Registered Gas Engineer, February 2022 issue

Gas REGISTERED

THE ONLY OFFICIAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

Issue 155 February 2022

From hybrids How to protect to hydrogen: heating systems what’s the latest? in cold weather Renewing your registration?

Simple steps to make your renewal a breeze

Powerflushing FAQs and top tips for a successful flush every time

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER

In this issue

Issue 155 February 2022

06 Gas Safe news

If you’re about to renew your Gas Safe registration, a little planning and doing it early will make it a smooth process; Listen to your home’s whispers and don’t ignore those niggles, urges Gas Safe’s latest awareness campaign

24 Technical

Gas Safe’s Technical Team share their advice on minimising the expense and inconvenience of winter damage to homes

28 Hot tips for

cold weather

09 Around the industry

Suspended sentence for fake fitter who repeatedly put vulnerable customers at risk; Claim up to £150 in training vouchers; Video tech support from Worcester Bosch; Biomass could have a role in producing hydrogen

17 News focus

Heat pumps are suitable for most homes, says year-long governmentfunded installation demonstration project

18 The good, the bad and the ugly

23 Industry Standard Update 105

Liquid Gas UK CoP 22 – 2020 Amendment 1

26 Industry Standard Update 106

BS 1949:2021 Specification for the

36 Opinion

The challenge of fossil fuel-free heating and why the only way to decarbonise our homes is to understand how they work – one size won’t fit all

Competition Three great prize bundles up for grabs from tado°

installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles and accommodation purposes in other vehicles

30 Health and safety in numbers

The latest statistics published by HSE show

the impact of Covid-19 and work-related stress, anxiety and depression

33 Band of Builders

We talk to volunteer Peter Cape about the importance of mental wellbeing and how to get tradespeople talking

34 Low carbon

How decarbonised gas can help hard-to-tackle sectors reach net zero

39 System cleaning

Top tips for successful powerflushing

41 Products

The latest launches from Drayton, Navien, RAK and RWC

Win Page 4 7

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 05

FROM THE EDITOR

Comment ow are you? Yes really, how are you doing?

H Inside this issue, we’re taking a look at how mental health has affected people’s working lives through the first year of the pandemic.

HSE’s figures make for shocking reading: nearly half-a-million people reported that their stress, depression or anxiety were caused or made worse by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, and more than 17 million working days were lost.

The figures are backed up the charity Mind, which suggests that the mental health of two in five employees got worse.

HSE recognises these challenges and its Working Minds campaign provides support and tools to help employers to promote good mental health at work.

There’s support available from other organisations too, including Band of Builders, who talk to us this month about how they have been helping and supporting tradespeople when times get tough.

MENTalk, too, encourages men to feel comfortable to talk about their feelings.

We’re all guilty of bottling things up, and it can sometimes feel lonely when you’re working on your own. But however you’re feeling, as that TV ad used to say, it’s good to talk.

Nicki Shearer, editor 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, Jonathan Palmer, Jonathan Stirling Production: Mark Turpin Advertising enquiries only: Ian Carter ian@rgemagazine.co.uk

T

here are some simple steps you can take to make renewing your registration as straightforward as possible.

More than ever, it’s a good idea to get everything in place as soon as you can so that any potential issues can be resolved before your ID card runs out.

You’ll receive your invitation to renew eight weeks before your registration expires. If you manage your account online, you’ll receive your invitation via email. Make sure that all your details held by Gas Safe are up to date: once you’ve logged into your account, you’ll see the ‘Renew’ option under the Account Management menu.

You then have two options: Update registration details: Choose this option first if you need to make any changes to your registration, including adding and removing engineers.

Make payment to renew: If all your details are up to date, just enter the payment details and renew.

When your payment has been processed, Gas Safe Register will email you confirming that your registration has been renewed, and you should receive your new registration certificate and updated ID cards for you and

Don’t forget If you don’t renew your registration before your renewal date and you wish to remain registered, you will have to re-apply for Gas Safe registration and you will lose your existing registration number. any engineers you employ within the next 10-15 working days.

If you don’t manage your account online, you’ll receive your invitation in the post with an invoice for payment.

Valid qualifications?

You must have a valid core qualification – CCN1 or COCN1 – to renew your registration.

Make sure all your qualifications are valid before you renew and that you have up-to-date qualifications for the categories of work you carry out.

Changing your trading title If you’re going to change your trading title, please make sure you request this with Gas Safe Register before you renew.

The Register has to carry out additional checks, so be sure to allow enough time for this to be completed before your renewal date. This is so your ID card(s) and registration certificate will

New registration fee £354.00

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.

06 February 2022

Many businesses will soon be receiving their invitation to renew registration. Planning and doing it early will help to make it a smooth process.

Fees from 1 March 2022 (ex VAT)

Additional print subscriptions £25 per year email: wgardiner@circdata.com, Tel 01635 869 868

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

30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ

Are you read your registra

Non-web registration £160.50 Web registration £140.00 Operative fee £26.50 Replacement card £15.00 Updated card £10.00 Work notification (telephone) £3.60

CIRCULATION:

Jan-Dec 2021

80,070

Work notification (web) £2.25 Notification reprint £5.10

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | GAS SAFE REGISTER NEWS

y to renew tion?

Read all about Gas Safety Week 2021 If you want to find out more about Gas Safety Week and how the industry got together to champion gas safety, the 2021 report is now available.

Print advertising, social media, YouTube and huge support from around the industry once again helped the campaign to reach millions of people, helping to keep them gas safe.

Scott Darroch, Head of Strategic Communications & Engagement, says: “Once

again, we’ve enjoyed great support from the industry for the week, and the coverage both we and key partners have enjoyed has really helped us get out important gas safety messages to the public.”

You can read the report at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ gas-safety/gas-safety-week/ This year, the 12th Gas Safety Week will be on 18-22 September 2022.

Correction have your new company name, if the change can take place.

Your business cannot trade under the new name until you receive confirmation of the change from Gas Safe Register.

It’s free to change your trading title, just go online to complete the request or email Register@GasSafeRegister. co.uk

Did you know?

Nine out of 10 businesses renew their registration online, saving them time and money – and helping to protect the environment too. If you haven’t got an online account, it’s easy to set one up: just call Customer Services on 0800 408 5577.

In the article ‘Hydrogen projects picking up the pace’ in last month’s Registered Gas Engineer, we made a labelling error on the definitions of the ‘colours’ of hydrogen produced by different methods. Thank you to those readers who took the time to get in touch with us about this.

The generally accepted definitions are: • Green: hydrogen produced through electrolysis, where the electricity supplying the electrolyser is itself from renewable sources • Blue: hydrogen created from reformation of methane, either

by SMR (steam methane reforming) or ATR (auto-thermal reforming), where the carbon is captured and stored.

Listen to your home’s whispers, urges new Gas Safe campaign

Martin Roberts: ‘Learn to listen’

From mysterious cracks in the ceiling to suspicious sooty black marks, three-quarters of homeowners have a niggling feeling about something in their house or flat that they haven’t got around to fixing.

According to new research from Gas Safe Register, in a study of 2,000 people who own their homes, 50 per cent said that not acting when they got that niggling feeling has ended up costing them more money in the long run than an early fix or maintenance would have: the average outlay per homeowner is estimated at £1,876, and one in 20 had to fork out £5,000 or more.

Gas Safe Register’s Winter House Whispers campaign has a crack team of the nation’s top ‘house whisperers’, including TV property expert Martin Roberts and the head of Which? Trusted

Traders Raj Kakar-Clayton, to help the nation better understand the risks to their health, wealth and safety if they let niggling feelings fester.

Martin says: “After 20 years in property, I’ve heard every shoulda, woulda, coulda going when it comes to regrets about dealing with niggles too late.

The costs can be high financially if repairs or replacements are needed, but you can’t put a price on the health and safety of your family.

“Having unsafe gas appliances can not only put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning but they can leak gas and, in some instances, lead to fires and explosions. Learn to listen to your home.”

The costliest niggles, if left ignored, include rotting wooden decking (£3,344 average cost to

fix), lazy yellow flames on gas appliances (£3,250), black sooty marks or stains on/around gas appliances (£3,239), leaking pipes (£2,520) and boilers making rattling and banging sounds (£2,333).

Bob Kerr, Gas Services Director at Gas Safe Register, says: “We want to help everyone become a house whisperer when it comes to their own home, to help them get to grips with what those niggling things they notice, but put out of their minds, might mean for their wealth, health and safety.

“This is of particular relevance to gas safety. As temperatures continue to plunge, gas boilers are under more pressure than ever. And, although it may seem like a niggle at the time, it’s always better to be gas safe than sorry.” www.gassaferegister.co.uk 07

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Fake fitter repeatedly put vulnerable customers at risk A gas fitter who carried out dangerous work in homes in and around Cardiff and falsely claimed to be registered has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that, between September 2016 and March 2018, Jordan Hare carried out gas work at four homes in Cardiff and Crosskeys, though he was not Gas Safe registered. Mr Hare installed gas boilers along with other work at the premises in Cardiff, and modified the gas pipework and installed a gas boiler and gas

hob at a property in Crosskeys.

The work he carried out at all the properties was substandard, variously classified as Immediately Dangerous, At Risk, Not to Current Standards or did not comply with the Building Regulations. The HSE, prosecuting, said the work put occupants and other members of the public in significant danger because of the potential risk of gas escape, fire, and explosion.

Its investigation found that the actions of Mr Hare were fraudulent and deliberate.

Trading under various names, he pretended to be Gas Safe registered to convince vulnerable people to engage his services to

undertake work that he was not competent to do.

