In this issue

06 Gas Safe news

Registration reminder: what can you expect from a work inspection by Gas Safe Register? Have your say on the draft of Technical Bulletin 014B: Working within scope of work categories

09 Around the industry

Are consumers being misled over green heating claims?

11 Domestic servitude: would you know what to do if you spot the signs of it in a customer’s home?

12 The good, the bad and the ugly

19 Letters

20 Industry Standard Update 117

IGEM/G/5 Edition 3 Gas

08 Be on your guard against guaranteed contracts. Here’s what they look like and how not to fall for a scam in Multi Occupancy Buildings with Amendments April 2023

21 Industry Standard Update 118

IGEM/UP/9 Edition 3

– Application of gas systems to gas turbines and supplementary and auxiliary fired burners

15 Profile

We sit down with Screwfix’s Trade Apprentice 2023 to find out why she decided to train as a gas engineer, how she won the accolade – and what she plans to do next

24 Technical Commercial catering: the standards and competences that are required to work in this field PLUS we talk to

Issue 172 July 2023 specialist gas engineer Richard Stowe to get an insider’s view

27 Hybrids

A step towards renewable energy, at lower cost and with less upheaval for your customers

32 The Legislative, Normative and Informative Documents List

39 Training

41 Products

The latest launches from Baxi, Fernox, Martindale, Modutherm, RadMag, Resideo, Stelrad and Testo

Competition

22

We’ve teamed up with ElectricalDirect to give five readers the chance to win a set of 3 Knipex Cobra water pump pliers

Most people reckon there will need to be a lot more heating engineers in the future, skilled in renewable technologies as well as traditional gas-run systems. But a skills crisis could be looming: our own reader survey earlier this year found that 50 per cent of gas engineers are aged over 55, and just 5 per cent are 26-35. With so many engineers approaching retirement age, how should the industry encourage more people to consider a career in this field?

A focus on diversity and those who are currently under-represented is one way: women gas engineers are still few and far between, for example. In this issue, we talk to Katie Jones, who was crowned Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2023, to find out why she decided to become a gas engineer and what she thinks about working in the industry.

Gas Safety Week in September will focus on diversity too, showcasing the range of gas engineers and highlighting their experiences in the industry. With our reader survey also showing that 55 per cent of you have been a gas engineer for more than 21 years, we can’t wait to see these stories and find out how your experiences have helped to keep customers gas safe.

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: Sue Harker sue.harker@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, Rob Walkerdine

Production: Mark Turpin

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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