Registered Gas Engineer, August 2021 issue

Gas REGISTERED

THE ONLY OFFICIAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

Issue 149 August 2021

What’s cooking in commercial catering?

Unsafe Situations (IGEM/G/11) What you need to know about the updates and changes

Gas Safety Week 2021 How will you use your free supporters’ toolkit?

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER

In this issue

Issue 149 August 2021 14 Survey

Have your say on the future of heat by taking part in an important new survey by HHIC and BEIS

17 The good, the bad and the ugly

21 Letters

How can mandatory water treatment be policed?

24 Flues in voids

04 Gas Safe News

Have you signed up to support Gas Safety Week 2021 yet? The supporters’ toolkit is now available, with a whole heap of materials to help you get involved; Highlights from Gas Safe Register’s At a Glance 2020/2021 report

07 News

Prison for illegal gas fitter who had previous conviction; Safety

28 Technical

Commercial catering standard BS 6173 – how the standard has changed and evolved since it was first published in 1982 campaign warns of summer CO dangers; New hydrogen trials to start in Middlesbrough; Vaillant to make heat pumps in the UK

We take a closer look at the problems caused by chimney/flues in voids – and what to do when you find one – in a real-life example sent in by reader Chris Riley

26 What’s new in the Unsafe Situations Procedure (IGEM/G/11)?

13 News focus

Government faces consumer backlash over its heat pump plans, warns the EUA in new report

Gas Safe’s technical team set out some of the updates and changes

30 Loyalty schemes

36 Training

Know the basics of underfloor heating; Are you ready to work with lowertemperature heating systems?

Competition 5 chances to win one of Drayton’s new Digistat hybrid heating controls with Bluetooth connectivity

What’s in it for me?

33 Large Business Forum

How the representative body helps to drive up gas safety standards for everyone

38 Products

The latest launches from Aqualisa, Drayton, Elco and Worcester Bosch

Win Page 43

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 03

FROM THE EDITOR

Comment

G

as Safe Register’s latest At A Glance report highlights the work that the Register has been doing over the past year. The snapshot also reflects the effects of the pandemic across the Register’s operations – as on everyone else’s.

But during this difficult year, there has also been a great deal of innovation and new ways of doing things. More than 50 gas engineers recently took part in trials to undertake an inspection event virtually, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive – the Register is now analysing the results.

Video technical support was launched, so that when you need on-site support from a Gas Safe technical support officer, you can use your phone to live video stream the installation instead of trying to describe it over the phone.

And Open Channel continued to grow, giving you a way to ask questions and have a conversation with the Register about the topics that matter to you.

You can read some of the other findings of the report on these pages and we’ll bring you more highlights in our autumn editions.

Nicki Shearer, editor

The quickest way to reach the magazine team is via email.

The tools you need to join in with Gas Safety Week T

housands of you have already received your Gas Safety Week supporters’ toolkit.

It’s packed full of goodies that you can use to show your support for the industry’s biggest annual gas safety event – whether it’s the first time you’ve got involved, or you’re a long-time supporter.

You don’t need to be a social media mogul or a web wonder to use the materials in the free toolkit: it contains a wide range of different elements that you can put to work in whatever way best suits you and your business.

Leaflets and posters The Safety Squad are continuing their fight for a gas safe nation

13-19 September 2021 in eye-catching posters and leaflets. The A3 size posters are ideal for putting up on noticeboards or in windows – anywhere where your customers will be. And the leaflets are a great leave-behind reminder too.

Gas Safe Register, PO Box 6804, Basingstoke, RG24 4NB. Email: enquiries@gassaferegister.co.uk, register@gassaferegister.co.uk or technical@gassaferegister.co.uk Managing editor: Scott Darroch scott.darroch@gassaferegister.co.uk Editor: Nicki Shearer editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk News: Jennie Ward news@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Publisher: Peter McCreary publisher@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Technical consultants: Gary Aymes, Carl Banister, David Smith, Jonathan Stirling Production: Mark Turpin Advertising enquiries only: Ian Carter ian@rgemagazine.co.uk The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Gas Safe Register.

The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to it at its absolute discretion and without explanation.

All advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. ABC membership approved 19 March, 2009. Calls to phone numbers starting 084 and 087 cost up to 7p per minute plus your service provider’s charge.

Registered Gas Engineer is written, designed and published by The Team on behalf of Gas Safe Register.

30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ

CIRCULATION:

Jan-Dec 2020

77,332 04 August 2021

Gas Safe Register Gas Safe Register has published its At A Glance report for the year to 31 March 2021. The report highlights the Register’s work during the past year – in which it, like gas engineers themselves, was working in uncharted waters and had to adapt quickly to an ever changing environment.

Chief executive Jonathan Samuel says: “Like everyone else, we had to react quickly and transition our working model during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This unplanned situation and the new environment generated a lot of challenges for us as an organisation, particularly during the early stages.

“Our inspection model had to evolve to the point where we harnessed new technology to deliver aspects of our process virtually. While there are likely

further challenges to come, I remain confident that the steps we have taken during this time of change have laid the foundations for a strong future and made us more resilient.

“We’re happy to have continued with most planned initiatives in a virtual environment – such as our Open Channel sessions for registered engineers – while looking at the development of new techniques that will help us to deliver inspections more effectively in a post-COVID world.

“While we’re anticipating that 2021-22 will continue to be a period of stabilisation, we’re confident that our new ways of working, along with our other learnings from COVID, will enable us to deliver a stronger Register for the future.”

Logos and images There’s a huge variety of pictures for you to use – whether you want to focus on the Safety Squad, images of the Gas Safe ID card, or a library of photos of gas engineers, customers and gas appliances in use in the home and at places of work. Also in this set are top tips that are ready-sized and designed specifically for you to use on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Web banners Adding a banner to your website couldn’t be simpler. With a wide variety of formats and styles, the banners are quick to upload and are a simple but professional addition to your online presence.

Social media updates A social media post every day during Gas Safety Week is a snappy way to show your support, and make sure that gas safety messages stay top of mind with your followers.

The toolkit contains a series of pre-written updates and images for you to use during the week, so you’ll never run out of things to say.

Articles and press releases Articles that you can add to your own website are full of tips to help your customers stay safe and are an effective way to refresh your own online content to stay topical, relevant and professional. And you can send a press release to your own local media to let them know what you are doing to support the week: the kit contains a template that you can personalise for your business, along with instructions on how and where to send it.

Don’t have much time?

If you’re short of time but want to show your support, why not download the Quick Kit? This contains some of the most useful key materials and a few quick and simple ideas to get you started.

If you’re looking for ideas, why not read last year’s report to see how other people around the industry joined in?

You can download the report at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/ gassafetyweek/about/previous-gas-safety-weeks/

Get involved and receive your own toolkit at

www.GasSafetyWeek.co.uk

at a glance 2020/21 79,390 registered businesses

6,729 new businesses

22,366 inspections carried out

12,565 registered businesses inspected

3,636

previously unseen businesses inspected

“It has provided an opportunity for us to look at innovative ways of providing our inspection service going forward.”

Bob Kerr, Gas Services Director

Share your unsafe gas experiences Gas Safe Register is looking for people who have experienced the consequences of unsafe gas work to help create case studies that will be shown during Gas Safety Week, raising awareness of its dangers.

Have you or your customers suffered from CO poisoning, a gas escape or another kind of gas-related incident?

Sharing your experience with Gas Safe Register could really help other people to avoid unsafe gas incidents in the future.

If you or your customers can help, please email GSRPR@kindredagency.com

by Monday 16 August 2021 to find out more.

You can read the full report at: www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/media/3117/gas-safe-at-a-glance-lr-web.pdf www.gassaferegister.co.uk 05

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | GAS SAFE REGISTER NEWS

Jail for illegal gas fitter who had previous conviction A non-registered builder has been sent to prison for nine months after he fitted a gas boiler in a home he was building – despite having been convicted previously of illegal gas work.

Michael Smithers, who was self-employed and traded under the name Bournemouth & Verwood Builders, left the boiler installation At Risk in the new-build home.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Mr Smithers, from Verwood, was contracted to carry out the construction of a house in the New Forest between 2017 and June 2018, which included the installation of new gas appliances.

Mr Smithers fitted a new gas

boiler but the homeowner subsequently experienced problems. They contacted Gas Safe Register, whose investigations officer classified the installation as At Risk.

Lapsed engineer failed to seal boiler flue

Safety campaign warns of summer CO dangers Brits are being warned of the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning during the summer months through a new Carbon Monoxide Safe4Summer campaign.

The campaign by the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) is raising awareness of the risks of CO poisoning associated with barbecues, wood and coal burners, and LPG. Brits are investing in garden and outdoor living spaces this summer, and campsite bookings have soared by 500 per cent.