Jordan Louis Hare of Foxberry Close, Pontprennau, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1), 3(3) and 3 (7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and S22 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was given a 10-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £5,000 and £125 compensation.

Suspended sentence for gas engineer over dangerous installation A Middlesex gas engineer who fitted a boiler so poorly that it could have exposed a family to carbon monoxide has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Dexter Regis, trading as Shabba Gas Services Plumbing and Heating Engineer, fitted the boiler in Newbury Park, London, in November 2016, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

The installation had numerous faults, which came to light when

the boiler malfunctioned and the family became unwell. Mr Regis was called back but the problems continued. The family then asked another gas engineer to check the boiler, who found that it was Immediately Dangerous.

The HSE investigated and found that the flue had been assembled using parts from more than one manufacturer; it had also been propped up with rubble and there were leaks from the joints.

Dexter Regis from Southall, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 5(3), 26(1), 26(5) and 27(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and tagged, with a curfew between 9pm and 6am for three months. No order was made for prosecution costs because

Mr Regis had no means to pay.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Charles Linfoot said: “This case involving a badly installed gas boiler and flue could have had tragic consequences.

It highlights the importance of engineers working to the correct standards and installing gas boilers in compliance with manufacturer’s recommendations, using the correct flue which is properly supported.”

Builder jailed for ‘appalling’ work and faking registration A builder whose work was described as appalling has been sentenced to nine months in prison. Sam Hart from Portsmouth also falsely claimed to be registered with Gas Safe Register and NICEIC and used their logos.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that in 2018, Mr Hart, trading as Mac and Hart Developments Ltd, agreed to build a loft extension rear dormer and a new single-storey rear extension. The work failed to comply with building regulations: the pitch of the roof of the extension was too shallow,

resulting in leaks at the pivot windows. The standard of workmanship to the roof was also very poor, the court heard.

His customer had to pay around £11,000 to remedy the work.

Mr Hart went on to form another company, Harkins Construction, and in January 2020 agreed to fully refurbish a property in Fareham for £120,000. The work was never completed: Mr Hart diverted these funds to help liquidate his previous company and to hire luxury cars. The property owners had to spend a further £50,000

to complete the work.

Sam Hart of Langley Road, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to six offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, contravening the requirements of professional diligence, failing to provide cancellation notices to consumers, and unauthorised use of the Gas Safe Register and NICEIC logos.

Judge Melville QC said: “The facts of this case are awful… It was a most appalling series of events… You let them down; this is appalling and clearly crosses the custody threshold.” www.gassaferegister.co.uk 09

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Claim up to £150 in training rewards with APHC APHC (Training) is giving away 100 training rewards worth £150 each. You can use the reward towards the cost of a certificated course with a recognised training provider such as APHC, BPEC, City & Guilds and all UKAS-approved ACS providers.

The registered educational charity has worked closely with training provider BPEC to ensure that training and assessments can be delivered remotely, and the 2022 programme of courses uses Microsoft Teams so that you can

take part on your PC or laptop.

Just log on and complete your training over two hours per day for up to four days. Once you’ve completed your initial training course, you’ll take an online assessment to receive your completion certificate.

Courses for this year include: legionella cold water risk assessment and disinfection, domestic hot water storage systems (unvented) and sanitary and above-ground drainage.

Graeme Dryden, APHC’s deputy CEO and technical services manager, says:

“Keeping up to date and developing existing skills is important to help ensure you are

working compliantly and safely.

“The £150 training reward is available to all plumbing and heating companies in England and Wales, regardless of whether they are members of APHC. Send a copy of the training course invoice, along with the successful course completion certificate, to APHC, who will then pay for the cost of the course up to £150.”

For more information about the training rewards and a full list of APHC training courses, go to: www.aphc.co.uk/ training-reward

Viessmann HQ gets greener with 200 new trees A Viessmann employee has led the way to plant 200 trees at the company’s Hortonwood Industrial Estate HQ. Contract support and promotions supervisor Vikki Robbins was inspired by the work of the charity Small Woods

Association and wanted to remember a former colleague who died suddenly in 2020.

The initial plan was to plant just one tree, and Vikki offered to bring her spade if Viessmann could provide the land and buy the tree.

But things snowballed to the extent that one Sunday was spent planting 200 trees supplied and supervised by social enterprise Telford Woods, and the Friends of Ketley Paddock Mound, together with Viessmann colleagues and their friends and families. A plaque to remember engineer David Hughes was also dedicated.

Graham Russell, managing director of Viessmann in the UK, says: “It’s great to be able to make a contribution to the planet on a very local level.”

Win an all-electric van with Testo Testo is giving you the chance to win an electric Nissan Tekna van when you buy a flue gas analyser, digital manifold or thermal imaging camera. The fully electric van comes with auto air conditioning, cruise control, colour reversing camera, navigation and more, worth £26,805.

All you need to do to enter is register your qualifying products online. The offer applies to Testo 310, 327, 320B or 300 flue gas analyser kits; the new 55x digital manifold range, including Testo 550i, 550s and 557s; and the company’s thermal imaging cameras.

Register your qualifying purchases at: www.testo.com/en-UK/free-van Offer ends 30 April 2022. Terms and conditions apply.

10 February 2022

New Daikin Sustainable Home Centre opens in Scotland Daikin UK has opened its first Sustainable Home Centre in Scotland, in partnership with the Natural Energy Company.

The new centre in Newport-onTay, near Dundee, will give homeowners the chance to find out more about Daikin’s air source heat pumps and discuss the best solution for their home, before being partnered with a trusted local installer It will also be home to a heat pump training centre. Training delivered by Daikin and renewable installation firm the Natural Energy Company will help local heating engineers expand the services they offer.

Iain Bevan, Daikin’s commercial manager, heating and renewables, says: “It’s never been more important that homeowners who want to go green can access

expert advice and guidance, helping them find the best solution for their household’s heating and hot water needs. Being able to explore and discuss heat pump technology in person is vital, as is knowing that it will be installed by a highly trained professional.

“Industry estimates predict that up to 7,500 new installers will need to be trained each year over the next four years, increasing to around 15,000 each year for the five years after. So, we’re proud to be supporting the Natural Energy Company in opening this important new addition to our network of Daikin Sustainable Home Centres.”

Installers who join Daikin’s Sustainable Home Network can develop their heat pump installation and commissioning expertise through free, hands-ontraining at centres around the UK.

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Video tech support from Worcester Bosch Virtual Tech is Worcester Bosch’s new video calling service for gas engineers to reach the company’s technical support team.

Just use your phone to input your specialist installer number to create a link. You’ll then receive a text that gives you access to the platform and generates a video stream.

You’ll be able to show the boiler or installation to the technical support team so that they can see what you’re seeing and advise accordingly.

Technical support manager Thomas Robinson says: “The launch of Virtual Tech will offer installers the back-up they need when out in the field, while also helping to answer and resolve any product or servicing queries within moments.

“We hope this will help installers save time when with customers, with our advisors identifying what the issue may be in real time.”

Virtual Tech is a free platform open to all gas engineers who call the support line and can be used on Android and iOS devices. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/ professional/support

Screwfix sets sights on 1,000 stores Screwfix opened 70 new stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2021, smashing its original target of 50. The retailer has already stated its ambition to have a total of 1,000 stores in the UK and Ireland and says there are opportunities for stores in inner cities and rural areas.

CEO John Mewett says: “The growth in our store network supports local communities with further job opportunities and the demand for added convenience from our busy tradespeople.

“Currently, 98 per cent of the population live within a 30-minute drive of a UK store, so our continued expansion ensures we can bring Screwfix closer to even more customers.”

Vaillant app free trial extended until April 2022 The new myVAILLANT Pro app comes with an extended free trial until April 2022. Vaillant’s app enables gas engineers to monitor their boiler installations remotely and provides real-time data insights on faults. The app can identify the parts required for a repair ahead of a visit for better first-time fixes. myVAILLANT Pro comes in

different packages based on the app’s features rather than how many installations users would like to connect. Installations can be backdated for a fuller picture of customers’ installations.

Commercial director Spencer Clark says: “Combining real-time data together with remote diagnostics, the new myVAILLANT Pro app is a great

addition to any installer’s business arsenal, meaning they can work smarter, not harder.

“Having worked alongside a number of installers to develop myVAILLANT Pro, a lot of the feedback we received was around fault codes. So, we developed the fault code assistant, a feature that works offline, allowing installers to use

the code assistant to select an appliance and get detailed information on the status of the fault code, before providing all relevant diagnostic insights.”

Homeowners need to give their permission for heating engineers to gain insight via the app. www.vaillant.co.uk/ myvaillantpro

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Live and direct from NICEIC NICEIC’s upcoming series of webinars, the Wire, will cover maximum demand and diversity, and battery storage. The 2022 series also features a newcomer, the NICEIC Pub Quiz, a fun interactive segment designed to test – and reward – the most knowledgeable minds.

NICEIC and ELECSA technical director John O’Neill says: “When the pandemic struck, the world looked for quality sources of remote learning. Since then, we have broadcast 48 episodes delivering over 40 hours of CPD-certified learning.”

With a new platform, the Wire will no longer be restricted on numbers for live events. The browser-based system will enable viewers to access sessions directly rather than downloading them.

CPD certificates can be downloaded immediately after the webinar.

You can find out more at: www.niceic.com/events

YEAR

5

WARRANTY

On Demand Heat

Biomass could have role in producing hydrogen The government is putting £5 million into helping to develop technologies that will generate hydrogen from sustainable biomass and waste.

The Hydrogen BECCS Innovation Programme will support the development of hydrogen generated via bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

The process produces hydrogen from biomass and waste and can capture and store the carbon released during the process.

