Drain off leak/weep.....

[Last Plumber]

I would replace the washer, clean the seating and put a little smear of silicone grease on the face of the washer.

 

[Last Plumber]

I thought I couldn't if I wasn't G3?..

That depends on your level of confidence and competence.

 

[WaterTight]

What, legally? So you can work on things like drain offs on unvented cylinders if you are 'competent' but unqualified?

The job is long gone and I didn't do it so this is just out of curiosity.

 

[Riley]

It’s the whole grey area again isn’t it. What is competent. It’s the same as gas Safe. If they just did away with the ambiguity and said if you don’t have the tickets you can’t work on the appliance then it becomes a legal recourse rather than just one person‘s opinion over another

 

[Last Plumber]

What, legally? So you can work on things like drain offs on unvented cylinders if you are 'competent' but unqualified?

The job is long gone and I didn't do it so this is just out of curiosity.

Read doc G section on workmanship here, then read App doc 7 here and The amendment to doc 7 here. Schedule 4 is here if you need to look at it

Once you have read through that you will know as much as anyone else.

My view is that as long as work is carried out in a professional and 'workman like manner', meets the requirements of all appropriate regulations and standards and notification is made as necessary to BCB's (Building control Body), then it is 'legal'.

However, notifiable work still requires notifying to the BCB and that is much easier if you are a member of a competent persons scheme. There is a lot to be said for the scheme as in effect (and in theory), you have 'proved' your competence upfront!

Ultimately, if you are repairing or maintaining anything, you are responsible for its safety. If you carry out work on an unvented cylinder - even if it is minor - I would say you are most likely to be held responsible for the safety of the cylinder following your visit. It may be possible to prove you are not responsible for any incident involving the cylinder after the fact but it could be difficult and I am sure that insurance companies will wriggle and customers will point the finger regardless of how simple the task. Although the work you carried out 'might' be legal, they will say "you are not qualified" and they would be correct. It is better in my opinion to get the qualification and join the crew. The cost involved in adding another string to your bow it is well worth it. One of the reasons we become qualified at anything is to prove our education and competence on paper. It is also true to say that someone with qualifications and experience (experience being more important in my view) would be likely to spot any issues with an installation they are working on and address them.

Thoughts?