The Gas Safe Register
What is the Gas Safe Register?
The Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the official gas registration body in Great Britain and Isle of Man on 1 April 2009. Northern Ireland, however, retains CORGI until April 2010, but will follow the rest of the UK and support the Gas Safe Register, from April 1, 2010. The CORGI gas registration scheme is no longer recognised by law as the Gas Safe register.
The Gas Safe Register is run by the Capita Gas Registration and Ancillary Services Limited, a division of Capita group PLC and has become one of the highest accolades for gas installation businesses looking to prove their capabilities with a recognised quality mark.
All CORGI gas engineers were asked to transfer over to the Gas Safe Register.
Why is the Gas Safe register important?
Only a Gas Safe registered engineer is legally allowed to install gas appliances, boilers, hobs, ovens or fires in your home or workplace. It is important that you only use a Gas Safe registered engineer for any type of gas work, including installation, maintenance and servicing.
If your tradesman is not a member of the Gas Safe Register and they are carrying out work on gas, they are breaking the law and could be putting you and your family at risk. Incorrectly fitted, badly repaired or poorly maintained gas appliances are a major cause of lethal carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and can also lead to gas leaks and explosions.
All 120,000 engineers on the Gas Safe register will have had their gas work inspected and thus are considered safe. Each organisation's management systems will be assessed for safe gas work. This provides confidence that a business has systems in place to support the delivery of safe gas work. It also builds confidence in work managers who are employing certificated businesses and aids tenders.
The Gas Safe Register has a team of inspectors who monitor that gas work is being undertaken competently and safely. They deal with reactive complaints, undertake planned inspections and handle ad hoc requests.
How do I know if my Tradesman is a Gas Safe registered engineer?
You should also ask to see your engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card. Look for the yellow Gas Safe Register triangle, not the orange CORGI registration badge.
In addition, it is worth noting that not all gas engineers are qualified to do all types of gas work. Check what type of work your gas engineer is qualified to do.
For more information you can visit the Gas Safe Register website: www.gassaferegister.co.uk or the Health and Safety Executive Website: www.hse.gov.uk .
Click on this link: To post a job and get a Gas Safety Registered Engineer