Should I register with Gas Safe?

[armyash]

Hi everyone,

For those of you who know my current situation (ACS qualified but inexperienced, although working weekends). Do you think it would be a good idea to become GSR?

If I give them a call are they likely to be understanding that I am still in the army so not actually doing gas jobs myself just yet or are they likely to tell me to register when I am doing my own work? I'm not aware of any disadvantages to registering now apart from paying out but not using it. I can live with this and at least I can do the odd job for friends and family.

I had a look at the website and I'd obviously be on a probation period where they would come and inspect my work. Do they want to see me working or would they go to look at my work after it's been done?

I'm going to call them tomorrow anyway and see what they say but just wanted a heads up on what is likely to happen so I am better prepared.

Thanks

 

[diamondgas]

If you have the qualifications and tick all the boxes Ash, Go for it! They can't refuse! Regards inspection, I guess that's down to their criteria? I'd imagine they'd like to check out the newly qualified or registered before those more established 🙂

 

[Barry98]

They'd love your money ash, but IMHO id wait til your flying solo

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i agree with bod, wait until you start properly

 

[dancinplumba]

they come out and look at your work in the first year

 

[armyash]

Thanks so far, how about if the guy I'm working for allowed me to do a couple of his gas jobs myself to be inspected, would that work?

 

[dancinplumba]

would have to be your jobs with your number me thinks

 

[mikegas]

Thanks so far, how about if the guy I'm working for allowed me to do a couple of his gas jobs myself to be inspected, would that work?

you dont have to of done any of your own jobs, you can just service a few appliances your own or friends etc

 

[dancinplumba]

you dont have to of done any of your own jobs, you can just service a few appliances your own or friends etc

are they then not his jobs in a way ? he has to put his number to them ? no offence

 

[anz]

After you've registered with them, they will send out your documents and card. You will initally be put on probation, this means that every job you do, you have to record.

Within 3 months your local inspector will want to see prefreably 3 jobs that you have completed, you have to be present and arrange with your customers access. He will ask you to talk him through the jobs and ask you to carry out some tasks, e.g service fire/boiler, tightness test, gas rate etc. He will also ask you lots of questions.

Depending on how you perform and answer the questions, he will either take you off probation or leave you on probation and revist you at a later date.

The work has to be your own, registered through your own business, or you can service a friends fire or boiler as stated above.

Personally I would say don't get registered just yet, there is no point. You'll be a lot better off doing it when your on your own and more confident and habe got jobs on the go.

 

[diamondgas]

Chomping at the bit eh? lol

Take ya time mate and learn the trade IMHO ... Many have set out on their own only to fall foul of lack of experience! If you have the opportunity to gain experience at someone else's expense then go for it! 🙂

 

[mikegas]

are they then not his jobs in a way ? he has to put his number to them ? no offence

not if he hasnt serviced them before the inspection. Obviously once hes serviced them as part of the inspection they are

 

[armyash]

After you've registered with them, they will send out your documents and card. You will initally be put on probation, this means that every job you do, you have to record.

Within 3 months your local inspector will want to see prefreably 3 jobs that you have completed, you have to be present and arrange with your customers access. He will ask you to talk him through the jobs and ask you to carry out some tasks, e.g service fire/boiler, tightness test, gas rate etc. He will also ask you lots of questions.

Depending on how you perform and answer the questions, he will either take you off probation or leave you on probation and revist you at a later date.

The work has to be your own, registered through your own business, or you can service a friends fire or boiler as stated above.

Personally I would say don't get registered just yet, there is no point. You'll be a lot better off doing it when your on your own and more confident and habe got jobs on the go.

Thanks for that, pretty much all I needed to know.

 

[mikegas]

Chomping at the bit eh? lol

Take ya time mate and learn the trade IMHO ... Many have set out on their own only to fall foul of lack of experience! If you have the opportunity to gain experience at someone else's expense then go for it! 🙂

:iagree:

 

[armyash]

Chomping at the bit eh? lol

Take ya time mate and learn the trade IMHO ... Many have set out on their own only to fall foul of lack of experience! If you have the opportunity to gain experience at someone else's expense then go for it! 🙂

🙂 haha I can't help it. You are right, as well as others who have also said to wait until I am ready to go it alone. May have been getting a little bit ahead of myself! lol

If it was a matter of registering, then they inspect your work as and when I am able to get the jobs that would be ideal but If they need to inspect jobs within a certain time frame then that's pressure I can do without!

 

[armyash]

If you have the qualifications and tick all the boxes Ash, Go for it! They can't refuse! Regards inspection, I guess that's down to their criteria? I'd imagine they'd like to check out the newly qualified or registered before those more established 🙂

Perhaps wishful thinking on my part!

I'll still call them tomorrow to get it from the horses mouth but won't be doing anything stupid.

 

[diamondgas]

🙂 haha I can't help it. You are right, as well as others who have also said to wait until I am ready to go it alone. May have been getting a little bit ahead of myself! lol

If it was a matter of registering, then they inspect your work as and when I am able to get the jobs that would be ideal but If they need to inspect jobs within a certain time frame then that's pressure I can do without!

Compitence! If you are confident in how your working then you'll have no worries ... These guys aren't out to prove you wrong!! Just work safe!

 

[armyash]

Just spoke to gas safe. I explained my situation and they confirmed it was ok to do the work on friends and families appliances. 4 services and 1 install is required. That would be ok, obviously I need to keep my head in my books and keep revising what I have been taught as I would want to be able to answer any questions without hesitation.

No rush though, now I know what is required that's one more piece of research covered and one less thing to worry about. I'll continue learning on the weekends and go for it when I can do the jobs with confidence. £438 for first time registering, not exactly loose change but cheaper than I expected.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Hi Ash the thing to take into consideration is how optimstic you are that you can get yourself some gas work to justify the outlay, then also factor in how you would feel if someone ask you to say for instance fit a hob or boiler how confident would you be installing them on your own. My view would be maybe do another 3-4 months along side the bloke who you are helping out at the weekend and get your basic procedures nailed down cos if you are inspected after your 3 month probation and you get one wrong they could class you as not yet competant and put you on more probation.

I was on 3 month got my inspection asked to look at three propeties one was cooker/boiler the other just boiler asked me to do basic things gas rate, tightness test, show him i understood my analyser carry out visual inspection on two fires checked i had all relevnat paperwork service sheet warning sheet labels etc and after second property was happy and away he went

 

[armyash]

Hi Ash the thing to take into consideration is how optimstic you are that you can get yourself some gas work to justify the outlay, then also factor in how you would feel if someone ask you to say for instance fit a hob or boiler how confident would you be installing them on your own. My view would be maybe do another 3-4 months along side the bloke who you are helping out at the weekend and get your basic procedures nailed down cos if you are inspected after your 3 month probation and you get one wrong they could class you as not yet competant and put you on more probation.

I was on 3 month got my inspection asked to look at three propeties one was cooker/boiler the other just boiler asked me to do basic things gas rate, tightness test, show him i understood my analyser carry out visual inspection on two fires checked i had all relevnat paperwork service sheet warning sheet labels etc and after second property was happy and away he went

I think this is good advice, thanks. Thinking about it I am jumping the gun, I have so much to learn that I don't need the headache of looking for work at the same time. I'm going to take advantage of the position I'm in and learn as much as possible so that I'm competent and confident when doing my own jobs. 3-4 months would be better as I would be closer to leaving the army, going on my courses and it would all tie in together nicely.

If my inspections go as well as yours it'll be a good day! 🙂