Many families are renting caravans and boats for the first time because their usual foreign

The HSE investigation found that Mr Smithers was not Gas Safe registered nor competent when he carried out the work.

He had also been convicted of illegal gas work in 2014.

Michael Smithers of Nightingale Close, Verwood, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(1) and 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation plus £12,529 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Nicola Pinckney said: “Mr Smithers conducted gas work while he was not competent to do so and whilst not Gas Safe registered.

“Given his previous conviction, this defendant should have been fully aware of what the law requires to protect the public.”

holidays are off the cards due to Covid restrictions.

The campaign highlights the risks that CO can pose at some campsites, holiday homes, and summer events. For example, barbecues should never be brought indoors. APPCOG is also urging people to take a CO alarm with them on holiday in the UK this year.

The campaign brings together parliamentarians with charitable organisations, public bodies, gas distribution networks, and the wider industry to raise awareness of the risks, as well as focusing on the safe use of outdoor heating and cooking equipment.

Clarification: landlords’ gas safety checks In our June article Landlords’ gas safety checks and records, we stated that any defect identified should be recorded.

We would like to clarify that only safety defects that have been identified should be recorded.

A lapsed gas engineer has received a community order for carrying out gas work and falsely claiming to be Gas Safe registered.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that, between 1 October and 25 November 2018, Paul Chappells carried out gas work at two homes in Hyde and Poynton.

He replaced a gas fire and capped off the supply at the property in Poynton, and replaced a boiler at the property in Hyde.

However, a Gas Safe Register investigations officer found that the boiler work was At Risk because the flue had not been sealed, risking carbon monoxide poisoning.

The HSE investigation found that Mr Chappells was not registered despite his social media account stating that he

was. He had been registered in his previous employement.

Mr Paul Chappells of Withington, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(7), 26(1) and two counts of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to a community order of 250 hours of unpaid work of 18 months duration, 15 rehabilitation activity days, and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

To report illegal gas work please call 0800 408 5577 or go to www.GasSafeRegister. co.uk/reportillegal

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 07

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

New hydrogen trials to start in Middlesbrough Middlesbrough is to be home to the latest project gathering evidence on how the gas network could transport hydrogen.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has given the go-ahead for Northern Gas Networks (NGN) to use an area of disused land in the South Bank area to test standard gas network procedures using hydrogen. The site was chosen because around 70 homes were demolished on the land a decade ago but the services are still intact, including gas pipes, which are disconnected from the rest of the network.

The proposal for South Bank is part of the next phase of the H21 project, a major collaborative UK

gas industry hydrogen programme to assess the suitability of the UK’s gas network to carry hydrogen.

NGN chief executive officer Mark Horsley says: “Teesside’s vast industrial heritage and the location of other hydrogen projects in the area, including BP’s plans for hydrogen production, make it a natural home for this project.”

H21 project manager Neil Travers says: “At the site in the South Bank we will be carrying out all our usual day-to-day gas network operations using hydrogen. The work has already been subject to extensive research, but it’s important that it is repeated on an existing gas

Claim rewards with new promotions from Worcester Bosch You can get rewards when you buy Worcester Bosch boilers as part of two new promotional schemes.

You can earn rewards when you purchase, install and register a Greenstar Ri boiler before 31 August, 2021. Once the boiler has been registered through Worcester’s online Excelerate portal, you can claim a £50 voucher code, which can be exchanged for gift cards redeemable at up to 90 retailers including John Lewis, Waitrose, Pizza Express and Spotify.

You can make up to three claims, earning a maximum reward of £150.

In the second promotion, Fit 6, Excelerate members can claim cashback based on the number of additional boilers purchased

and installed between 1 July and 30 November. Each purchase must be registered on your Excelerate account.

You can earn £150 cashback, loaded on to a Worcester Bosch-branded Mastercard, when you buy, install and register three boilers during those five months, or £250 cashback when you purchase, install and register six additional boilers. www.worce ster-bosch.co.uk/ professional/promotions

Target 30 with ATAG Commercial You can claim a gas analyser or Apple watch in ATAG Commercial’s new promotion, Target 30, which runs until the end of 2021 across the XL-F, XL-W and QR Series ranges of gas boilers.

You’ll earn points for each boiler you register with the company’s service department, with one point for every QR Series boiler and three points for each XL-F and XL-W model.

When you reach 30 points, you can claim either a Testo 300 flue gas analyser kit or Apple iWatch 6.

Every warranty must be registered so that the points can be attributed to your account. www.atagcommercial.co.uk 08 August 2021

network to verify our results.”

Demonstrations are due to start from late summer. Once these are completed at the end of the year, NGN will spend around six weeks early in 2022 restoring the site to its current state.

L-R: NGN CEO Mark Horsley, Jacob Young MP, Mary Lanigan, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen

Saint-Gobain sheds Graham Graham Plumbers’ merchant business in the UK has been sold by Saint-Gobain. The specialist distributor for plumbing, heating and sanitary products has around 130 outlets and 840 employees, and turned over 260 million euros (£220 million) in 2020.

The majority of branches, as well as the Graham brand name and website name, will be divested to UK Plumbing Supplies, and a smaller number of branches will be divested to Wolseley.

£3,000 grant to take on an apprentice Employers can take on a plumbing and heating or gas engineering apprentice now and claim a government grant of £3,000, says JTL. The national training provider for electrical and plumbing and heating apprenticeships says those who complete its four-year Level 3 plumbing and domestic heating qualification will have developed the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to plan, choose, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems. The first three years focus on the development of the fundamental plumbing knowledge and skills.

In the final year, the apprentice will take a specialist pathway, usually in gas or environmental technologies.

The gas engineering operative (GEO) qualification

focuses on apprentices developing the skills and understanding needed to safely install, commission, decommission and service and repair gas appliances. This course takes 18 to 30 months to complete, depending on the apprentice’s level of experience.

Product manager Lindsay Talks says: “Not only is there no cost for hiring an apprentice aged 16 to 18 years and only a 5 per cent cost to the employer for an apprentice aged 19 or over, but employers can also currently claim an incentive grant of £3,000. To qualify, the apprentice must have been enrolled between 1 April and 30 September 2021. Now really is the ideal time to take on an apprentice.”

You can find out more at: www.jtltraining.com/ apprenticeships/employers

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Vaillant to start making heat pumps at its Derbyshire HQ Vaillant is to start manufacturing its aroTHERM plus air-to-water heat pump alongside traditional gas boilers at the company’s HQ in Belper, Derbyshire, from 2022.

The company says it has invested in significant research and development on heat pumps, adding that it believes that no single technology will solve the decarbonisation challenge. A combination of hydrogen gas boilers, heat pumps and hybrid systems – along with controls and internet-connected solutions – will be key to meeting the net-zero targets, it says.

Klaus Jesse, managing director of Vaillant Group UK and Ireland, says: “We take our responsibility to support the decarbonisation challenge very seriously.

“Having been at the forefront of research and development of high-efficiency gas appliances, as well as heat pumps, Vaillant is also investing heavily in future hydrogen and green gas technology.

“There will not be one technology that singularly addresses the climate challenge, and it’s important that both the government and the heating

November conference confirmed for Liquid Gas UK The Liquid Gas UK 2021 Annual Conference will be held on 11 November at the Principal York Hotel.

The conference is a high-profile event in the LPG calendar and is attended by key industry figures in the industry as well as business owners, colleagues, and stakeholders, says the organisation.

The theme this year is “UK in Transition” and the conference programme is designed to focus on the significant opportunity presented by the government’s Clean Growth agenda, and the challenges that the industry

needs to meet in order to maximise growth.

Speakers from the UK and abroad, including the government and HSE, will provide insight into innovation, growth sectors, decarbonisation and resilience, says Liquid Gas UK. www.liquidgasuk.org/shop/ events/liquid-gas-uk-annualconference-2021

Aico mobile training units are back Aico’s mobile training and demonstration units are back out on the road. Each of the units, which cover the whole country, is fully equipped for hands-on training, providing a complete overview of the company’s products and technologies, enabling the delivery of its Expert Installer training.

The mobile units also travel throughout the UK in support of key campaigns such as Gas Safety Week, highlighting the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of alarms.

To book an Expert Installer training session, go to www.aico.co.uk/become-an-aico-expert-installer/

industry recognise and educate the market on the benefits of each technology, based on the needs of the customer and the property.”

