IS IT LEGAL TO DIY GAS- FAQ

[petit_pablo]

Competency is proven by passing ACS assessment.

It isn't at all. Competency is not defined in law. You have been told countless times.

Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS)
ACS Certificates of Competence are only issued by Certification Bodies that conform to ISO.17024 and have been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). ACS Certificates of gas safety competence are valid for a maximum of 5 years.

 

[Bahco]

It is the same drivel each time this comes up. Round and round and rounds. Do a search.

CHANGE THE RECORD PLEASE!

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLAIMS NEEDED PLEASE!

 

[doitall]

And after 5years and 1minute your a stupid incompetent moron that hasn't a ferkin clue. Get real.

If you drive your car from A to B without mishap you are competent, if you hit a bridge on the way then you're not competent.

 

[WDIK]

Hi DD

I am not looking for opinions whether self interested or not!

I would like the legal definition i.e Corgi's or HSE's stance and links to statements etc so that people will know how they stand legally.
I hope this topic will stay civil and conclusive.

Thanks

My god Bacho you sooo polite

anyway while dribble is of tying him self in knots and trying to see if he can download some phoney qualifications to flutter in our faces


Bacho there are 119 articles on the hse site mainly discussion documents,

HSE on diy gas
Im not going to wade through them but one did catch my eye, page 6

go to page six

 

[giblets]

I have to agree with Drivel that there is no legal definition of "competent" but this is generally taken to mean someone who is qualified and experienced in carrying out such work.

I cannot see how most DIY'ers carrying out gas work could meet this criteria so therefore it must be deemed that they are not competent and therefore, by definition, working illegally.

 

[ChrisR]

Sure, so if you're competent, you'd pass a competency test, obviously!
Is there more to it than asking whether you would pass or not??

 

[nickso]

but at the moment no one is asking diyer's to prove their competency.

 

[ChrisR]

That doesn't mean they CAN do WORK if they're INcompetent, though.

Drivel's attitude is that DIY'ers can do work unless they do something incompetent, which is clearly rubbish. Most of the time they wouldn't know what they were doing.

 

[nickso]

That doesn't mean they CAN do WORK if they're INcompetent, though.

Drivel's attitude is that DIY'ers can do work unless they do something incompetent, which is clearly rubbish. Most of the time they wouldn't know what they were doing.

i agree, if they are incompetent then they shouldnt do it, the problem is that there is currently no one and no way to prove that they are either competent or incompetent without incurring a cost that isnt going to attract any diyer's. the only way they are likely to show that they are incompetent is if they make a mistake big enough to cause damage or injury. how do they prove their competence? take the ACS? not likely to happen in the real world is it?

 

[Breesey]

Competence is proved by your actions[/] - what you do. It is not a precursor. Got it? Nah you haven't as you are only thinking of money.

'Actions' may well be the ultimate demonstration of competence but in an attempt to ensure some kind of standard, and come back if needed, it is clearly obvious why anybody working on gas should be registered and, thereby, prove their competance. The HSE guidance note concerning work on gas appliances does say that to be unregistered "is likely to be illegal."

Of course it is possible that a complete numpty could fiddle with a broken down boiler, get it working and profess how competant he is. He has not proved competance just that he managed it. It is also possible that an RGI could work on the same boiler and then that boiler blows up 2 days later taking next door with it. He has not proved his incompetance (necassarily).
Indeed registration does not infur competence but it does extend a certain protection to the public who may be affected by the incompetant actions of someone apparently otherwise. That is why such a dim view is taken of those caught working, unregistered, on gas appliances. If that does not put a certain, obvious meaning on the word competance then you are really thinking too much - or maybe you are just being argumentative.

Maybe, without showing us your CORGI card if you have one (god forbid ) you could prove beyond doubt that you are competant to work on gas appliances, rather than just repeating the fact that all the law says is that you should be and telling us you are.

 

[GasMan1965]

Hmmmm I went to a DIY gas job recently and found numerous compression fittings below floorboards and a capped end in speedfit ,,, was he competent???

 

[nickso]

Hmmmm I went to a DIY gas job recently and found numerous compression fittings below floorboards and a capped end in speedfit ,,, was he competent???

no, was his neighbour competent?

 

[GasMan1965]

Hmmmm I went to a DIY gas job recently and found numerous compression fittings below floorboards and a capped end in speedfit ,,, was he competent???

no, was his neighbour competent?

?? Explain ??

His excuse was he'd had a cowboy out to fit a fire but after the installation was worried bout it so called me

 

[gasacs]

That doesn't mean they CAN do WORK if they're INcompetent, though.

Drivel's attitude is that DIY'ers can do work unless they do something incompetent, which is clearly rubbish. Most of the time they wouldn't know what they were doing.

i agree, if they are incompetent then they shouldnt do it, the problem is that there is currently no one and no way to prove that they are either competent or incompetent without incurring a cost that isnt going to attract any diyer's. the only way they are likely to show that they are incompetent is if they make a mistake big enough to cause damage or injury. how do they prove their competence? take the ACS? not likely to happen in the real world is it?

Unless they held an appropriate plumbing qualification and could prove they have up to 70 days auditable work working with gas alongside a registered Corgi Engineer they would not be able to sit the ACS exams..

 

[doitall]

whatdoiknow.

That was a discussion documement that is now 8 years old.

It is neither Pertinent or relevant, to DIY gas or gas safety