BECCS can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere because the CO2 absorbed during the growth of the sustainable biomass and the organic content found in waste can then be permanently removed from the atmosphere using carbon capture technologies.

The government says this means hydrogen BECCS technologies have a role to play on the UK’s path to net-zero emissions, providing hydrogen as a clean fuel for hard-todecarbonise sectors such as transport and heavy industry, while also removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Energy and Climate Change minister Greg Hands says: “This innovative technology offers incredible potential for removing CO2 from the atmosphere, crucial to reaching our net-zero goals.

This government funding will help support the development of this new technology in the UK.” The programme aims to support developing hydrogen BECCS technology in three categories: • Feedstock pre-processing: the development of low-cost, energy and material efficient

technologies, which will optimise biomass and waste feedstocks for use in advanced gasification technologies • Developing gasification components for thermal conversion, which can be used to convert biomass or waste into aviation fuel, diesel, hydrogen, methane and other hydrocarbons • Novel biohydrogen technologies: to be combined with carbon capture – for example, dark fermentation, anaerobic digestion and waste water treatment.

The programme will be in two phases: first, successful applicants will receive funding to develop their innovations, show their feasibility and prepare plans. In the second phase, they will be able to apply for more funding to support a physical demonstration.

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Most UK homes are suitable for heat pumps, says demo project H

eat pumps are suitable for most British properties, irrespective of age and type, according to a demonstration project funded by the government. The Electrification of Heat project fitted nearly 750 heat pumps in UK homes from 2020 to 2021 to gather information about feasibility ahead of any large-scale roll-out. The properties represented different types of home, varying in age and size, although just 5 per cent were flats.

The project’s aim was to gather information help inform future government policy and looked at the suitability of heat pumps in different types of property, including system and installation costs. It also examined performance data and information

radiators and controls plus associated plumbing and electrical work as required to meet heat loss requirements.

It was anticipated and expected that not all installations would go ahead: indeed the report states that one of the project’s objectives was to understand why this was the case, whether it was for personal reasons or related to the heat pump design.

The report concluded that there were no properties in which a heat pump could not be installed successfully, regardless of type or age, stating: “The suggestion that there are particular home archetypes in Great Britain that are ‘unsuitable’ for heat pumps is not supported by the project data.” ■

Heat pumps by property type Low temperature heat pump Flat

9

Mid-terrace

44

End-terrace

27

Semi-detached

105

Detached

121 0

20

Flat

Heat pump type Low temperature air source

Installations were carried out in: North-east England Newcastle and surrounding area: urban, semi-urban and semi-rural Contractor: Eon

100

120

140

160

80

100

120

140

160

80

100

120

140

160

120

140

160

20

Semi-detached

62

Detached

136 0

20

40

60

Ground source heat pump Flat

28

Semi-detached

2

Detached

8 20

40

60

Gas-electric hybrid Mid-terrace

15

End-terrace

10

Semi-detached

92

Detached

36 20

40

60

80

100

Heat pump types by property age Low temperature heat pump 2001+

39

1991-2000

18

1981-1990

29

1965-1980

72 82

1945-1964 1919-1944

38

Pre 1919

28 0

Scotland South-east Scotland, in Fife, Edinburgh City, Midlothian, East Lothian, Scottish Borders: rural and urban areas Contractor: Warmworks

80

23

End-terrace

0

about demand from different types of homes and consumers.

The majority of homes were on the gas grid, and consumers were found by Eon, Ovo Energy and Warmworks to take part.

A home suitability survey assessed the property for the installation of different types of heat pump. Equipment was also fitted so that system performance could be monitored.

All heat pump systems were designed in accordance with MCS design practices and guidelines, and all design work and installation was by MCSaccredited organisations.

System designs and installations included any required provision of or changes and upgrades to hot water cylinders, heat emitters/

60

4

Mid-terrace

0

“The suggestion that there are particular home archetypes in Great Britain that are ‘unsuitable’ for heat pumps is not supported by the project data.”

40

High temperature heat pump

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

High temperature heat pump 2001+

52

1991-2000

33

1981-1990

24

1965-1980

44 40

1945-1964 1919-1944

34

Pre 1919

18 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

40

50

60

70

80

90

60

70

80

90

Ground source heat pump

South-east England Rural and urban areas, excluding London Contractor: Ovo Energy

2001+

3

1991-2000

12

1965-1980

16

1945-1964

5

1919-1944 1 Pre 1919 1

Installations 306

High temperature air source

245

Ground source

38

Gas-electric hybrid

153

0

10

2001+

30

3

1991-2000

8 15

1981-1990 1965-1980

33 51

1945-1964 1919-1944

32

Pre 1919

* A total of 742 heat pump systems were installed against the project target of up to 750.

20

Gas-electric hybrid

11 0

10

20

30

40

50

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 17

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

Michael Hole found the cracked chimney joint from an openflued appliance was allowing products of combustion into the roof space. The installation was immediately made safe, and a new boiler has been fitted.

This boiler chimney incorporating a plume displacement kit had been fitted with no regard for the manufacturer’s instructions or relevant British Standards (in this instance BS 5440-1 & 2). Thanks to David Weaver for sending us the photo.

John Ridley was shocked to see a radiator valve incorporated in the gas installation pipework to the fire underneath the floorboards. The pipework was isolated and capped at a safe point and the radiator valve removed.

Ricki Marsh made this hob installation safe and the hob has now been installed correctly.

Murat Karakas was replacing a boiler and found a bird’s nest in the flueway when he removed the existing chimney.

18 February 2022

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS

Smiths Heating Solutions found corrosion on gas pipework causing an escape of gas and a dangerous situation. It was probably caused by leaking condensate pipework dripping directly on to the pipework below. The installation was made safe and the problem pipework and cause have been rectified.

Arran Graham was asked to quote for a boiler replacement and saw that the emissions from the existing chimney termination had scorched the fencing.

Dave Hill found this chimney termination, which had been ‘modified’ by the company fitting a canopy at the property.

The damaged chimney has been replaced and the canopy removed.

Ian Byles wanted to share this, in his words, “stunning making-good attempt around the boiler chimney” in a neighbouring property.

Installed more than 35 years ago and, according to the customer, never broken down in that time, this boiler has now been replaced

by Gas Fit Services.

We may share some of your pictures on social media, so remember to include your contact details so we can tag you (or let us know if you’d rather we didn’t).

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 19

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS

Thegoodthebad+theugly This ’s month r winne

Keith Harrison saw this corroded vertex-flued chimney joint in a roof space while he was inspecting the installation.

The boiler and chimney have been replaced.

Photo prize

Someone had modified this installation by attaching pipework to the flue gas analyser point on the boiler chimney and terminating it outside.

Anthony Colombo made safe and has since replaced the boiler installation.

Steve Brown sent this picture showing an attempt to divert the products of combustion from the boiler chimney termination to outside using plumbing drainage pipework.

Steve made safe and a new boiler has been installed.

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 Anthony Colombo from Poole, Dorset. Congratulations!

20 February 2022

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | INDUSTRY STANDARD UPDATE

Industry Standard Update 105 Liquid Gas UK CoP 22 – 2020 Amendment 1 Date issued: 16 December 2021

This Industry Standard Update (ISU) provides an overview of the key areas of change arising from the revision of Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 22 – 2020 Design, Installation and Testing of LPG Piping Systems.

Introduction During December 2021, Liquid Gas UK published a revision to Code of Practice 22(1). Code of Practice 22 Amendment 1(2) supersedes the previous version, which is now obsolete.

The revision to this standard comes into effect immediately.

To allow registered businesses time to carry out internal update training to reflect the technical requirements of the amended standard, Gas Safe Register will inspect to the new requirements of this standard from 1 May 2022.

However, this should not restrict businesses from applying the specification sooner.

The following is a brief overview of the amendments made.

General Amendments and corrections have been made throughout the document and improvements have been made to Appendix ‘I’.

Section 2: System design Bullet point 2 of Clause 2.3.2 has been revised to state that the design temperature for aboveground pipework shall not be less than 50°C. Section 6: Hose and hose assemblies The third bullet point of Clause 6.4.1 includes guidance that stainless steel hoses/flexible assemblies shall be BS EN ISO 10380(3).

The Note for Clause 6.4.2.1 includes reference to Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 32(4).

Section 7: Pre-service; inspections, testing and commissioning Clause 7.3.3 has been revised to state that LPG vapour is only permitted as the test medium for new: • Service pipework with a nominal operating pressure of 75mbar or less, and where the volume does not exceed 0.035m3 • Liquid and vapour pressure pipework where the volume does not exceed 0.01m3

• Where the pipework has already been strength and tightness tested on air.

Clause 7.4.1 provides guidance on the capabilities and perceptible movement of fluid gauges.

Clause 7.5.2 states that strength testing is required after installation on: • PE pipework • Brazed and soldered metallic pipework • Pipework assemblies that have not been strength tested at manufacture.

Appendix G.1.3: Table G1 Table G1 provides guidance on domestic appliance working pressures. Note A for Table G1 states: The person commissioning the installation shall ensure the regulator locks up at a pressure not exceeding the values given, with no flow passing through the installation. Lock up pressure shall be determined after completion of the tightness test procedure and commissioning of appliances, where each has been turned off and after the appropriate settlement time. Lock-up pressures above these maximum values usually indicate a faulty regulator, which should be replaced.

Appendix G.2 Clauses G.2.1, G.2.2, G.2.3, G.2.4 and G.2.5 have been included in Appendix G.2 and provide guidance on recommended regulator working pressures.