Business & Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says: “[The] announcement from Vaillant is a significant boost to our plans to kickstart a heat pump manufacturing base in the UK so we can develop a range of new low-carbon technologies, create jobs and meet our all-important target of installing 600,000 heat pumps each year by 2028.” www.vaillant.co.uk/ arothermplus

70% off renewables training vouchers Just over half of the 1,000 vouchers issued to tradespeople to upskill into renewables at a discount earlier this year went unused and have expired, says GTEC Training. But these unused vouchers are now being made available for those looking to broaden their skills base.

The Renewable Heat Installer Training & Support Scheme (RHITSS) offers discounted training and support in heat pump or solar thermal installation, with up to 70 per cent of the costs covered, including training and MCS certification fees.

Managed by Yorkshire-based GTEC and set up in partnership

with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), funding covers renewable qualifications, plus any other pre-requisite courses, such as energy efficiency or hot water systems. Gas engineers can choose to complete a suite of training or just individual qualifications, depending on their specific requirements.

GTEC MD Griff Thomas says: “For existing plumbing and heating engineers, training in the most popular renewable technologies is a great way to futureproof a business.

“At the moment, there are not enough qualified heat pump installers to meet the predicted demand, and upskilling into this and other areas like solar thermal will ensure work for many years to come.

“The modern heating engineer needs to be trained in a range of technologies to meet the more varied requirements of low-carbon buildings. The RHITTS scheme offers an amazing opportunity to do this cost effectively, covering all the necessary qualifications.”

Training is delivered through LCL Awards and BPEC centres. www.rhitss.co.uk www.gassaferegister.co.uk 11

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | NEWS FOCUS

Public can’t afford heat pumps, says EUA Most people could not afford or would not pay to have a heat pump installed in their property, says a new Energy & Utilities Alliance report.

T

he government is facing a consumer backlash over its plans for the mass roll-out of heat pumps to replace gas boilers, according to a report by the Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA).

Its Too Close to Home report found that although consumers support the idea of net-zero targets to combat climate change, they believe the current direction of government policy is unaffordable for them.

Installing heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies could cost £8,000-£14,000, the EUA says, which 80 per cent of people surveyed said was either too expensive and they couldn’t afford (54 per cent), or that they would only pay it with

financial support (26 per cent).

Just 6 per cent were open to absorbing the costs of replacing their gas boilers with low-carbon technologies, even though 59 per cent agreed that decarbonising domestic heating and hot water should be a key focus in delivering the UK’s climate change objectives.

Excessive cost EUA chief executive Mike Foster says: “The key issue here is affordability. The British public wants to do their bit, but the potential cost of the heat pumps is seen as excessive. Many consumers see a new boiler as a major expense, but the installation of a heat pump and associated

equipment, such as hot water tanks, will dwarf this.

“Unless there is a rethink, the government risks a consumer backlash that will have a major impact on our ability to hit the UK’s climate change targets.”

The survey showed that nearly half of homeowners (47 per cent) are unwilling to use their savings to pay for low-carbon technologies; 40 per cent would expect a non-repayable grant to cover the full amount and a further 36 per cent would expect a grant to cover at least some of the cost.

Mike adds: “The British public is sending a clear message that it cannot afford to install heat pumps and make all the surrounding alterations that need

to be made. Any government that attempts to force this through without significant financial support packages will be making a very brave, some would say reckless, decision. It is effectively the poll tax for heating.”

The report also makes clear that consumers expect a choice of energy sources in their home.

Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) want both a gas and electricity connection, despite current government plans to ban gas boilers by 2035. More than 70 per cent would support the development of a low-carbon gas boiler that could be swapped with their existing boiler.

The full report is at eua.org. uk/too-close-to-home/

What did they say? £8,000-£14,000

54%

64%

Cost to install a heat pump

Said they couldn’t afford to pay

Refuse to make changes to their property or say it depends on the cost

40%

6%

73%

Expect a grant to cover the full amount

Would pay to replace a gas boiler in their home

Want to keep their gas and electricity connections

55%

4 in 10

27%

Have removed a hot water tank from their home

Would have a hot water tank reinstalled

Refuse to be without heat and hot water during any installation of low-carbon technologies

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 13

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | SURVEY

Have your say on the future of heat HHIC and the government are asking for your help with a survey to understand the challenges facing gas engineers as the UK aims to become a net-zero economy.

T

he UK was the first major economy to set a legally binding target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Heat in buildings is one of the biggest challenges to reaching this target, accounting for 22 per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s one of the most difficult areas to tackle.

Major changes are needed to the heating industry. It is clear that fossil fuels cannot continue to be used to heat homes (except in a very few exceptions), and there is a range of options facing consumers about how their homes will be heated in future. Heat pumps will play an increasingly important role.

The government’s aim is to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028. And it’s clear that gas engineers are likely to play the biggest role in engaging with householders and installing the technologies.

Delivering this target will require rapid development of a skilled workforce: more than 30,000 heat pump installers will be needed by 2028, according to estimates. As well as heat pumps, demand for skills in low-temperature heating systems,

smart controls and boiler efficiency will also increase.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that heat pumps deliver warmth differently from the 23 million gas boilers currently in the UK’s homes. A number of reports have reflected consumer dissatisfaction with heat pumps, including the findings of the Energy Saving Trust field trials.

Experience from phases one and two of the trials led EST to conclude that “both phases of the trial have shown that the best-performing systems were those deemed to be properly designed and installed”.

Heat pumps are sensitive to design and commissioning, and performance improvement is linked to both the technical and behavioural aspects of how they are used. Certain minimum standards must be applied in order to protect the consumer, the product, the technology, the heating industry – and the ambition to decarbonise heat.

People also need to understand how operate their heat pump properly if they’re going to be able to get the best from their heating system. n www.hhic.org.uk

Please take part in the survey In 2019, HHIC helped the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with a survey of heating system engineers that looked at factors such as age, company size and confidence in working with different technologies.

Now more than ever, the industry and government need to really understand the individual challenges. A new survey aims to look specifically at heat pump installation and training.

By focusing on heat pumps only, engineers can share their views on a range of issues, including: • Working and installation habits • The organisations with which they work • Training and skills • Different technologies • Engaging with customers • The transition to low-carbon heating.

This new survey will help the industry understand the challenges facing the rollout of heat pumps, and plan for their mitigation.

The survey closes on 11 August 2021 – please have your say at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HeatingSystemInstallerSurvey What will be done with the results?

The results will be analysed and made freely available by Gemserv. They will enable the industry to assess business models and approaches to decarbonising buildings based on a better understanding of the views of the heating workforce.

The government and industry will also be able to better understand how ready heating engineers are to engage in the work needed to decarbonise buildings, and develop policies to help those who want to take up the opportunity.

You can see the results of the 2019 survey at: www.gshp. org.uk/pdf/Heating_Installer_Skills_Survey_Summary.pdf

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DIXONS CARPHONE IS HIRING GAS ENGINEERS, NATIONWIDE. With demand increasing fast, the retailer is growing its team.

Across the country, the Dixons Carphone (DC) team visits over 4 million homes a year.

Gas cookers and ranges are a key product line for the company’s Currys brand and, with demand rising, it’s hiring more Gas Engineers, nationwide, to help install customers’ new appliances. However, there is much more to this role than your typical gas fitter job.

INSIDE THE OPPORTUNITY The majority of DC’s delivery team are Driver-Installers. However, the business is focused on helping everyone enjoy amazing technology and, thanks to their specialist skills, Gas Engineers play a really important part in their delivery and installation operation.

What DC does differently is upskill its gas specialists to install other types of technology as well, like the latest smart washing machines and 4K TVs. As a DC Engineer, you get to meet different customers every day. You also enjoy the variety of performing a wide range of

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installation jobs. And, because customers are often excited to get their new products up and running, you earn plenty of thanks for a job well done too.

GETTING YOU ON THE ROAD DC provides new joiners with an immersive induction programme covering all areas of health and safety, plus added installation and hardwiring training. These are skills of real practical use in your job and outside it. Then, you are out on the road, with all your tools provided, and paired up in a team with a Driver-Installer. As new products are launched, you’ll also receive top-up training.

“Working at DC never gets boring.

Each day I’m out and about attending appointments. The most rewarding part is once you’ve made the customer’s day.”

TYRONE, GAS ENGINEER

Getting so many different customers set up with their tech offers genuine job satisfaction. DC also offers a range of benefits, including a quarterly bonus, competitive pension scheme, store discounts and 6 weeks of annual leave (inclusive of bank holiday entitlement).

In terms of hours, shifts operate on a 5 day in 8 rotation. There are also overtime opportunities or the potential to arrange part-time hours. Positions are available in over 19 locations, nationwide.

Dixons Carphone are currently recruiting for Gas Engineers nationwide. To find out more, visit careers.dixonscarphone.com/go/ Gas-Engineers/5051901/

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS

Thegoodthebad+theugly We want your pictures Registered Gas Engineer wants to see your pictures – whether you’ve come across some horrors or instances of really good work.

