work,boilers building work or wiring as long as its in your own home. thats the law. if it blows up , tough. if you fit in a house which you do not live in or do not own then that is a criminal offence. my advice is pay a pro to do all the work .

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and if the explosion takes out next door while you are out or your friends die in a co poisoning incident while you nip to the shops the hse will say ok it was your house