Appendix I: Gas tightness testing of LPG pipework Clause I.1.3 includes a fourth bullet point to make reference to Test D for external pipework with a volume not exceeding 0.035m3 (service pipework) and 0.01m3 for pipework operating at vapour pressure.

Clause I.1.4 states: An upstream valve let-by test is required whenever a tightness test is carried out downstream of an isolation valve which has air or gas at a pressure greater than the test pressure upstream. For systems operating at < _75mbar, the downstream pressure should be reduced to between 7 and

10mbar. For systems operating at >75mbar, the downstream pressure should be reduced to approximately 50 per cent of the upstream nominal operating pressure.

Clause I.1.7 states that nominal operating pressure is limited by the initial strength test. If pipework is suitable for uprating to a higher operating pressure, it shall always be strength tested or be strength tested at an appropriate pressure as if it were a new installation.

Table 8 provides further guidance.

Table I.1 has been amended to include guidance for gauge resolution.

The Notes applicable to Table I.2 in Appendix I.3 have been revised: •T TD shall be rounded up to the next full minute and shall not be less than 2 minutes.

•T esting new service pipework with propane is only permitted for external pipework with a nominal operating pressure of 75mbar or less and where the volume does not exceed 0.035m3 • Testing new liquid or vapour pressure pipework with LPG vapour is only permitted where the volume does not exceed 0.01m3 • Testing commercial vapour pressure installation pipework is only permitted using air or nitrogen • Consideration should be given to adding an additional 10 per cent to the installation volume for fittings.

Table I.4, Test pressures for new pipework, and associated Notes 1 and 2 have been revised to provide guidance on new LPG service pipework.

Additional guidance for let-by testing and service pipework has been included in the revised Table I.5.

The following tables have been revised to make reference to Clause I.1.4.

• Tables I.6, Tightness Test Duration (TTD) for new propane PE service pipework/stabilisation • Tables I.7, Tightness Test Duration (TTD) for existing propane PE service pipework/ stabilisation • Tables I.8, Tightness Test Duration (TTD) for new steel and copper propane pipework/ stabilisation • Table I.9, Tightness Test Duration (TTD) for existing steel and

copper propane pipework •T able I.10, Stabilisation and Tightness test Duration (TTD) for new propane pipework over 0.035m3 by total volume has been included in this revision, and subsequent Clauses and Tables have been renumbered.

• Figures I.11.1, I.11.2 and I.11.3 have been revised to reflect the amendments to Appendix I. • Figure I.11.4 Test D – Chart for Test pressures and times for service pipework < _0.035m3 volume and < _0.01m3 for pipework operating at vessel vapour pressure. n Summary As previously stated, this Industry Standard Update is only a brief overview of the information contained in the amended standard.

Registered businesses should be aware that they have a responsibility to ensure that they are fully apprised of all the requirements of the whole published standard and its practical application.

Access to Industry Standards from Gas Safe Register This Standard is included in the list of current Industry Standards available on a subscription basis to the majority of Gas Safe registered business. To subscribe, log into your online account at www. gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in and choose Standards Subscriptions.

Choose and pay for a one-year or three-year subscription and then you will be able to access the Normative Documents.

Bibliography 1. Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 22 – 2020 Design, Installation and Testing of LPG Piping Systems.

2. Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 22 – 2020 Design, Installation and Testing of LPG Piping Systems – Amendment 1. This supersedes the previous edition 3. BS EN ISO 10380: 2012 Pipework – Corrugated metal hoses and hose assemblies 4. Liquid Gas UK Code of Practice 32 – LPG systems in Leisure Accommodation Vehicles and Road Vehicles with Habitation – Post Delivery Inspection, Commissioning and Maintenance

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 23

Protecting homes in Sub-zero temperatures, ice, snow and wind can all have devastating consequences on homes.

Gas Safe Register’s Technical Support Officer Steve Lombard has some advice on minimising the expense and inconvenience of winter damage.

“The most likely cause of damage to a boiler in sub-zero temperatures will be a frozen condensate pipe that has been run externally.”

24 February 2022

Protect the boiler and heating system Older non-condensing boiler installations in unheated spaces, such as a garage, outhouse or loft space, rely on good insulation of pipework, cold water storage (CWS) and feed and expansion (F&E) tanks. The boilers themselves often need additional frost thermostats and pipe thermostats: these override the normal heating

controls and fire up the boiler in the coldest of temperatures.

Some boilers also have a spring-loaded safety valve screwed into the cast-iron heat exchanger to relieve the expanding pressure on the boiler

if the cold feed and vent pipe should become frozen.

What about modern heating installations?

Many heating systems use combi or system boilers, and system boilers usually heat an unvented hot water cylinder, which means that CWS, F&E tanks and pipework in roof spaces are a thing of the past.

Modern boilers have built-in frost

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL

cold weather protection instead of relying on external controls.

It’s important to insulate all exposed pipework in unheated spaces, but the most likely cause of damage to a modern boiler in sub-zero temperatures will be a frozen condensate pipe that has been run externally.

When the condense pipe freezes, condensate backs up inside the boiler causing damage that could lead to expensive repairs.

External condensate drains You should only consider fitting an external condensate drain connection if internal gravity or pumped connection is impractical to install.

Where the condensate has to be run to an external drain, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and BS 6798*, which require the condense pipe to be run internally as far as possible before going outside. The pipe diameter must be increased to a minimum of 30mm ID (typically 32mm OD) before it passes through the wall.

The angle of the pipe should slope downwards by at least 3° as it passes through the wall to help maintain a good velocity as the condensate exits the building.

The external pipe run should

be kept as short as possible, to a maximum of 3 metres, taking the most direct and most vertical route to the discharge point. There should be no horizontal sections in which condensate might collect.

To minimise the effects of wind-chill, the open end of the condensate pipe should terminate below the grating and above the water level. It should also be covered by a drain cover, such as those used to prevent blockage by leaves.

The pipe must be insulated from the point where it emerges from outside the external wall of the building, using suitable waterproof and weatherproof insulation.

Alternative methods of protection may be used, as specified by manufacturers, and products such as those that preheat the condense before it leaves the thermal envelope of the dwelling can be used too.

Remember: When installing a boiler, any horizontal flue exiting the property needs to be installed at least 300mm above flat surfaces to avoid becoming blocked by snow or leaves. *BS 6798: Specification for selection, installation, inspection, commissioning, servicing and maintenance of gas fired boilers of rated input not exceeding 70kW net

“Any external condense pipe run should be kept as short as possible, to a maximum of 3 metres.”

Preventing damage caused by freezing Outside taps: Use a suitable insulating cover to protect the outside tap from wind-chill and freezing conditions. It’s also a good idea to fit an additional isolation valve inside the property before the outside tap.

Holidays: Homes that are left empty during the winter can be protected from freezing by a number of measures: • Add antifreeze to the central heating system: this is especially useful in properties such as residential park homes or holiday homes.

• Leave the central heating switched on and set the room thermostat to a low temperature setting • If the loft space has cold water storage and feed and expansion tanks, and you are concerned about freezing in a prolonged period of sub-zero temperatures, open the loft hatch slightly at one end to allow some heat to circulate into the loft.

Top tips to protect the home Insulation: prevention is better than cure There are many good reasons for insulating the home, including insulating the water pipework in unheated or exposed areas. For a low initial outlay, insulation will save on energy and reduce heating costs, and help to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases. Insulating water pipework prevents the likelihood of freezing in prolonged cold periods.

Damage to property – including heating systems – can happen when pipes initially become frozen or when the temperatures rise again and damaged frozen pipework thaws out to expose leaks.

Make sure your customers know where their pipes are and how to shut the water off. When pipes freeze, speed is critical: the quicker the water is shut off, the better the chance of preventing serious damage.

Make sure gas appliances are serviced every year in accordance with the appliance manufacturer’s instructions.

This helps to ensure that they operate safely and helps prevent breakdowns at the time when they are needed most.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 25

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | INDUSTRY STANDARD UPDATE

Industry Standard Update 106 British Standard 1949:2021 Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles and accommodation purposes in other vehicles Date issued: 17 January 2022 This Industry Standard Update (ISU) provides an overview of the key areas of change arising from the revised British Standard 1949:2011+A1:2013 Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles and accommodation purposes in other vehicles(2) Introduction During December 2021, BSI published a revised version of British Standard 1949:2021 Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles and accommodation purposes in other vehicles(1). This supersedes the previous edition, published in April 2013.

The revision to this standard comes into effect by June 2022 at the latest, and conflicting national standards will be withdrawn at the latest by June 2023. Gas Safe Register will inspect to the revised standard by 1 December 2022: however, this should not restrict businesses from applying the specifications sooner.

The following is a brief overview of the areas of significant change to the revised BS EN 1949.

Cylinder housing Some of the clauses in section 5 (LPG cylinder housing) have been separated to give clearer guidance on the requirements for cylinder housings. One of the main changes comes in clause 5.1.7, which now states that the maximum allowable cylinder size for a compartment with internal access has been reduced from two cylinders of 16kg each to two cylinders of 11kg each.

General Legislation, normative, references and current standards have been updated throughout where necessary.

Electrical equipment in LPG cylinder compartments The requirements around electrical equipment in cylinder compartments have been extended. Electrical equipment which is proofed for at least category II 3 G Ex IIA T2 is permitted in the compartment.

Second LPG systems Clause 4.4 details to the requirements for where there is a second LPG system installed. The new standard states that where there is a second LPG system, a second manufacturer’s declaration of conformity is mandatory. It also now states that it is not permitted to have a second LPG system in a caravan holiday home.

26 February 2022

Tank compartments Section 6 is a new section on LPG tank compartments.

This states that LPG tank compartments shall be sealed against accommodation spaces with external access only, and be designed so that access to any connections, pressure regulation system and changeover devices is not obstructed.