And there’s a prize for the best one: so go on, get writing and email your stories and pictures to editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk or via Twitter @RGEMag

This month winne ’s r

Graham Wheeler came across this blatant misuse of a chimney liner in a roof space. He made safe following guidance from the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (IGEM/G/11).

Jonny Pocock found plumbing pipe material used on the gas installation pipework. He made safe and replaced the pipework using the correct materials.

Ali Abbasi was horrified to find this boiler in a takeaway restaurant: the chimney was not connected to the boiler correctly and a takeaway menu had been used to discharge the products of combustion to outside. Ali made safe and a new boiler has since been installed.

Steve Sayers was installing a new fire and surround and discovered a rather large pigeon blocking much of the flueway.

Steve removed the obstruction and carried on with the installation.

Sean Foster traced the cause of a reported smell of gas – a cracked piece of pipework buried in the concrete floor.

The pipework has since been replaced.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 17

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS

Thegoodthebad+theugly Jenson Hadley was about to install a kitchen, when he smelled gas. He traced the source to incorrectly capped gas pipework.

Jenson removed and capped the unneeded pipework at a suitable point, using correct fittings.

Robert Speight found a DIY plume displacement kit to divert the products of combustion away from the property’s extension.

Robert made safe and rectified the situation.

Carl Linwood discovered this treasure trove of toys behind the fire when he was on a service visit. The customer’s two-yearold had been using the gap between the fire front and the wall as a toy postbox.

Photo prize

Win

There’s a prize for the best photos sent in (in our opinion).

Please remember to take pictures at high resolution and email them to editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk This month, Anton by Crowcon is giving away a Clip CO personal carbon monoxide alarm – a tough, lightweight, reliable and durable fixed-life, maintenance-free personal CO protection alarm with pocket clip.

The Clip has audible, visual and vibrate alarms at 30ppm and 100ppm, plus a sensor range of 0-300ppm. It has a two-year, maintenance-free fixed life PLUS on-screen life duration countdown, self-test and ingress protection to IP66 and IP67.

Details of the Clip CO alarm and many more products – as well as fast two-day turnaround on FGA servicing – can be found at www.shop.crowcon.com This month’s winner is Ali Abbasi from Glasgow.

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LETTERS

Intouch

Please send your letters, which may be edited, to editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk.

How can mandatory water treatment be policed?

Water treatment to be made mandatory (Registered Gas Engineer, May 2021)? How do you think this can be policed?

I can imagine some of my customers’ reactions when I tell them that when I service the boiler next year, I will have to fit a filter and

maybe flush the system out again, the cost rises from £70 to hundreds – and I know it isn’t needed. I will probably get thrown out and told not to come back, then some fly-by-night will be found to service the boiler and steal my customer.

Filters can only do so much.

I recently spent a couple of days flushing a big house system: a filter would have been a costly job as the cylinder cupboard was tight and the two pipes came straight off the top of the boiler and there was no room.

If you think you can tell householders that they will have to

fork out hundreds of pounds, think again. My systems are properly cleaned and the filter on my own house will be removed in the summer because it has done its job over the past five years and I can have my kitchen cupboard back.

Martin Garside

Drivers needed to support critical CO study Recent studies have shown that the air inside cars can contain dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, approaching, and in some cases exceeding, WHO limits.

Driving on heavily polluted roads exposes passengers to raised levels of CO through the air intake of the car. However, in-car CO exposure depends not just on the quality of air outside the car, but on the performance of systems within the car.

Comparison of in-car CO values and ambient CO indicates that this is likely to be due to internal leakage of exhaust gases rather than simple ingress of external pollution. To date, however, no comparable study has been published in the UK. AirSafe London began investigating this issue in 2018, supported by the CO Research Trust [formerly the Gas Safety Trust] and has carried out two phases of testing to date.

The results so far are concerning: of 26 cars tested, nine showed significantly elevated in-car CO levels.

The public health implications of this are significant, particularly for professionals such as Gas Safe engineers, who spend considerable time driving.

The goal of AirSafe London is to help protect passengers, and to achieve this, they need to test more vehicles to obtain good-quality data. AirSafe London is now looking to recruit companies who would be willing to put monitors into their cars, particularly the cars of professionals who spend a lot of time on the road.

Testing is very simple.

A lightweight self-calibrating device plugs into an iPhone (Androids are not yet fully supported) inside the vehicle.

The results are emailed using an app. Journey logs can be as short as five minutes, or longer if users prefer. The longer the recording time, the more data that can be collected. The testing will need to take place over a two-week period.

The effects of long-term CO exposure are wide ranging and can be devastating.

Your support in helping to eliminate the risk of CO poisoning is much appreciated.

Dr Sophie Duggan, AirSafe London, and Adrian McConnell, CO Research Trust If you would like to take part in this study, please email Dr Sophie Duggan at: drsophieduggan@airsafe.london

No care in care home I recently got called to look at an LPG install on a commercial range cooker in a care home. I noticed a lot of challenges, including the flexible hoses tube out of date, the cylinders not chained to the wall and/or caged, the ECV and AECV obstructed, all vents blocked, a portable fan offering cooling to the chef and the CO and CO2 levels over the roof because there was no interlock with the extractor fan.

There was no higher and lower ventilation, the extractor was not suitable and had no data plate attached to it, and was in a position that any LPG escape or CO or CO2 would go into the residents’ lounge.

When I set the lot up to test what I knew would fail, I was afraid for my own safety as I saw it as Immediately Dangerous but had to check.

I really hope soon we can safeguard ourselves and be able to take a view before putting ourselves in danger for having to test an environment that we know will cause us danger, inhaling products that will damage us.

Anyway, I IDed the premises, capped off and made safe. And guess what: they didn’t pay my bill for making the residents and staff safe.

Benjamin Frost www.gassaferegister.co.uk 21

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | FLUES IN VOIDS

Face to face with flues in voids We’re always on the lookout for great stories and pictures that help bring to life some of the problems that you face in your day-to-day work.

This month, we take a deeper look at an example of a chimney/flue in a void, sent in by Chris Riley from Sound Installations in Ware, Hertfordshire.

T

his month we particularly want to highlight these photos because they so clearly illustrate some of the problems that are hidden away in voids.They show why it’s so important to fully check the whole chimney/flue run behind a void.

Chris had been asked to replace a boiler in London.

He says: “After removing the plastered-over boxing for the chimney/flue – which had no inspection hatches – I found that it had been installed using soil pipe, metal flue outlet pipe, along with a chimney from other manufacturers. The joints were taped together with duct tape.

There was also no fall on the chimney/flue back to the boiler and no clips at all.”

Chris replaced the boiler, making sure that he fitted the new chimney/flue correctly.

Gas Safe Register’s Senior Technical Support Officer Ronnie McFarlane says: “This shows why it’s necessary for registered gas engineers to check the chimney/ flue in its entirety. It had not been fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions nor did it comply with BS 5440-1.”1 Technical Bulletin 008: Flues in voids Technical Bulletin 008, developed by the Industry Flues in Voids Working Group, provides guidance on meeting the requirements of regulations when working on existing concealed room-sealed fanned-draught boiler chimney/flue systems in domestic premises.

Gas engineers have a legal duty to immediately examine and confirm the effectiveness of the chimney/flue whenever they undertake work on flued 24 August 2021

appliances (GSIUR – Regulation 26(9)). But this requirement can be difficult to fulfil in the case of concealed chimney/flue systems, such as those concealed in ceiling voids, many of which were fitted in flats built from around 2000 to 2007.

Concealed means situations where the chimney/flue system passes through ceiling voids, floor voids or behind false walls, etc.

TB008 provides guidance on how to deal with an existing concealed room-sealed fanneddraught boiler chimney/flue system. In order of preference, the guidance states that engineers should fit appropriately specified and located inspection hatches, room monitoring carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and ensure regular service/maintenance by a registered engineer.

To address situations where concealed chimney/flue systems cannot be visually examined and confirmed as being complete/ intact and effective, appropriately located and installed, inspection hatches are the most effective way of allowing the chimney/flue system integrity etc to be

examined. This form of examination, along with the other operational safety checks necessary to confirm safe operation of the boiler as specified

by GSIUR(1) 26(9), and the installation of room-monitoring CO alarms throughout the length of the flue route, will ensure as far as is reasonably practicable that the boiler and chimney/flue system are safe for continued use.

Fit a CO void monitoring safety shut-off system (COSSVM) and regular service/maintenance

In exceptional circumstances, the installation of inspection hatches may not always offer the best or a practical option to allow confirmation that the chimney/flue system is complete/intact and effective. For example, the enclosure around the chimney/ flue may be too small to allow effective examination of the whole

Can we help you?

