Gas Safe news

FROM THE EDITOR

Comment

This time last year, we wrote: “Hold on to your hats, it’s going to be another rollercoaster of a year.” We were looking ahead to the 2022 changes to Building Regulations and CO alarm rules, the launch of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and pondering what we thought the uptake might be.

But no one could have predicted quite what a wild ride the year would turn out to be, with three Prime Ministers and a government in turmoil. And then the cost of living crisis, which saw energy and how we heat our homes – and at what cost – truly dominate the headlines. The effects of the war in Ukraine pushed up energy prices to record highs, affecting every UK household.

When winter finally hit last month after a warmer than average November, the reality of people being too worried about the cost to put their heating on came into focus. When people are cold but they’re still having to choose whether they can afford to stay warm using their trusty gas boiler, it’s hard to imagine that they will be spending time wondering whether to replace it with a low-carbon alternative such as heat pump.

As we start 2023, that dichotomy is likely to continue. We wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

Nicki Shearer, editor

Gas Safe Register, PO Box 631, DARLINGTON, DL1 9GD

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: Carl Banister, Stephen Gallagher, Jonathan Palmer Production: Mark Turpin Advertising enquiries only: Ian Carter ian@rgemagazine.co.uk

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

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.

Registered Gas Engineer is written, designed and published by The Team on behalf of Gas Safe Register. 30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ

CIRCULATION: Jan-Dec 2021 80,070

Are all your details up to date?

Why is it important to update your business details?

When you first join Gas Safe Register and when you renew your registration, you agree to keep the Register updated with your correct details. It’s a requirement under the rules of registration and it’s important that your details are correct so that you can receive important communications, including: • Details of any inspection appointments • Reminders to renew your registration • Notification of any sanctions • Registered Gas Engineer magazine every month.

If your details are incorrect, your customers may not be able to get in touch with you through Gas Safe Register’s Find an Engineer function, and Gas Safe Register may not be able to contact you.

When should I tell Gas Safe Register about any changes to my business details?

Generally, you must notify any changes within five days.

How can I do this?

You can make most changes: • Via your Gas Safe Register online account • In writing to Gas Safe

Register, PO Box 631,

Darlington, DL1 9DG • By email to: Register@

GasSafeRegister.co.uk • By calling 0800 408 5500.

What changes do I need to notify the Register about?

Under the rules of registration, you must tell Gas Safe Register about the following changes: • Your business address, as well as any other address from where gas work is conducted, such as your operating centre.

If you have more than one business address on your registration, this must be the main address from which you operate • Your trading title • Changes to the ownership of your business • If you stop trading • The name of the person who is responsible for registration matters on behalf of your

MP highlights the importance of Gas Safe’s work

Gas Safe welcomed Maria Miller MP to its HQ to talk about how the Register helps to keep consumers safe. The Basingstoke MP said: “The Gas Safe Register is at the forefront of efforts to protect against the dangers of carbon monoxide. I was pleased to speak with chief executive Jonathan Samuel about the important work they do and their efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide.”

Having had constituents who were affected by carbon monoxide poisoning in the past, Maria is a strong advocate for gas safety issues and is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG).

Are all your details up to date?

Do check your email settings to make sure you receive Gas Safe Register communications. We know that sometimes these messages can be filtered into junk in error.

Remember: It your responsibility to look out for communications from Gas Safe Register and respond in a timely manner as required and as appropriate. The Register does not accept that you have not received a communication if it has been sent to the details held on its database using your preferred method of contact.

business. If you are a sole trader, you are the responsible person • Any changes to engineers working for you; and • Any current/active Notices of Contravention and/or

Improvement Notices issued against you or your business in writing relating to gas work. Gas Safe Register uses electronic communication as the preferred method wherever practical to keep its service cost effective and environmentally sustainable. This means, for example, that when a business applies for or renews its registration online, the email address provided will be the primary method used for all communications.

If you don’t have an email account, an alternative method of communication will be used. However, Gas Safe Register reserves the right to apply additional charges to businesses that register or renew online but that subsequently do not receive other communications online.

You can see all Gas Safe Register’s published policies at:

www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/ policies

Tell us what you think

Our reader survey is running through the whole of January and we’d be very grateful if you could spare just a few minutes to let us know what you think about this magazine.

As Gas Safe’s official registration magazine, we aim to bring you all the latest information from the Register – whether it’s about changes that affect you and your registration, useful reminders, its latest marketing and advertising campaigns, or important technical documents, including Safety Alerts, Technical Bulletins and Industry Standard Updates.

We also keep you up to date with technical features about gas work and information to support your business, news, initiatives and products from around the industry, and developments on the road to zero carbon.

We want to make sure that the magazine continues to be informative, relevant and valuable to you, and that you can receive it a range of formats. Our reader survey will help us find out more about you and your work, to help make sure that we provide you with the information you need.

You might recognise some of the questions from previous surveys. This is because it’s important that we understand if and how things are changing in your work.

The survey takes just a few minutes to complete, and you are welcome to give your feedback anonymously if you prefer to do so. The survey will run until the end of January 2023 and we will share its findings with you in the spring.

You can take part by scanning the QR code using your phone’s camera, or by going to: www.surveymonkey.

co.uk/r/RGE2023

Thank you for taking part. Your responses really will help us to make the magazine as interesting and useful to you as possible.