Slide-outs on road vehicles A new section regarding slide-outs has been added (Section 10.3).

This states that one or more LPG appliances are allowed in a slide-out, and that each slide-out installation shall be connected to

the vehicle LPG installation by only one flexible hose. There must be a readily accessible shut-off valve no more than 500mm upstream of the hose connection, an excess flow device fitted, and the length of the hose must be as short as possible and no longer than 750mm.

The hose assembly shall be protected from stress, mechanical damage and overheating, be readily accessible, and shall not pass through walls, ceilings or floors. Downstream of the hose assembly, the pipework feeding the appliances shall be rigid. Each appliance needs to have individual shut-off valves installed.

LPG tanks The section on LPG tanks and tank installations has been extended, and now includes guidance on the tightness testing of the tank and the installation between the tank and the tank filling point.

Annex New Annex A includes a table giving the maximum flow rate of pressure regulators for caravan holiday homes by nation.

The previous Annex A is now Annex B. The previous Annex B has been removed.

Annex C has been updated and now includes examples of manufacturers’ declarations for both road vehicles and caravan holiday homes.

Summary As previously stated, this Industry Standard Update is only a brief overview of the information contained in the amended standard.

Registered businesses should be aware that they have a responsibility to ensure that they are fully apprised of all the requirements of the whole published standard and its practical application.

Bibliography 1. British Standard 1949:2021 Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles and accommodation purposes in other vehicles This supersedes the previous edition 2. British Standard 1949:2011 +A1:2013 Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles and accommodation purposes in other vehicles.

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COLD WEATHER

Hot tips for cold weather Heating engineers play a crucial role in making sure that boilers operate effectively and efficiently in winter. Sean Keleher, national technical manager at Navien, has some advice on keeping heating systems running during cold weather.

What advice should engineers give their customers?

Ideally, the heating system will have been fired up already before the weather gets really cold, and leaving it to run for an hour or so will have flagged any potential issues. But now is a good time to double-check if a service is due.

Regular servicing goes a long way towards ensuring all the parts and key components are in good working order, and you should remind your customers of this, as well as the fact that an annual service is usually required under the boiler’s warranty.

What checks are essential?

Homeowners should check the boiler pressure, as this can have a big impact on performance and efficiency: you can advise on the location of the pressure gauge, how to read it and the recommended level, and show them how to top up the pressure if needed. How to top up the pressure is always explained in the

“Homeowners should check their boiler pressure, as this can have a big impact on performance and efficiency.” manufacturer’s instructions too.

Other essential checks include ensuring there is no air trapped in the radiators and bleeding them if required. The boiler pressure may need to be checked and topped up because bleeding the radiators can reduce the system pressure.

What about controls?

All thermostats should be checked to ensure they are switching on and off when required, and we recommend this as part of the boiler service.

Similarly, any heating controls and associated smart apps should be double-checked to make sure they are communicating with the boiler effectively. It’s a good idea 28 February 2022

to explain any specific modes or programs to your customers.

This will help avoid any confusion in future, as it is much easier to demonstrate functionality in person than over the phone.

What about oil boilers?

Users often don’t know exactly how much heating oil is in their storage tank, which is why Navien’s boilers show oil usage on a smart, text-driven display.

It’s worth you reminding your customers to monitor their oil levels throughout the year so they don’t run dry – especially because deliveries are most in-demand during the colder months.

We advise checking oil levels

every week in autumn and winter.

Using the latest smart controls or adding a remote oil level gauge can also help.

If there is any damage to the oil storage tank, lower outdoor temperatures can cause this to worsen. A visual check for any signs of cracks or rusting, as well as damaged caps and filling points, will help prevent any issues such as leaks or other potential damage.

What about frozen condensate pipes?

A frozen condensate pipe can suddenly cause the boiler to stop working, and prevention is certainly better than a cure. Pipe insulation and keeping the heating at a consistently low temperature are the best ways to prevent this; lagging the condensate pipe will offer better protection against freezing and keep the heating operating effectively. In the event of the condensate pipe freezing,

Navien’s Smart Plus controls can improve energy efficiency to an ErP rating of A+, as well as provide a number of advanced and energy-saving functions, such as weather compensation, remote programming and geofencing, which automatically fires up the heating before the homeowner returns.

An intelligent mode also learns from the user’s behaviour to pre-heat hot water when required, saving money on energy bills during the cold winter months.

your customers can defrost it by pouring warm (but not boiling) water over it, or warm it by using a hot water bottle or microwavable heat pack. ■

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Health and safety in Registered Gas Engineer takes a look at the latest statistics published by HSE showing the impact of Covid-19 and work-related stress, as well as workplace injuries and RIDDOR reporting.

M

ental health issues are the number one reason given for sick days in the UK, says HSE. In 2020, more than 17 million working days were lost because of stress, anxiety or depression.

A recent survey by the charity Mind suggests that two in five employees’ mental health had worsened during the pandemic.

The HSE’s Working Minds campaign, launched late last year, aims to help people working in small businesses to recognise the signs of work-related stress and make tackling issues routine.

HSE is calling for a culture change workplaces so that psychological risks are treated the same as physical ones. Its chief executive Sarah Albon says: “Work-related stress and poor mental health should be treated with the same significance as risks of poor physical health and injury. In terms of the effect it has on workers, significant and long-term stress can limit performance and impact personal lives.

“No worker should suffer in silence, and if we don’t act now to improve workers’ mental health, this could evolve into a

1.7m People suffering from a work-related illness.

822,000 of these were stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) 451,000 people suffered from a new case of work-related stress, depression or anxiety

30 February 2022

health and safety crisis.

“The pandemic has highlighted the need to protect the health of employees who have faced unprecedented challenges; the government is committed to building back better and we want to make sure good mental health is central to this.”

HSE is reminding business that no matter where people work, employers have a legal duty to assess the risks in the workplace, not just in terms of potential hazards and physical safety: they should also promote good working practices. It says this promotes an open environment where employees can share their concerns.

Sarah adds: “Our campaign is focused on giving employers a clear reminder of their duties while

470,000 People had musculoskeletal disorders 162,000 of these were a new case of work-related musculoskeletal disorder

championing reducing workrelated stress and promoting good mental health at work.”

HSE has partnered with a number of organisations to highlight the triggers of stress,

the legal duty of employers and how to manage the risks.

The network of Working Minds champions includes Mind, which supports and empowers people who are experiencing a mental health problem in England.

Working Minds provides easy-to-implement advice, support and tools, including simple steps in its 5Rs to Reach out, Recognise, Respond, Reflect, and make it Routine. ■ You can find out more at: workright.campaign.gov.uk/ campaigns/workingminds

“The latest figures on work-related stress reinforce our previous concerns around the scale of this issue in workplaces. The 12-month period in question coincides with the first national lockdown and the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

There have been significant impacts on the labour market, which is reflected in our reporting.”

HSE chief executive Sarah Albon

93,000 Suffered from Covid-19, which they believe may have been from exposure to coronavirus at work

645,000 People reported that their work-related illness was caused or made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

449,000 were stress, depression or anxiety

Note: The pandemic affected certain data collection: there is no new data on working days lost and the associated economic cost for 2021. This data is gathered from self-reporting by workers. Reports of fatalities from COVID-19 under RIDDOR are not covered in these statistics.

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | HEALTH AND SAFETY

2020/21 Enforcement

185 Cases prosecuted or referred for prosecution in Scotland by HSE where a conviction was achieved

£26.9m

2,929

Fines resulting from prosecutions

Notices issued by HSE

35

%

Higher fines per case (from an average of £107,000 to £145,000)

Dangerous gas work and RIDDOR Notifications of dangerous gas fittings reported in Great Britain under RIDDOR in 2020/21

2,411

838

All gas appliances

Rented accommodation

1,573 Owner-occupied accommodation

Flammable gas incidents1 resulting in injury reported in Great Britain under RIDDOR in 2020/21 1 An incident can cause more than one fatality or injury

100

62

87

1

All incidents

Incidents of CO poisoning

Non-fatalities from CO poisoning

Fatality from CO poisoning

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 31

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | MENTAL HEALTH

Practical support for mental health Band of Builders helps support gas engineers to put their mental wellbeing first.

Here, Registered Gas Engineer talks to volunteer Peter Cape about how to get tradespeople talking and why it’s teamed up with Resideo to help.

M

ental health is a big issue across the construction industry. It’s estimated that two UK construction workers die by suicide every day1 and 90 per cent of construction managers2 say they have struggled with mental health.

With a mission to provide much needed support to people in the construction industry, Band of Builders is a national charity that provides help and support to tradespeople when times get tough. It provides hands-on projects, advice and support, and a line of communication that people can use it when they need it most.

Tradespeople often don’t talk about their problems or let it be known that they might not be coping. They’re usually seen as ‘get on with it’ people – but this can be detrimental to mental health.

Band of Builders is trying to get tradespeople to open up about issues that are affecting them and ask for help and support if they need it.

Why have you teamed up with Resideo?

Resideo approached us in 2021 after seeing some of the projects we have carried out with our volunteers. Resideo products are known by tradespeople and, by being associated with Band of Builders, this has helped raise awareness and remove the taboo around mental health in our industry.

We are a relatively small charity so having a brand like Resideo support us is key to getting exposure for the work we do and raising funds to support individuals.

How has it supported?

In October, Resideo held 35 Big Brew events at builders’ merchants across the UK, giving

Band of Builders

people a relaxed environment to grab a brew, chat to someone from the charity and find out more about accessing support.

It really highlighted the coming together of people in our industry too, to have a manufacturer, merchant and charity all working towards the same goal in the same place.