When you call Gas Safe Register for technical support, it can be hard to describe what you’re seeing. Did you know that you can use video calling to the Technical Support Team, so that they can see what’s in front of you?

When you call them, they will ask whether you’d like to live stream a video call. The Register will then send a text message or email to your mobile phone, with a link so that you can use your phone camera to show the installation to the Technical Support officer. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to start video streaming – you don’t need to download any other apps or software.

Note: The Technical Support team can give guidance on the classification of unsafe gas appliances, but the responsibility for classifying any unsafe gas appliances on site remains with the gas engineer.

chimney/flue system, or there may be situations where the installation of inspection hatches could affect the building’s existing fire protection measures.

Systems capable of monitoring the void containing a concealed chimney/flue system for the presence of CO which, on activation will shut down the faulty boiler, may be considered as a method of providing an additional level of protection for property occupiers that do not have or agree to have inspection hatches installed.

This form of protection, along with the operational safety checks to confirm safe operation of the boiler as specified by GSIUR 26(9), as a minimum, will ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the boiler and chimney/flue system are safe for continued use.

Note: These systems are not a substitute for inspection hatches for new or replacement installations, which will need to meet the requirements of relevant Building Regulations/standards.

• You can read the full Technical Bulletin 008 by logging into your online account at www.

GasSafeRegister.co.uk/sign-in Bibliography 1 BS 5440-1:2008 – Flueing and ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (1st, 2nd and 3rd family gases). Specification for installation of gas appliances to chimneys and for maintenance of chimneys

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Unsafe Situations Procedure: what’s new?

The updated version of The Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure – IGEM/G/11 Edition 2 – was released in January, and Gas Safe Register now inspects to this version.

Here, the Technical Team set out a reminder of some of the updates and changes.

I

GEM/G/11, the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP), is one of the most widely used documents in the gas industry. In whichever sector of the downstream gas industry you work, there will be occasions when you encounter unsafe gas work and may need to refer to the GIUSP. IGEM/G/11 is owned and published by IGEM (Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers) and can be downloaded free from IGEM or Gas Safe Register.

RIDDOR Clause 8.3

What to report under RIDDOR 11(2) Dangerous Gas Fittings Not all Immediately Dangerous (ID) installations are reportable under RIDDOR

Start

Appliance/ installation is immediately Dangerous (ID)/ At Risk (AR)

Overview of changes

Warning advice notices Many businesses now use electronic warning advice notices to record the unsafe gas work that has been identified and the classification that has been applied; others choose to use a hard copy – and both are acceptable. Clause 6.1 advises that, regardless of the format used, you should obtain a signature from the gas user/ responsible person as both a record of receipt and understanding. Before leaving site, you should issue a copy to the gas user/responsible person and keep a copy for your records.

IGEM/G/11 Section 9 Table 1 lists situations that are either Immediately Dangerous or At Risk that may be encountered by a competent person.

This useful table has been updated and can be referenced when classifying unsafe gas installations. Gas engineers are expected to use their engineering judgement and be able to justify their risk classification.

Applying unsafe situations Gas Safe Register’s Technical Helpdesk regularly receives calls from registered engineers seeking guidance on how to classify 26 August 2021

Is the situation likely to or has caused, death, unconsciousness or a person being taken to hospital?

See Clause 8.5

YES

YES

Is the situation due to poor workmanship/design?

See Clause 8.3

NO

NO

Complete RIDDOR report See Clause 8.5

Is the situation unsafe due to lack of maintainance where there is a duty holder?

See Clause 8.4

YES

Report to Gas Safe Register See Clause 8.6

NO

Report to HSE as a concern See Clause 8.4

Inform responsible person

Make safe and action detailed in section 6

For a fuller review of the changes, see Industry Standard Update 102 by signing into your online account at: www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/sign-in

unsafe gas work. In certain circumstances, technical officers can deploy live video calling, which enables the engineer on site to live stream to the technical officer. This allows the technical officer to view what the engineer

Attach a ‘Do Not Use’ label and issue a warning notice

End

Source: Appendix 7, IGEM/G/11

can see and offer advice.

In a recent example of video calling in action, a gas engineer was able to show the technical officer a back boiler located in the middle of the property. The fire front had been removed, the area

where the fire should have been had been bricked up and the wall behind the back boiler had been removed. The gas appliance was still being used by the homeowner even though signs of spillage were evident, and the

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL

How to classify a room-sealed appliance if the integrity of the combustion circuit has been breached When considering whether an unsafe situation is RIDDOR reportable, the following criteria need to be met: 1. The situation is as a result of the design, construction, manner of installation, modification or incorrect servicing of the fitting (often referred to as poor workmanship/design), AND 2. Is it dangerous to such an extent that it is likely to, or has caused: death, unconsciousness, taking to hospital of a person?

Note: see Section 8.6 for all other reporting routes

Situation Category Notes

7.2

Breach of a room-sealed appliance’s integrity caused by missing or damaged seals

1. Flue gas analysis sample point cap missing/ damaged (regardless of evidence of leakage of products of combustion)

ID

2. Air inlet sample point cap missing/damaged

(no evidence of leakage of products of combustion)

AR

AR

3. Grommets forming part of the combustion circuit missing/damaged (no evidence of leakage of products of combustion)

appliance looked distressed.

Following the guidance provided in IGEM/G/11, the engineer classified the installation as Immediately Dangerous, disconnected the appliance from the gas supply and issued a

Evidence of distress, leakage of condensate or

products of combustion, or CO alarm activation, in any situation, shall be treated as ID. Where there is no evidence of distress, leakage of condensate or products of combustion, or CO alarm activation, the situation is not RIDDOR reportable

Source: Table 1, Section 7.2, IGEM/G/11

warning advice notice.

On a daily basis, gas engineers around the country are identifying unsafe gas work that is either ID or AR. Following the guidance given in IGEM/G/11 means they can be confident that

they have made the situation safe and discharged their responsibilities correctly.

Following the procedure will also help them to determine whether they need to submit a RIDDOR and/or advise Gas Safe Register

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www.gassaferegister.co.uk 27

What’s cooking in com In this article, Gas Safe Register Technical Support Officer Steve Lombard takes a look at commercial catering standard BS 6173 and reviews some of the changes that have evolved since its first publication in 1982.

I

ndustry standards are periodically revised, usually every five to 10 years. They are often updated to reflect changes in equipment, materials, best practice and changes to associated standards. But, more importantly, they are updated to improve the overall safety of installations.

The latest edition of BS 61731, published in March 2020, applies to new installations and when improvements are made to existing installations. The standard is not applied retrospectively and, as per IGEM/G/11 (the Unsafe Situations Procedure), when considering the safety of any existing catering installation, the overall safety will be based on a risk assessment outlined in the IGEM/UP/192 risk assessment protocol.

Earlier editions of BS 6173 (1982 and 1990) were not as detailed as they are today.

Previously, for instance, in the event of an emergency, only a manual valve was required to be turned off. Ventilation was simply described as being of a specialist nature and having to be adequate.

Prove the ventilation is safe In 2001, the standard was revised to place much greater emphasis on proving the safety and operation of the ventilation system. The ventilation system does not simply provide air for combustion, removal of combustion products, and removal of steam, etc, from working operations, but also to provide a safe working environment for people working in the kitchen, providing clean, cool air, and to remove excess fumes and hot air from cooking processes.

Catering system installations require interlocking to prevent the catering equipment from being used if the ventilation should fail.

Unlike interlocking boilers in plant

28 August 2021

Situation 15. Commercial catering

Cat Notes

15.1 Existing kitchen installation containing gas-fired appliance(s) where there are safety concerns with: 1. Fixed ventilation (make up/air inlet) 2. M echanical ventilation systems (make up/air inlet), for example, those with no interlock with the gas supply or those fitted with a manual override

See Notes

3. M echanical extraction systems, for example, those with no interlock, those fitted with a manual override or those without the provision for make-up/air inlet) 4. A tmosphere readings that indicate excessive levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other products of combustion (complete or incomplete) 5. A ir quality within the working environment, ie, very hot working condition, high levels of condensation, catering staff complaining about the working environment.

rooms, where appliance gas valves can be prevented electronically from operating, catering equipment can be prevented from being used by interlocking the gas supply via an automatic isolation valve (AIV) interlocked with the extraction.

The 2020 edition of BS 6173 has further implications on the safety of existing catering equipment. The previous version had stated that, where possible, all new and existing appliances are required to have flame safety devices (FSDs) fitted to all burners. These prevent gas from passing through open gas taps and burners following any shutdown, followed by restoration of the gas supply. Technical Bulletin 0433 was introduced to provide guidance on upgrading FSD controls on older existing catering equipment and referenced in the standard.

