Can i service my own boiler if am not gas safe registered

[obseen16]

there actually is a definition of "competent" in the gas regs, the definition goes something like - Qualified and a member of the governing body (meaning gas safe). well thats how i read it and thats how my GS inspector interpreted it aswell.

 

[Rob Sale]

An average price is around 60-90 quid but some do charge less for a service.

 

[tamz]

Being a member of gas safe has little to do with being competent. There are some parts of the gas industry which ACS do not cover (above 2 bar) so there are no formal recognised competencies. I think these parts of the industry are a bit more serious than 20mb but there is not enough demand (profit) to offer any. The system is totally flawed in anycase. Anyone with enough cash to spare can be deemed competent.
A fresh faced banker with a few grand to spare could pass his ACS in a few weeks. Does that make him competent? I think not (and neither does he) but pay another few hundred to register and he is legal and having spent his cash he is supposed to know what he is doing without having ever opened a boiler or even screwed one on the wall.
Pass the buck. That is the true definition of competent as far as the HSE are concerned if the brown stuff hit the fan.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a FGA to service a boiler (other than band A's) IF you are competent with a big if.

Bit of a rant but i am on the Macallan's tonight.

BTW to the op don't even attempt it unless you are competent :lol:

 

[Dannypipe]

Tamz, I totally respect your opinion....but if the OP was a banker who had spent £4K to get ACS qualified, then I would say, go ahead and service your boiler. I say this because as a new comer he would have had to produce a portfolio of work (time spent with an experienced engineer).

Not ideal I know, but at least trained to some degree.

 

[tamz]

if the OP was a banker who had spent £4K to get ACS qualified, then I would say, go ahead and service your boiler. I say this because as a new comer he would have had to produce a portfolio of work (time spent with an experienced engineer).

I would say he would be better phoning a mate because he wouldn't have a clue how to even get the case off. These courses teach very little.

 

[REDSAW]

put it this way...

if you lived alone in a caravan in the middle of no where, you can do what you like.
if you killed yourself, blew the van up or whatever it would result at the inquest as tough titties.

now do it in a house, in a street, with the missus and kids present or even dammage to next doors fence. your rse would leave a skid mark all the way to the county court and you will be looking to do time.
biggest danger is reading between the lines.imo.
sure, your choice, have fun.

 

[tamz]

tough (edit)jugs.

lol :wink:

 

[Reg Man]

Difficult to believe this debate is still going on, as we have been working under this registration requirement since 1991.

Competence: A person with relevant training, qualification and experience to carry out the nature of work safely. (ACS was introduced to help you proove this) With out it you will have a hard time prooving this in court) Thanks Danny Pipe for your like minded comment.

Gas work: if you are employed of self employed to carry out gas work you must be registered with the approved body (Gas Safe Register). This includes wether you do it for free or get paid for the work.

DIY: Most DIY people will be unable to proove competence (Where's their ACS certificate?) It may be that you are a gas registered engineer for the company you are employed with, but not as an individual; therefore you can do gas work at home because you hold an ACS cert for the work you wish to undertake.

All this information is available within the ACOP document for the gas safety (installation& use) regulations.

 

[Puddle]

Worst comes to worse and something happens ,if you find yourself in court, unlikely you will prove yourself competent probably just that you are incontinent
:ihih:
imho

 

[tamz]

incontinent

You can get pants for that which may hide your shame but i don't think they will impress a judge :lol:

 

[Reg Man]

Constructive advice if you have not got ACS and Gas safe and end up in court. Wear a pin stripe wet suite with bicycle clips.

 

[mutley racers]

Wow guys, such a large response. Awesome. In all these replies i can find what i am looking for. I know it is a touchy subject for all.

I have been Plumbing for just over 3 years now and trained with a gas engineer. I have sat most of my acs exams apart from the practical part as i am still collecting evidence for fires. But i shall finish the practical hopefully this month if i get some free time.

But, to sign up for registration and to buy the FGA is a lot of money, which i will not be able to buy until next year.

I have just moved area to, so am not able to use my old boss's equipment.

Regards

Mutley

 

[bob the plumber]

i wish you, your wife, children and lovely neighbours all the best with your DIY boiler service 🙂 unless you live in a caravan on your own in the middle of nowhere, in which i would say 'go for it!!!!' the only person you can kill is yourself 🙂 lol

 

[mikegas]

Wow guys, such a large response. Awesome. In all these replies i can find what i am looking for. I know it is a touchy subject for all.

I have been Plumbing for just over 3 years now and trained with a gas engineer. I have sat most of my acs exams apart from the practical part as i am still collecting evidence for fires. But i shall finish the practical hopefully this month if i get some free time.

But, to sign up for registration and to buy the FGA is a lot of money, which i will not be able to buy until next year.

I have just moved area to, so am not able to use my old boss's equipment.

Regards

Mutley

not competent just yet then mate

 

[REDSAW]

tell you what muttley,

i had the same chat with my assessors when i was doing my acs a couple of weeks before completing it.

casually mention to them that you have just serviced your own boiler(actually i just gas rated my mums and sisters boilers for practice) and see what they say, get a back up assessor before you do mind, if they are as keen as mine.lol.

 

[mutley racers]

cheers guys. I like all the constructive criticism. I shall just wait until i am registered then. If i have something go wrong with my boiler, i can contact one of the 27 Gas Safe Engineers that live within a mile of my house!

Thanks guys

It is much appreciated

 

[sanddobber]

Resolute has given the definitive answer. thats pretty much what gas safe said to me a while back

 

[Resolute]

Resolute has given the definitive answer. thats pretty much what gas safe said to me a while back

Thank you - not often I'm right (not according to the misses anyway)!

 

[SimonJohns]

Tbh. I do really care if you want to service your own boiler

Many people break the law everyday

If you wish to service it. Go ahead

Void your house insurance
Potentially risk your life and family's life. And neighbours.

But don't worry too much. You may be out when the house explodes and kills people. But you'll be fine

I hear they sell soap on the rope inside

 

[kirkgas]

OR does the court have to prove your incompetent thats a whole lot harder to prove....

it wont be that hard for the court to prove, the mere fact you are in court must mean something has happened which by definition will almost prove you are incompetant, there are 1000's of jobs done every day by people with no quals etc and if nothing goes wrong nobody knows or cares