Why is talking about mental health so important?

Mental health is still quite taboo in our industry, and tradespeople are notoriously bad at speaking up about the struggles they might be facing. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have further isolated them, particularly those who spend the majority of their time working independently.

Sadly, we know that by not talking about these issues, people’s lives are in danger.

The statistics speak for themselves; we work in highly stressful environments and all too often this can result in suicide.

There is a genuine need to support people and provide safe spaces to share concerns.

We need to come together as an industry, break down the stigma and reassure people that they are not on their own.

Resideo has been supportive of Band of Builders with a full programme of events. Last year, as well as the Big Brew, the company’s Nathan Bennett ran the Manchester Marathon to raise money. And at the end of 2021 Resideo made donations to the charity from purchases of Honeywell Home purchases3 at James Hargreaves, all of which will go towards the our projects.

We know that people’s mental health can suffer the most after Christmas. And more Big Brew events are planned during the year. ■ For more information on how to become a member of Band of Builders or how to apply for help, go to: www.bandofbuilders.org

Formed in 2016, Band of Builders is a registered charity that helps UK construction workers battling illness or injury by completing practical projects.

For each project, volunteers come together to help their fellow tradespeople with renovations and repairs that make a real difference to their lives.

Previous projects have included: • Revamping the home of chartered surveyor Rob Lamb in Solihull to make it safe and accessible after he was paralysed in a fall.

• Installing a special bathroom for Pippa Atkinson, an electrician’s daughter suffering from a rare skin condition.

• Installing a new kitchen and landscaping the garden for builder Jamie Thompson, who lives with Motor Neurone Disease, so he can safely watch his children play.

• Finishing renovations at the home of Elaine Dunphy, whose husband Steve died of cancer before he could complete the work he had started.

• Creating a bedroom for plasterer’s daughter Sadie Jenkins, who had spent the first half of her life in hospital and needed machines to breathe, as well as installing a downstairs bathroom for her carers.

1 Research by Glasgow University for The Lighthouse Club 2 Survey by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) 3 Donation up to £10,000.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 33

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LOW CARBON

How decarbonised gas can help achieve net zero Decarbonised gas has a role to play in helping the UK reach net zero effectively. Here, the Decarbonised Gas Alliance – a joint industry group representing nearly 30 organisations – looks at how.

D

ecarbonised gas isn’t just hydrogen, whether green, blue or any other colour: the term also covers gaseous fuels from biomass and plastics, as well as biogases and synthetic gas.

The UK has already made substantial progress in decarbonising the generation of electricity, but other sectors’ emissions have barely budged.

Three sectors are particularly difficult to tackle, and these are where decarbonised gas could play a very substantial role.

• Industry: Several industrial processes have no alternative to gaseous fuels yet. Greenhouse gases are also a by-product of many industrial processes. And, most importantly, industry should be decarbonised in the UK and not offshored to other countries, with the emissions following suit.

To protect and increase jobs, we need industry to be able to transition without unbearable costs and with plausible technology – including low-

back-up for electricity. We are going to hugely increase the size of the grid as we electrify more of the economy. That means a jump in the proportion of electricity provided by renewables, which currently supply 33 per cent of a smaller grid.

The problem is that renewables are intermittent: the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.

Decarbonised gas – either gas-fired power with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) or power from hydrogen – is a credible back-up source of electricity. In all these areas, decarbonised gases can provide a solution.

•B iogases are recycled fuels that can be used for heating and transport. They are storable, and do not use fossil fuels in their production.

•H ydrogen can be used to decarbonise heating, transport and industry. Electrolysed hydrogen is zero-emitting.

“The problem is that renewables are intermittent: the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.” carbon gaseous fuels and carbon capture on industrial processes.

• Heavy transport: While cars can be electrified, long-distance lorries, ships, and aviation need alternative fuels.

• Domestic heating: There are electric alternatives here, but electricity is four times the cost of gas. Some of this is due to conscious policy, but even without this, decarbonised gas remains cheaper, more storable, and better able to meet peaks in heating demand.

Together, these three sectors represent 180 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent – 40 per cent of the UK’s emissions.

At the same time, we need 34 February 2022

Hydrogen produced from methane creates some CO2, which then needs to be captured.

• CO2 capture and either usage for other processes or storage underground are particularly important for industry and if hydrogen is to work at scale.

It makes fossil fuels zero emissions.

We need decarbonised gas to work at scale. It can keep costs down for households, protect existing jobs and create new ones, and enhance our energy security. In the wake of Covid-19, meeting those public red lines is going to be even more crucial. ■ www.dgalliance.org

The role of regional clusters in driving a national hydrogen strategy In October 2021 the DGA ran a UK roadshow to showcase and promote innovation and investment in decarbonised gas, particularly hydrogen, and to gather feedback from industry and stakeholders.

The feedback included that regional clusters are the most suitable way to support hydrogen investment and development. Clusters provide the ecosystem necessary to avoid the classic chicken and egg scenario because creating a micro-economy with supply and demand creates a drive to invest.

The roadshow showcased the hydrogen investment by Thames Estuary, with its mix of industry, domestic and transportation needs.

More is needed from the government on clear funding models and incentives. Without this, there is too much risk associated with investing in and supporting new technology. The DGA showcased the work being done by Fuel Cell Systems in Swindon to develop mobile hydrogen refuelling products and systems – which has been challenging because of the lack of funding. Likewise, ABSL in Swindon is spearheading the use of biohydrogen to use in the local gas network with Wales and West Utilities. Here again, the funding mechanisms rely on private investment in manufacturing without the guarantee of buyers at the other end.

The energy transition will require clear, unambiguous commercial frameworks to be developed to attract investment from the private sector, accelerating and providing the funding mechanisms for “first mover” projects, streamlining the planning constraints that add time to project schedules, and investment now from Ofgem to enable gas and electricity networks to get ready to transport decarbonised energy to consumers.

Finally, consumers need to have choice if they are to join in the sustainability agenda and net-zero future. We need to ensure that consumers can choose the source of low-carbon energy to suit own lives and circumstances. Accelerating low-carbon energy while retaining consumer choice should be at the forefront of all policy decisions because consumers will be the ones on whom the impact will be greatest.

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The challenge of fossil The only way to decarbonise our homes is to understand how they work – and that includes the standard of insulation. One size can’t fit all, says Stephen Zouch, managing director of Intergas Heating Solutions.

T

hat we’re facing a global ecological and environmental tipping point is undeniable.

One of the main contributors is the carbon emissions from the combustion of gas, coal and oil. What we need right now is clarification and greater detail from the government on how, when and who pays to replace these with cleaner, greener alternatives – because the challenge isn’t only about changing our heating appliances.

We can’t just stop using gas for home heating, for example, without people being fully aware of what works need to be undertaken on their property and the total cost. Manufacturers also need time to develop and innovate, and heating engineers need to train and gain in-depth knowledge of greener technologies so that they can answer their customers’ questions.

Work in progress Sure, everyone in our industry is talking about hydrogen boilers, but trials will go on for some time yet, and the detail about the infrastructure required and the supply and cost of hydrogen production are still work in progress. Hydrogen will need to be produced sustainably at scale, so how affordable will it be?

The government’s focus is currently on heat pumps, with a target of installing 600,000 units a year by 2028. The big question is: can people afford to have one installed, and will it keep them warm if the home’s insulation isn’t up to the required standard? The radiators and pipework must be sized correctly to facilitate the lower flow temperature delivered by heat pump technology.

And because 85 per cent of our homes currently have gas central heating, a realistic transition plan must come first.

This is a complex process, particularly for consumers, because they need to know what the most appropriate

36 February 2022

solution for their home looks like.

For us, the starting point has to be better home insulation. By making properties more energy efficient, the overall demand for heating is reduced and so are emissions and heating bills.

In the Netherlands we’ve been working on collecting practical information: we’ve connected 70,000 homes in a bespoke ‘cloud’ and are continuously recording statistical data about their insulation; from this we are learning what is and is not effective, and whether the required level of insulation has been fitted correctly. We then combine this information with boiler performance, prevailing weather conditions and land registry data. With this knowledge, decisions can be made about the suitability of installing certain heating systems

versus the affordability of upgrading the insulation.

But there are options that can be taken now to start reducing emissions now while avoiding unnecessary expenditure in the future: Condensing hybrid system These use an air source heat pump and a condensing boiler.

The heat pump heats the home for most of the year and the condensing boiler heats the home during the few weeks when it is really cold, as well as providing hot water and serving as a back-up if the electrical grid is overloaded. A condensing hybrid system can reduce gas consumption by 60-80 per cent; this will increase if a 20 per cent hydrogen gas blend is used. If hybrid condensing systems are installed on a large scale, it leaves

“Can people afford to have a heat pump installed, and will it keep them warm if the home’s insulation isn’t up to the required standard?”

all options open, from all-electric to hydrogen.

E-hybrid The condensing hybrid system could be replaced eventually by the e-hybrid system. Here, the heat pump provides the required heating for the home in combination with battery and heat storage and recovery technology.

This means gas is no longer needed to heat the home.

District heating grids District heating grids are not really a choice that consumers can make, but it’s worth knowing the pros and cons. A heating grid is a system of insulated water pipes that transport hot water over large distances to homes. In contrast to the transport of electricity via wires, or gas molecules via a gas pipeline, very large quantities of pipework are needed to handle the large volumes of water. This, together with the soil that must be removed, means that installation costs are very high.

Most district heating grids are dependent on controversial sources of heat, such as waste

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | OPINION

fuel-free heating incineration plants, biomass power stations and natural gas-fired boilers, and there’s still a great deal of uncertainty about sustainable sources of heat, such as geothermal energy. Due to the lack of large-scale experience, this uncertainty will not be resolved in the short term.