Note: A revised TB 043 was published to coincide with the publication of BS6173 2020.

Following a risk assessment, as set out in the Risk Assessment Protocol for dealing with gas-fired catering appliances outlined in IGEM/UP/19 – Application of interlock devices and associated systems used with gas appliance installations in commercial catering – apply the relevant category and actions (ID, AR or as defined

by IGEM/UP/19).

Note: It may be possible, with permission of the responsible person, to carry out remedial work to reduce risk levels, for example, improve ventilation, service filters/ fans, etc, or reduce cooking load/isolate appliances.

Source: IGEM/G/11

BS 6173:2020: Overview of updates to the standard • All new and previously used appliances to be fitted in a kitchen shall have flame failure devices fitted on all burners • A manual isolation valve shall be fitted on the installation pipework and a test point fitted within 300mm downstream of the manual valve to facilitate tightness testing • Automatic isolation valve – provided to facilitate interlocking. In large catering facilities, separate groups of appliances can operate with dedicated independent ventilation/extract canopy systems and have independent AIV fitted upstream to each group of appliances. This enables localised shutdown within the catering area while other equipment can remain in use • Emergency situations – Notices. At locations where either a manual gas isolation valve or AIV can be re-set, a suitably worded notice shall be affixed. There are now two versions of the labelling to be used at either the MIV or emergency stop buttons or both.

Where appliances could not be upgraded with an FSD approved by the catering appliance manufacturer to all burners, a proving system would be required to prevent the gas passing through any open burners following restoration of the gas supply.

Now, the current 2020 version of BS6173 states: “All burners on new appliances shall have flame failure devices fitted” and that “many older appliances are not fitted with safeguards that are currently required, eg, flame supervision devices, water failure systems or mechanical protection

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL ARTICLE

mercial catering?

At a glance • BS 6173 was first introduced in 1982 • Revision in 2001 requiring interlocking and air testing – proving operation of ventilation and confirming safe environment • While older installations might not meet the requirements of the current standard, a risk assessment shall be carried out to determine the overall safety of an existing catering installation • New installations and upgrades to existing installations must meet the current requirements • When installing new and previously used catering equipment, FSDs must be fitted on all burners.

systems. Alternative components can only be used if specified by the appliance manufacturer.”

Emergency stop buttons – A solenoid valve (AIV) must be fitted to enable interlocking of the gas supply, which means that the supply can also be turned off electronically using stop buttons in an emergency. This could be used as an alternative to or in addition to an emergency manual isolation valve.

Air testing – To prove the adequacy of the ventilation following commissioning and maintenance of catering installation, the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels must be checked with an analyser to confirm safe working conditions.

Changes and references added to BS 6173 1982 1990 2001 2009 2020 Manual isolation valve

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Ventilation – required to be adequate

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Automatic isolation valve * * Yes Yes Yes Catering information sheet CAIS 10

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ventilation design DW/171 then 172

Yes

Yes

Yes

Ventilation – interlocking requirement Yes Yes Yes Catering information sheet CAIS 23 Yes FSD on appliances with enclosed burners

Yes

Yes

Yes

FSD required on all burners – TB043

Yes

Yes

Yes

Gas proving system Yes Yes *Automatic isolation valve (AIV) originally installed as alternative (pipe entry into kitchen inaccessible for manual valve operation in event of emergency)

Note: Air testing should only be carried out using a direct-reading CO2 analyser.

The methods of interlocking to prove the operation of the ventilation system, along with the method for carrying out air testing, are described in more detail in IGEM/UP/19. n

Bibliography 1 BS 6173 – Installation and maintenance of gas-fired catering appliances for use in all types of catering establishments (2nd and 3rd family gases) – specification 2 IGEM/UP/19 +A: 2015 – Design and application of interlock devices and associated systems used with gas appliance installations in commercial and catering establishments 3 Technical Bulletin 043 – Electrical work on gas appliances

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 29

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LOYALTY SCHEMES

What’s in it for me?

Registered Gas Engineer talks to Navien’s national business manager Jason Davies about the benefits of loyalty programmes, and what gas engineers should look out for.

How can loyalty schemes benefit gas engineers?

A successful programme should not only reward people for their loyalty, but support them with their businesses. Each scheme is an opportunity for the company to show its appreciation towards its long-term customer base and attract new heating engineers to its product range. As customers continue their dedication, manufacturers have the chance to give back as a thank you.

Unfortunately, many companies make the association between points and rewards complex or confusing, leading to gas engineers missing out on great benefits.

We think they deserve more.

How do they help manufacturers stand out?

They allow manufacturers to compete on more than price BES RGE H131xW186mm alone, setting them apart from

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their competitors, and enhancing the customer experience. This can be achieved through tailoring the information provided to gas engineers and offering rewards for their continued brand loyalty and commitment. Clearly, these programmes can help retain customers and attract new ones, but it should be a two-way street, where gas engineers benefit as well as the manufacturer.

What should I look for in a loyalty scheme?

Most loyalty programmes provide a variety of prizes, ranging from high-street vouchers to gifts and tools, but the most successful schemes adapt to their customers’ needs. Seasonal promotions are a great way to offer different rewards throughout the year. After all, who doesn’t want a new barbecue or the latest garden pizza oven when NEW.pdf 1 16/07/2021 09:46 the sun comes out?

Is this why Navien has introduced its own scheme?

We wanted to take this opportunity to recognise customer loyalty, so we launched Navien Choice to reward them for their continued effort, dedication and hard work.

By introducing a simple reward system, we are giving gas engineers the opportunity to redeem points against rewards for every boiler they register, with the option to bank them for high-value items.

Why now?

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Navien Choice is designed so that you can accumulate points and start saving them. You gain reward points for every NCB-CE combi, NCB-CE system and LCB700 Blue Flame oil boiler. The choice of rewards is updated throughout the year and ranges from gift vouchers to Ray-Ban sunglasses and PlayStation 5 games consoles. A reward is always available, either immediately or in the long term.

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www.gassaferegister.co.uk 31

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LARGE BUSINESS FORUM

How the LBF helps to drive up gas safety standards The Large Business Forum at IGEM represents large businesses but also has a significant number of registered gas engineers. Chair Trevor Smallpeice sets out how the representative body enables businesses to interact, co-operate, share and resolve compliance issues in a non-competitive environment.

T

he purpose of the LBF is to promote a gas safe environment for everyone, with improved training, guidance and clarity to drive up quality, knowledge and performance.

It works within the regulatory framework while applying a common sense approach.

Although its main perspective is from that of a large business, its work aims to benefit the whole industry.

The LBF provides legislative and technical advice as well as supporting industry organisations including HSE, Gas Safe Register, the Standards Setting Body, Ofgem and the government, through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

A gas safe environment It’s for businesses operating primarily in the downstream utilisation sector, discussing engineering, safety and legislative issues that affect those who work with gas in domestic and commercial premises. The LBF works hard to promote an environment that is gas safe and

drives a right-first-time working culture within the regulatory framework for the benefit of clients and gas users.

Its members agree to the following principles, which support and underpin participation: •F ree of politics and commercial gain of individuals or individual organisations •B e mindful of the regulations that prevent anti-competitive behaviour at all meetings, debates and discussions, both formal and informal •M aintain autonomy while being transparent in its ethics and activities; and be inclusive with integrity •R emain independent of outside influences and exercise a common sense approach to all issues •R obustly promote industry standards and best practice •E nable larger gas businesses to interact, co-operate, share and resolve compliance issues in a non-competitive environment.

Regulatory bodies and trade organisations are permanently

Large Business Forum The LBF was founded in 2009 as a way for larger gas businesses to work together and bring a common sense approach to compliance.

In 2015, IGEM provided facilities large enough to accommodate its growth.

There is synchronicity between the two because IGEM is the professional engineering institution for gas, supporting individuals and organisations connected with the gas industry.

IGEM does this through technical standards, events, and training that contribute to professional development and brings its members together to share knowledge, expertise and best practice.

invited guests and add a unique depth and contribution to the discussions and debates, often offering guidance.

Members of the LBF also have significant member representation or close links to the gas industry

Setting the hydrogen agenda There is a high focus on the strategic importance of hydrogen as a part of the net-zero carbon emissions target. IGEM is working with BEIS, undertaking the assessments needed to underpin a policy decision on 100 per cent hydrogen, and the development of standards linked to a skills framework.

