Gas Rules
My boiler started playing up on me at the weekend. I had to get a maintenance guy from enquiries, with all the worry that that entails – will they be safe and reliable? Will they overcharge me? This got me thinking about my last trip to London, and how my friend had similar problems with her boiler. She knew to only use an engineer that was registered with the Council for Registered Gas Installers. This organisation sets an industry standard to which all British maintenance engineers must legally conform. What a great idea!
CORGI was founded in 1970 to protect the public from untrained gas installers. Unqualified gas installers are at best a nuisance and a waste of money, and at worst a serious danger to life. CORGI was initially set up as a voluntary register to promote quality and consistency of standards throughout the industry, as a safeguard against cowboys, and as a way to restore public faith in gas engineers.
As CORGI’s reputation for quality control grew, the badge became the first thing to look for when seeking a tradesman. By the end of the nineties, it was a legal requirement for anyone installing or repairing gas fittings and appliances to register with CORGI. The Health & Safety Executive charged CORGI with the task of regulating gas workers under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 Act. As part of their registration, engineers must hold a certificate from the Accredited Certification Scheme, which ensures they are a professional and safety conscious tradesmen. There are currently 55,000 CORGI registered businesses.
With over 30 years experience, CORGI is the leading authority on gas safety issues and maintenance, and also provides information and support for plumbing, electrics and other trades.
If you’re looking for a new boiler, make sure the person you call out to do the work is registered with CORGI. If they’re not, then they are committing a criminal offence by undertaking any installation. When they come to your door, ask to see their CORGI identification card. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a gas worker, don’t entrust something as important as the safety of your home and family to them. Instead, use a reputable, established company such as British Gas. Alternatively, CORGI can help you find an installer.