All-electric heat pumps with cylinder A heat pump with a large hot water storage vessel provides a fully electric home heating solution. The heat pump extracts heat from the outside air or soil but needs to run on electricity: if all the electricity is generated sustainably, the heat pump is a climate-friendly solution. Space

will be needed for the installation of a large cylinder, which adds to the overall cost. To achieve the comfort levels you’re used to, the quality of the insulation must be brought up to that of a new home – and in many cases this may not be possible.

It is questionable whether the existing electrical grid is capable of handling the large-scale installation of electric heat pumps and, ironically, more than 50 per cent of the UK’s electricity is currently generated by burning natural gas.

Hydrogen boilers Manufacturers have already adapted existing boilers to operate safely on a blended

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supply of 80 per cent natural gas and 20 per cent hydrogen, and some have developed appliances that can run on 100 per cent hydrogen. But none of us can move to mass production until the network gas supply is available and the operational procedures in place.

For those who like the flexibility and convenience of gas, then hydrogen is hopefully a viable option in the not-too-distant future.

Right now it’s hard to draw any firm conclusions on accurate timescales to make the transition from gas to greener technologies.

The intent is there by both the government and industry, but more detail and achievable timescales are still needed.

What we do know is that key to an energy-efficient way forward is to use data-driven insulation values as the guide. This knowledge removes the risk and makes choosing the most appropriate low-carbon heating solution for an individual property a logical one.

If the quality of the insulation is not up to standard – and many UK properties fall into this category – then the condensing hybrid system makes an affordable heat transition possible.

The condensing hybrid system can lead to further electrification in the form of the e-hybrid system, or the residual demand for gas can be met with the hydrogen blend and, finally, 100 per cent hydrogen. ■

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | POWERFLUSHING

Top tips for successful powerflushing Kamco’s Keith MacBain answers the questions that Kamco is most frequently asked about powerflushing, and debunks some of the more common myths.

T

he need for system cleanliness has never been more important. Manufacturers are giving longer warranty terms on their boilers but that guarantee has to be earned, with a requirement for a high level of system cleanliness to protect heat exchangers and other components from the problems caused by corrosion debris.

More than 30 years since powerflushing started, it’s a rare heating engineer who doesn’t know what it is – but we know that some have steered clear of getting involved because they are unsure or have heard scare stories. For heating engineers who want to know more about

would occur soon even without a powerflush, and it is better that it is found while the heating engineer is there to remedy the problem.

How long does a powerflush take?

This depends on the size and type of heating system, but as a rough guide, a 10-radiator system could take five to six hours, depending on the situation.

urvey the system thoroughly, checking the type and S number of radiator panels and their condition before quoting so that you don’t get any unpleasant surprises

Isn’t it enough to just fit a magnetic filter?

Installing a permanent filter is a good idea but it will only remove debris from the water passing through it, and leave debris

onsider whether you should even be powerflushing C the heating system if it is poor condition

“Relying on a standard circulator pump to remove corrosion debris is a triumph of hope over experience.” powerflushing, there is no substitute for a manufacturer’s training course. But for newcomers, the following guidance is helpful.

Will the powerflushing pump cause a system to leak?

It’s very unlikely. Maximum pressure from a Clearflow pump is 2 bar or less, so that the system is not unduly stressed.

It’s the high flow rate through the system that loosens debris and gets it moving.

Experienced heating engineers will usually explain to householders that powerflushing cures most circulation problems.

But it cannot undo the gradual decay of heating system components that has led to the need to flush.

It is possible that the vigorous flow rate may dislodge a scab of rust covering a deep corrosion pit. The advanced stage of corrosion that would cause a corrosion pit means that the leak

lways read the operating instructions for the pump A or study the brief guide before starting your first flush.

Get on a training course as quickly as possible, and familiarise yourself with the pump manufacturer’s helpline number

elsewhere in the system that could break loose at a later date.

Most permanent filters have a limited capacity and the debris can overwhelm this. Relying on a standard circulator pump to remove corrosion debris is a triumph of hope over experience as it can never be as effective as the much higher flow rate of a powerflushing pump.

What’s the flow reverser for?

Powerflushing pumps have a flow reversal device to instantly reverse the direction of flow. This creates turbulence and will reach and move debris that’s sheltered from the usual direction of flow.

Where does the debris go?

When the high flow rate and reversible flow of the powerflushing pump have loosened and dislodged debris, the pump is switched to ‘dumping’ mode. Fresh clean water is forced through the system to propel contaminated

heck the boiler. Does it have an aluminium heat C exchanger, requiring extra care in the choice of cleaning chemical? Should you isolate it from the system before flushing?

ake a sample of the system water and check for T reasons why corrosion has been taking place, and plan to remedy these hink about how you are going to connect into the T heating system Always flush every radiator individually heck water quality, clarity and pH after the flush and C before adding corrosion inhibitor.

on’t attempt to powerflush old systems with galvanised D steel, stainless steel or low-quality copper pipework on’t quote without first firing the boiler and checking D all radiators for heat. How long ago did that cold radiator last function? Corrosion debris could have compacted to the consistency of concrete on’t forget to cap off the F&E tank of vented systems, D or you’ll be amazed at how quickly the tank will fill up and overflow on’t push the discharge hose down the nearest toilet D without tying the hose to a seat hinge or trapping it securely with the toilet seat on’t leave a powerflushing pump running while you D attend to a job in another house on’t assume that flow problems in underfloor heating D the debris are caused by rust and corrosion. Check sight glasses for signs of bacterial contamination and use a biocide to clean instead of standard flushing chemicals.

water down the drain to waste, to be replaced with clean water.

Do I need to be trained?

If you have a good working knowledge of heating

systems, you could read the manual and follow that, step by step, and also prepare yourself with further information online. ■ www.kamco.co.uk www.gassaferegister.co.uk 39

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | SYSTEM CLEANING

Clean up that sludge Banging and kettling noises from the heating system, lukewarm water, leaks, loss in boiler pressure, and having to turn the thermostat up regularly could all be signs that deep-seated sludge has built up in radiators. Colin Yearp, head of training at Adey, looks at why flushing the system ensures that it can run efficiently and avoids storing up costly problems.

M

ost gas engineers know what sludge is and how it forms from corrosion inside radiators, pipes and soldered joints. As well as affecting the performance of the heating system, the build-up of magnetite can affect the system’s energy efficiency as it struggles to transfer heat; radiators and pipes are blocked, and the flow of water is restricted. The householder ends up with higher energy bills than necessary.

Flushing the entire system using chemicals and removing magnetite with a specialist filter offers a surefire way to remove even hardened debris that may have built up over time.

Filters can only collect debris that is floating and moving in the

system. So, even if a magnetic filter has already been fitted, a heavily sludged heating system may have corrosion sitting in the radiators and pipework that can’t be removed by filters alone.

To shift heavily settled magnetite and rust, add a cleaner to the system so that it can circulate and lift the sludge in the pipework and radiators.

The potential long-term savings from carrying out a flush of a system could outweigh the costs: a proper system flush to fully remove sludge will reduce the chances of the boiler breaking down. Making sure that the water in the system is as clean as possible will also help it run at its most effective: radiators can gain up to 47 per cent more heat

without using more energy because the system will work more efficiently, resulting in energy bill savings.

Just replacing the boiler won’t solve the problem of deep-seated sludge; if it’s not removed, it will remain in the pipework and radiators and damage the new boiler from day one. In fact, 60 per cent of new boiler breakdowns within their first year of operation are due to sludge.

You wouldn’t put old oil in a new car, so flushing a heating system when a new boiler is installed will help ensure that it will performs at its best.

Whether you are fitting a new boiler or maintaining an existing system, your customers might see flushing the system as an

unnecessary cost, especially if they can’t see why you’re suggesting it. Using a lab-style water testing solution can help show them the state of the water inside the system, making what is normally invisible, visible. ■ www.adey.com/category/ magnacleanse

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | PRODUCTS

Productnews Wiser Home app adds energy use data

Navien Smart Plus keeps heating under control

The Wiser Home app has added two new features that are designed to provided simplified heating control and more detailed insights.

Wiser has partnered with smart home energy specialist Green Energy Options to give users more visibility about their energy use. Users can integrate data from their smart meter with the Wiser Home app to help save energy and money. The

Navien’s Smart Plus wireless room thermostat has a host of advanced features that are compatible with the latest smartphone technology and improve energy efficiency.

The smart forecast check enables the heating system to check the weather forecast and adjust itself accordingly. When connected to Wi-Fi, Smart Plus monitors external conditions on the OpenWeatherMap and reacts to ensure that the home maintains a comfortable temperature while only using energy when needed.

Geofencing turns the heating system on and off, depending on the user’s proximity to their home. This ensures no energy is wasted, as the boiler will not switch on until the phone is within a set range. It can also be set up for multiple users.

Connecting Navien’s oil or gas boilers to the Smart Plus control pack delivers an A+ energy rating and provides simple control of up to three zones. Individual rooms or zones can be heated to a specific temperature at different times of day, and users can adjust the temperature settings in each zone to suit their preferences.

The intelligent mode on LCB700 Blue Flame oil boilers pre-heats domestic hot water based on cumulative usage patterns, having learned from the user’s behaviour. www.navien.co.uk

interconnectivity unlocks the new Insights+ feature, through which users can access their energy use from anywhere.

As well as showing the current usage for electricity and gas, Insights+ provides tariff and spending data in monetary values to help track energy bills.