The standards will serve two key purposes and the

future study of costs, impacts and feasibility of conversion, informing a policy decision: • To facilitate the implementation of trials by providing a clear, unambiguous set of installation instructions for hydrogen systems • To understand the changes needed to accommodate hydrogen in end user environments as a

benchmark against which to assess the readiness of existing homes and businesses.

With the launch of the Hydrogen Knowledge Centre, IGEM and the LBF will be in the front row for knowledge and implementation.

This also applies to the future requirements for gas work in high-risk residential buildings.

standards writers, including IGEM/G/11 – The Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) – IGEM standards and British Standards, and they comment regularly on Technical Bulletins.

The forum is also involved with the Standards Setting Body (SSB) at Energy and Utility Skills, which sets both the training specification and Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Individual Gas Fitting Operatives (ACS) assessment criteria that allow gas engineers to enter the industry and gain Gas Safe registration.

The forum works alongside IGEM and the organisations that operate the UK transmission and distribution network, to create clarity of understanding and agree best practice on many issues, such as low-pressure supply, that are relevant to both the upstream www.gassaferegister.co.uk 33

>

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LARGE BUSINESS FORUM

How the LBF works with the gas industry HSWA Health & Safety at Work etc Act

The Gas Act covers premises that are out of scope of GSIUR

Gas Act

Technical Bulletins and Safety Alerts temporarily fill gaps in standards

Standards/guidance

GSIUR Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regs

Trade/industry bodies eg, GISG, APPCOG, HHIC,

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>

and downstream gas industry.

IGEM facilitates the annual downstream Gas Utilisation Conference, which LBF supports, and influences the programme planning, messaging and outcomes.

The forum gets involved with Gas Safety Week and individual businesses promote gas safety, supporting Gas Safe Register.

It does this by focusing on GSIUR Regulation 8, which places legal duties on all trades to keep gas installations safe. Its campaign “Staying safe during building projects – repairs & refurbishments” targets gas professionals and social housing groups to spread the word among fellow tradespeople of the dangers of interfering with existing gas installations when working in buildings.

Staying safe during building projects The forum regularly refreshes the free guidance and risk assessments to help tradespeople ensure they do

34 August 2021

not contravene Regulation 8, and these are free to download at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/large-businessforum/reg-8-riskassessments-staying-safeduring-building-projects/ The forum has always stood by its original vision of taking a united, common sense approach to issues affecting larger gas business and will continue to do so, absolutely maintaining its autonomy and independence to promote collaboration and trust for the benefit of utilisation professionals.

All this allows passionate debate about our whole gas industry and enables the LBF to strongly influence regulatory bodies, trade and membership organisations, training and assessment and the standards and procedural setters.

As an industry forum, it is respected, trusted and consulted by decision makers as a recognised body representing large gas businesses. n

IGEM Standards of Training – IGEM/IG/1.

IGEM are authorisers of recognisers of training

SMB Strategic Management Board provides governance and ensures due process of SCF decisions SCF Standards Consultation Forum makes decisions on setting standards for training & assessments

Training

Recogniser of Training Awarding bodies Certification bodies Training bodies

GILG Gas Industry Liaison Group ACS – Owned by SMB and managed by EU Skills.

Assessment process accredited by UKAS

Join the LBF The LBF is actively looking for new members, so if you are a large gas business or manage gas compliance in a large business, you’re passionate about gas safety and can make decisions, we’d be pleased to hear from you.

The benefits of being part of the LBF are: • Networking with top gas compliance specialists • Debate, development, synergy with top gas compliance specialists • Sharing of compliance knowledge • Unique opportunities to interact and influence leaders in gas • Be part of a common-sense ideology • Input to the debate on net-zero energy • Deep dives on the requirements and challenges that the downstream sector faces in adopting hydrogen • Outline what policies and actions the government and industry can take to set appropriate priorities, aid the transition and prevent unintended consequences. www.igem.org.uk/technical-services/large-businessforum or email: trevorsmallpeice@outlook.com

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Know the basics of UFH In the first of a new series, Chris Ingram, founder of Continal Underfloor Heating, outlines the basics of underfloor heating (UFH) to gas engineers thinking about expanding their business.

T

he government is expected to ban gas boilers from newbuild properties from 2025 in favour of more efficient, lowertemperature heat sources such as heat pumps. As a result, engineers will need to offer heat emitters that provide the best efficiencies at lower flow temperatures.

A correctly designed underfloor heating (UFH) system can work well with a flow below 40°C, provided that the property is well insulated and complies with current Building Regulations, and can help a heat pump operate even more efficiently.

UFH uptake is expected to increase significantly once this legislation comes into effect, so if you haven’t tried the technology yet, now is a great time to train.

UFH distributes heat through a circuit of pipes buried under the

floor of a property. It distributes radiant heat, which means the heat travels in ‘waves’ that transfer from object to object, or person, rather than through air particles. This is why the heat transfer from UFH feels more even throughout a room than heat from a radiator, providing a comfortable, uniform heat that makes people feel warmer at lower temperatures.

UFH system thermostats are often set one or two degrees lower than radiator systems, because the temperature doesn’t need to be as high for people to feel comfortable.

UFH is a very flexible technology that can be used in almost any circumstance. There are systems that can be used with joist floors, solid floors and suspended floors, and low-profile options can be retrofitted without

adding significantly to the existing floor height.

With the right system design UFH will work underneath a carpet, wooden or tiled floor, and you can mix different system types right across every floor of the building or add UFH to an existing radiator-led system as part of an extension.

While UFH works particularly well with low-temperature systems such as heat pumps or solar panels, it can also produce

highly efficient heating when combined with fossil-fuel boilers and almost any other type of heat source.

It’s a flexible heating system that can be futureproofed from day one and it’s easy to service and maintain, providing exceptionally high efficiencies, as well as giving homeowners more space in their home.

• Next month, Continal examines different types of UFH, looking at which ones work best with different floors – as well as which ones to avoid.

Continal Underfloor Heating’s free webinars cover everything from the different UFH system types to pipes and pipe spacing. Visit www. ufh.co.uk/training to register for the next available session.

Keep up to date with your app In these fast-moving times, your Registered Gas Engineer app can help you stay up to date with all the latest news, wherever you are.

We’ve made important updates to your FREE app. So please make sure you choose ‘Update’ at your app store to unlock some great new features.

Stay up to date – choose Latest News Feeds to see the latest news from Gas Safe Register and around the industry PLUS the newest products and jobs.

Simply tap on the headline and the full article opens in simple, readable text.

*Available to Gas Safe registered engineers only.

You’ll need to log in with your Gas Safe registration number for verification the first time you use the app.

Find the latest technical articles, news and features, Technical Bulletins, Industry Standard Updates and Safety Alerts.

Choose e-Journal replica to download and read 12 full magazine editions on your mobile device.

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36 August 2020

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TRAINING

Are you ready for lower temperatures?

Engineers will need to upskill to prepare for decarbonisation changes, says Martyn Bridges, director of technical communication and product management at Worcester Bosch.

F

or more than 20 years, most boiler installations have involved replacing the existing system. Of the 1.7 million boilers sold every year, only around 200,000 are fitted in new-build properties – the rest go into existing homes.

As we move towards a net zero-carbon economy, however, the government plans for heat pumps to be installed instead of oil and gas-fired boilers in the majority of homes. This ambitious plan requires vast numbers of engineers to be skilled in fitting heat pumps, and so industry-wide training will be crucial in order to achieve the decarbonisation targets.

How will the introduction of lower-carbon technologies change current installation processes? And how is the industry beginning to prepare for the new skills that will be needed?

A simple boiler swap In a routine boiler replacement installation, the procedure is relatively straightforward.

Usually, the engineer will ask their customer if the existing radiators become warm enough to sufficiently heat the rooms in their home. If there are signs of age or corrosion, one or more radiators will be replaced, and the engineer will usually fit thermostatic radiator valves at the same time if the home does not already have them.

In most cases, the homeowner is satisfied with the heat given off by their system. During the replacement installation, the engineer will complete a chemical flush, or sometimes a powerflush, and treat the fresh system’s water with a corrosion inhibitor. These are all simple procedures for a trained gas engineer, and few replacement situations require much more work than this to complete.

However, installation becomes more complex if a heat pump is to be fitted as the replacement heat source, rather than simply switching to a more modern boiler.

Installing a heat pump will require a far more thorough inspection and assessment of the existing heating system before work begins, starting with ensuring the appropriate radiator and pipework sizing for the selected heating system.

Getting the radiators right In recent years some engineers have chosen to fit radiators that are purposely oversized. Radiators can also become oversized after they have been installed, if additional insulation is added to the property to reduce the its heat losses after the original heating system was sized and installed.

In many cases, allowances have also been made for the heating system to be operated intermittently. This has generally been at around 10 to 15 per cent, and can be included in some of the software used by engineers to size radiators appropriately.

