Purge and relight after gas work

[Scott_D]

Am I going too far?
Job today was disconnect a gas cooker and I ended up turning off the boiler.

After I tightness test the gas I 'purge and relight', I would light and visually check a cooker, hob and fire.
Put the boiler into max or hot tap and check flue gasses and take the cover off and look inside.
There was a Worcester junior at this job so I put my analyser around the heat exchanger and was getting 50-100PPM.

A mate of mine says I went too far and its visuals only, no need to remove the cover or analyse.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

It’s one of them I would do the same as your making sure it’s safe to run but some will say fire and fga if in limits fo

 

[Last Plumber]

If the customer didn't request the work you did then yes, you went too far.

If the job was to disconnect a cooker, then I would have tested before and after, purge and re-light, cast the eye over the installation and go.
Chances are your customer on this occasion will think you are thorough and found a fault that could have been dangerous.

Different circumstances, you could be accused of charging for unnecessary work unless you do it for free?

Out of curiosity, why do you go to such lengths?

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

I wouldn't have even taken cover off boiler. Visuals and relight. Done.

 

[Scott_D]

How can you do visuals with the cover on?

 

[Scott_D]

If the customer didn't request the work you did then yes, you went too far.

If the job was to disconnect a cooker, then I would have tested before and after, purge and re-light, cast the eye over the installation and go.
Chances are your customer on this occasion will think you are thorough and found a fault that could have been dangerous.

Different circumstances, you could be accused of charging for unnecessary work unless you do it for free?

Out of curiosity, why do you go to such lengths?

It thought you had to check appliances as part of a purge and relight.
To me that’s light the alliance, check frame picture and sign of incomplete combustion, clearances, signs of distress.
You would need to take the cover off a boiler for this, if there is no visible burner I would analyse.

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

How can you do visuals with the cover on?

Signs of spillage, condition of flue, stability of appliance/location, appliance controls, access to gas isolation etc.

You’re doing too much on a purge and relight, but if it makes you feel better then by all means. But IMO it’s not required and how I’ve always been trained by various trainers.

What you’re doing take it into a service/gas safety check.

 

[Scott_D]

Signs of spillage, condition of flue, stability of appliance/location, appliance controls, access to gas isolation etc.

You’re doing too much on a purge and relight, but if it makes you feel better then by all means. But IMO it’s not required and how I’ve always been trained by various trainers.

What you’re doing take it into a service/gas safety check.

Yeah I does seem like I’m going too far.
The way it was explained to me was if you interrupt the gas supply, you purge and relight so ‘take responsibility’ for each appliance encountered. Cookers, hobs and fires defects are usually obvious. Boiler you can’t see what’s going on without taking off the cover.

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Yeah I does seem like I’m going too far.
The way it was explained to me was if you interrupt the gas supply, you purge and relight so ‘take responsibility’ for each appliance encountered. Cookers, hobs and fires defects are usually obvious. Boiler you can’t see what’s going on without taking off the cover.

Taking cover off, do you then follow the 26.9 checks? As your essentially then breaking the case seal and working on the appliance.

Purge and relight doesn't require you to follow the 26.9 checks, you only need to follow them after installation, servicing or maintenance.

 

[Scott_D]

Taking cover off, do you then follow the 26.9 checks? As your essentially then breaking the case seal and working on the appliance.

Purge and relight doesn't require you to follow the 26.9 checks, you only need to follow them after installation, servicing or maintenance.

Yes I am basically doing a mini gas safety check without filling in the paperwork.
I have already done the tightness test as part of the job and in this scenario there was no longer a cooker and not many gas fires in this area.
9 times out of 10 everything is fine but I have found a few AR situations when I wouldn’t have without taking the cover off.

 

[Last Plumber]

It thought you had to check appliances as part of a purge and relight.
To me that’s light the alliance, check frame picture and sign of incomplete combustion, clearances, signs of distress.
You would need to take the cover off a boiler for this, if there is no visible burner I would analyse.

Re-lighting a boiler is not classed as work. The length you go to from a legal point of view means you have worked on the appliance to my mind. Visual means cast your eye over it to see if anything looks untoward.

e.g. you might look in a room with an open flue'd appliance to see if there is ventilation. You might look at the case of a boiler to see if there are marks around the case to indicate that the case is leaking or that it doesn't fit properly. No-one is expecting you to start working on and testing things. The owner or responsible person is expected to have gas appliances inspected and serviced/tested and maintained regularly enough to ensure their safety.

That's my view on it. Others might see it different.
You are obviously conscientious which is a good trait. I am not having a go. I just think there is no need to go above and beyond the call of duty and doing just that which is necessary doesn't always mean you're cutting corners.

 

[Scott_D]

Always good to get others views on something that isn’t always black and white 👍

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Whilst we're on the subject of grey areas. Does anyone forward date Gas Reports? As in if they aren't due the but the date the next one is due by a year ahead of when the current report expires. (Like your car MOT test). I was told you could do it up to 2 months but no one can ever really give me a proper answer.

I never do and just date it from a year when I come the report. But be nice to see some alternative views on it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

The date the inspection is let’s say 2 months early but the due date next year is the same as last years inspection eg 14 months