It also offers help on energy budgeting with push notifications, a behavioural analysis with trend data, calculates the carbon footprint of the home, and makes predictions about future heat use and spend.

The Moments function activates multiple devices by grouping them together. Users can create their desired environment, incorporating heating and other electrical devices connected to a Wiser Plug. www.wiser.draytoncontrols. co.uk

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | PRODUCTS

Productnews >

New bathroom finishes from RAK Ceramics RAK Ceramics’ new Sorrento collection provides a solution for every bathroom installation in four different finishes. The long body and spout combine with single-lever control for a modern twist in polished chrome, brushed gold, brushed nickel and matt black.

The Sorrento basin mixers are available in standard, medium and tall, enabling the brassware to be combined effortlessly with any washbasin.

There’s also a wall-mounted basin mixer and choice of deck-mounted, exposed and freestanding options.

The shower has a choice of thermostatic valves that complete the streamlined look. www.rakceramics.com/uk

RWC adds low profile UFH range RWC’s new underfloor heating solution JG LowFit complements its existing JG Underfloor heating range to keep the overall floor height to a minimum without compromising on heat output.

It’s designed for new-build and retrofit projects and its low-profile panelling options range from 16mm in thickness to 20mm.

Foil and mesh panels are designed to be placed over existing timber or concrete flooring so there’s no need to rip up the flooring.

It’s suitable for renewable heat sources, including heat pumps, and for screed, non-screed, tiled and existing concrete floors. The 12mm JG LowFit Layflat Barrier polybutylene pipe includes an inner barrier to prevent the ingress of oxygen molecules, which helps reduce corrosion on metal parts within the system.

Sales director Mike Riseley says: “Alongside our new panelling system, our latest JG LowFit manifolds come with JG Speedfit push-fit technology.

Featuring 12mm push-fit connections, our manifolds are fast and simple to install and do not require fitting additional reducers from 15mmm or 16mm connections.

“This speeds installation time and reduces fittings and pipe congestion around the manifold.” www.johnguest.com

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.

42 February 2022

*Available to Gas Safe registered engineers only.

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

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NATIONWIDE

Gas Service & Maintenance Engineers Leicester City Council are seeking multi-talented Gas Service and Heating Engineers to provide an efficient and effective maintenance service to the council’s properties and other buildings.

By undertaking assessments of repairs and maintenance, you will work with colleagues and customers in highlighting health and safety issues, customer care standards and essential works.

By visiting homes and other locations throughout Leicester City, you will undertake the provision of emergency service repairs, carry out servicing and maintenance on gas appliances and deal with residents regularly, including vulnerable people.

You’ll be working full time Monday-Friday, 37 hours per week.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING You will undertake domestic landlord gas safety checks, heating and hot water repairs, smoke detection equipment maintenance and undertake assessments of repairs and maintenance work required. By actively managing the stock of parts and equipment on vehicles, you will also ensure the best route of efficiency for the completion of work.

Working with colleagues, and others to resolve or notify issues, i.e. repairs, rechargeable items, safeguarding etc you will determine and arrange appropriate and value for money resources required to complete repairs and maintenance and remove any waste. In addition, you will also aide in the supervision of apprentices and other assigned trainees, as well as managing your own workload to meet customer standards.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Essentially, you will have significant experience and working knowledge of domestic gas maintenance including repair and fault finding works and exposure gained within a gas installation/ maintenance environment.

With a high level of communication and listening skills, you will be able to deal with customers face to face and on the telephone, as well as be willing to carry out work in challenging conditions. Being organised, you will also be able to work under pressure and prioritise tasks to meet agreed timescales and targets.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You’ll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working.

We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from a number of flexible benefits, including childcare vouchers, discounts on city buses and trains and help with relocation to Leicester, where appropriate.

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Greg Gibson (Gas Team Leader) on greg.gibson@leicester.gov.uk or 0116 454 1636 or contact, (Daniel Mcloughlin) (Gas Team Leader) on Daniel.Mcloughlin@leicester.gov.uk or 0116 454 1116

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020 8394 3280 gascentre @ nescot.ac.uk Reigate Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT17 3DS

www.nescot.ac.uk

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BTAAC offer a full range of Domestic and Commercial Gas training and re-assessments in a well-equipped training facility at very competitive prices. · All ACS Domestic Gas – core + appliances ·All ACS Commercial Gas including CMDDA1,BMP1,LPG · Unvented Hot Water & Water Regs · Essential Electrics & Heating Controls · Highly knowledgeable trainers with years of experience

For more information and to book your course contact us on:- Email: sarah.bygraves@bromleytraining.co.uk Telephone: 0208 315 5678 Bromley Training & Assessment Centre (BTAAC) Unit 4 Ashgrove Industrial Estate Ashgrove Road, Bromley Kent, BR1 4JW

44 February 2022

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LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Boiler Breakdown and Fault Finding

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PLUS Parts Replacement and Service Course Learn how to repair ALL types of combi/system boilers PLUS way, PLUS MUST know

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• Parts Replacement and Service Day – get hands-on experience removing and replacing boiler parts • Parts and Service days – max 3 people • Both courses can also be booked 1 on 1 to suit you • Company discounts available Celebrating 25 years of Quality Training & Assessments in Gas, Electrics, Plumbing & Heating and renewables Gas Training & Assessment Ltd Basildon, Essex SS13 1EU

1997 - 2022

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G.T.A 1/8 page.indd 1

ADVERTISE YOUR

Tel: 01375 841804 Mob: 07958 783 681 Email: info@boiler-training.co.uk Woodys Training, Unit 62c Thames Industrial Park, Princess Margret Road, East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8RH

15/12/2021 14:51

TRAINING COURSES, SERVICES OR RECRUITMENT REQUIREMENTS TO 80,000 GAS SAFE REGISTERED BUSINESSES, AND REACH MORE THAN 132,000 GAS ENGINEERS. PLEASE TELEPHONE BEV: 0203 137 8582 OR EMAIL: classified@rgemagazine.co.uk

Training Services

the co origi urs na e l

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We offer short courses in the following

Electrical Part P full scope 17th Edition Pat Testing

Basic electrical safety Essential electrics

ACS for Natural Gas and LPG All Domestic elements All Industrial/Commercial elements Commercial Catering Elements Mobile Catering Commercial Laundry Commercial Meters Emergency Service Providers Flue Gas Analyser

(Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment)

Other Courses Unvented Hot Water Systems Water Regulations Energy efficiency Plumbing to Gas Engineering

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For further information on any of our courses please

Phone Email

01322 524 792

Fax

01322 310 223

paul.chambers@egtrainingservices.co.uk EG Training Services Ltd - 3 Mulberry Court - Bourne Industrial Park Bourne Road - Crayford - DA1 4BF

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 45

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LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

MIDLANDS

ADVERTISE YOUR TRAINING COURSES, SERVICES

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OR RECRUITMENT REQUIREMENTS TO 80,000 GAS SAFE REGISTERED

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Introductory Gas Training Courses (Commercial, Domestic & LPG) ACS Domestic Core & Appliances and CPA ACS Non-Domestic Core & Appliances ACS Commercial Catering, Mobile Catering & Appliances Swimming Pool Boilers ACS LPG Core & Appliances (incl Boats, RPH, LAV, PD, Caravans) LPG Generators OFTEC Oil Assessment & Training (OFT 50, 101, 102, 201, 105e, 600a) & Solid Fuel Un-vented & Vented Domestic Hot Water, Legionella and Water Regulations Gas Supervisor Courses and courses designed for your specific needs EAL Electrical Courses and Electrical Part P Fire Alarm BS5839 and Security Lighting BS 5266 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Courses (Solar, Photovoltaic) BESA F Gas Courses

SOUTH WEST PENINSULAR TRAINING LTD Westover Trading Estate Langport, Somerset TA10 9RB Tel: 01458 253493 Fax: 01458 253445 Email:info@swptraining.co.uk www.swptraining.co.uk

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COMPETITION

Competition Win comfort and save money with tado° 3 Registered Gas Engineer and tado° have teamed up to give three readers the chance to win a great smart thermostat starter kit plus two smart radiator thermostats.

I

s the current energy crisis driving up energy costs for you and your customers? What if you could reduce home energy consumption, live more sustainably and save money while enhancing comfort for everyone? tado° smart thermostats are an energy-efficient solution to control the climate in your customers’ homes easily via an app. Homes are more comfortable and your customers can save money at the same time. tado° devices are engineered in Germany and manufacturer-independent: that means tado° fits in almost every home, no matter what heating system or manufacturer.

Smart features can help you and your customers save without compromising on comfort. Open-window detection reminds users to turn down the heating when they’re ventilating the home, and the smart schedule function sets the perfect temperature for every time of day. Multi-room control means the temperature can be set for each room individually and keeps an eye on the home’s air quality.

You can learn how easy it is to install and control tado° and enjoy the comfort of smart heating in several rooms. All you have to do is replace the old thermostats and TRVs with tado°.

Chan to w ces in

Your chance to win To be in with the chance of winning 1 of 3 prizes, please answer the following question correctly: Where are tado° products designed?

Please send your answer plus your name, address and Gas Safe registration number to competition@registeredgasengineer. co.uk

a) Italy b) Germany c) Poland

All entries must be received by the closing date of Monday 28 February 2022.

Paul Edwards from East Sussex won December 2021's competition.

He will receive KANE458s CPA1 kit with KANE LINK and a pair of wireless temperature probes. Congratulations!

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

• Three 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.

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

• Registered Gas Engineer and tado° 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 tado°, Gas Safe Register or Registered Gas Engineer or their direct family members or agents.

• Registered Gas Engineer and tado° 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 tado°, which may use them for marketing purposes. By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from tado°. If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 47

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