When you take these margins into consideration, radiator catalogues still show that running a radiator on a typical heat pump temperature with a 50°C/40°C regime (MWT 47.5°C) decreases

the radiator output by 50 per cent of the catalogue output.

This means the homeowner could experience colder rooms during certain conditions, particularly during colder periods when they would need their heating systems the most.

To avoid this happening when the home is heated by a lowertemperature heat source, such as a heat pump, the entire heating system must play a significantly larger role in the planning and specification stage.

Next steps To help engineers prepare for these more in-depth building assessments, the industry needs to provide them with sufficient training.

Training courses and trade magazines can remind engineers of the need to undertake a room-by-room heat-loss examination, and what they should be looking for, as well as an assessment of the existing radiators’ suitability for operation at lower temperatures.

Many engineers could also benefit from a refresher course on pipe and radiator sizing

requirements, and how these differ with a lower flow temperature and Delta T over the radiator.

One way this could be achieved is through the new Low Temperature Heating Design Course, which has been created by the industry and the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering, which has created the course and provided the majority of the content. The course will be rolled out in August as a pre-requisite for the heat pump training courses created by the Heat Pump Association.

Manufacturers including Worcester Bosch will be introducing these courses from August and September onwards. We would urge all engineers to act now and enrol to safeguard the future of their businesses as the drive towards decarbonisation continues.

Throughout what many are calling the Green Industrial Revolution, it is important for the government, industry, and engineers to work together so that the transition to lowercarbon technologies is a smooth one. ■ www.gassaferegister.co.uk 37

Productnews Aqualisa dreams up ‘one box’ shower range

Drayton’s new-look Digistat gets Wiser app control

Aqualisa’s new Dream thermostatic mixer showers are a range of 12 different models including single, dual and triple outlets, all finished in chrome.

They feature concealed valves to be installed in the wall space behind attractive wall plates.

The 12 variants include a choice of adjustable handsets, fixed-head

The new generation of Drayton’s iconic Digistat comes with a contemporary new look and app control – an industry first for a universal thermostat, says the company.

Bluetooth connectivity offers in-home control of the Digistat via Drayton’s Wiser Home app, so that users can create and adjust heating schedules from their phone.

Customers can choose between operation using the thermostat or via the app. Once the Digistat has been set up with a 7-day, 5/2-day, 24-hour programme or no programme function, users simply build their heating schedule via the Wiser Home app.

Alternatively, the time and temperature schedule can be adjusted on the thermostat itself.

The user-friendly nature of the new Digistat and the Wiser Home app helps to simplify the handover process and reduces call-backs, says Drayton.

In the app, customers can access innovative smart modes,

drenchers and bath-fill outlets.

Their minimalist design fits flush to the wall, with easy-to-use controls and multiple outlets giving families the maximum number of showering options.

They come as a ‘one box’ offering, with all the necessary fixing options, including mortar guards and all connections. The push-fit wall plate makes it fully serviceable from the front of the unit and it comes with a five-year guarantee.

Product and marketing director Mike Simpson says: “We’ve brought together all the features that installers want in a simple-toinstall, easy-to-maintain shower range combined with the benefits we know UK families are looking for from a new shower.” www.aqualisa.co.uk

Elco adds commercial heat pumps Elco Heating Solutions has added two new models to its Aerotop range of air source heat pumps. The Aerotop M is available in outputs from 24kW to 48kW, while the larger Aerotop L can deliver outputs from 54kW to 88kW. All models in the range are reversible and can be supplied with flow-and-return manifolds for arrangements of up to four heat pumps, while 16 units can be managed by a cascade controller.

The new Aerotop range has an A++ ErP energy rating, COPs up to 4.25 and SCOP up to 4.3 – showcasing their sustainability credentials. The new models feature next-generation R32 refrigerant circuits, with high seasonal efficiency in both heating and cooling mode, as well as a 70 per cent reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared with R410A refrigerant.

The heat pumps are designed for commercial use, integrating high-quality components for long-term durability, simple installation and maintenance.

Units are also quiet in operation, with brushless DC inverter fans, inverter pump and anti-vibration mounts to limit sound levels to just 55dB – the same as a fridge.

38 August 2021

typically associated with smart controls, such as the energysaving Away Mode and Delayed Start. Boost Mode temporarily increases the desired temperature for a short period without having to adjust the schedule.

Suitable for both new and existing systems, the RF version is compatible with the UK standard wallplate for easy retrofit, while the spare thermostat is compatible with existing SCRs. It is also the first Digistat in the range to be available as a two-channel wireless option, for either heating and hot water or two heating channels on a combi boiler. www.draytoncontrols.co.uk

Cooling and heating in one from Worcester Bosch

The heat pumps integrate seamlessly with the company’s high-efficiency condensing gas boilers so that systems can maximise the new heat pumps’ COPs throughout the year, while also benefitting from the latest boiler technology when outside temperatures drop.

Andreea Manoiu, Solutions Centre Manager, says: “The new heat pumps are designed to provide comfort all year round – offering heating in the winter, as well as cooling in the summer months.

“They perfectly complement our existing commercial heating range, which already significantly reduces NOx and CO emissions, so we’re sure that they will be a popular addition to our growing portfolio of commercial heating products.” www.elco.co.uk

Worcester Bosch has launched its new Climate 3000i air conditioning unit, which can provide both cooling and heating.

The Climate 3000i has been developed to keep homeowners comfortable whatever the weather. Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and a remote control means users can switch on their heating or cooling remotely through the Bosch app.

Key features include a Wind Avoid Me mode that adjusts the air flow direction away from the user to prevent a direct breeze, as well as a Follow Me mode that activates a sensor in the remote, regulating the room temperature based on where the homeowner is sitting, rather than the indoor unit.

The Eco mode reduces power consumption to 20 per cent for eight hours to save energy, while the i-Clean feature, when switched on, kills 99 per cent of bacteria on the evaporator and prevents them from being spread around the home.

Martyn Bridges, director of technical communication and product management at Worcester Bosch, says: “The Climate 3000i has been developed to increase our offering to our engineers, giving them more sophisticated and high-tech options for their own customers.” www.worcesterbosch.co.uk/ professional/3000i

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42 August 2021

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19/07/2021 14:36

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COMPETITION

Competition

Win a Drayton Digistat cha5 Drayton is giving five lucky readers the chance to win its new Digistat.

to wnces in

D

rayton’s newest addition to the Digistat range combines the simplicity of a programmable thermostat with the flexibility of an app-operated smart heating control.

The new Digistat is Drayton’s first hybrid heating control with Bluetooth connectivity, which means users can choose between operating their heating via the thermostat or via the Wiser Home app for extra convenience. This makes it easier than ever to create and adjust heating schedules from home or while on the move.

The Digistat and app have been designed to be user-friendly to simplify the handover process and reduce the risk of call-backs.

The control also has a number of engineerfriendly features and settings to make it as easy to install as possible.

The RF version of the Digistat is compatible with UK standard wallplates to make it easy to retrofit, while the spare thermostat is also compatible with existing SCRs. The Digistat is also the first in its range to be available as a two-channel wireless unit, with an optional service interval feature on all variants. OpenTherm modulation is also featured on the mains relay and RF single-channel versions.

Drayton has fully optimised the Digistat for use with heat pumps as well as oil, gas and electric heat sources, to make sure it is compatible with the future heating set-ups with which engineers will be working in the years ahead.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By entering this prize draw, you agree to these terms and conditions: • Registered Gas Engineer and Drayton do not accept responsibility for lost, delayed, corrupted or invalid entries.

• Five winners will be chosen at random from all correct answers submitted in accordance with these terms and conditions.

• The winners will be notified by email. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

• The prize cannot be substituted or upgraded.

Your chance to win To be in with the chance of winning a Digistat, simply answer the following question correctly.

What enables the new Digistat to be operated via the app?

1. Wi-Fi 2. Bluetooth 3. Infrared.

Send your answer, plus your name, address and registration number to competition@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Five winners will be chosen at random from all correct entries received by the closing date of Thursday 19 August 2021.

• The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.

• Registered Gas Engineer and Drayton may disqualify you from winning if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you are in breach of these terms and conditions or your participation is fraudulent or otherwise unlawful.

• This draw is not open to employees of Drayton, Gas Safe Register or Registered Gas Engineer or their direct family members or agents.

• Registered Gas Engineer and Drayton do not accept any responsibility for any network

connection, technical failure or other problem in any telephone line, network, system, provider or otherwise which results in any entry not being properly recorded or received.

• One entry per person.

• Your entry details will be provided to Drayton, which may use them for marketing purposes. By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from them. If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 43

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