News

Northern Ireland gas engineers fined following illegal work

Two Northern Ireland gas engineers have been fined after one had sub-contracted the other to carry out gas safety checks without checking that he was registered and despite the fact that the contractor had been prohibited from working with gas.

David Horner, trading as EDH Plumbing, and Ian Campbell, trading as Ian Campbell Gas Services, were fined at Belfast Magistrates Court for breaching gas safety regulations. Mr Horner was also fined for failing to comply with an earlier prohibition notice.

The HSENI investigation found that Mr Horner had been carrying out gas work despite being suspended by Gas Safe Register. Between February 2017 and October 2017, he completed multiple gas safety checks and a gas boiler installation at various residential properties in the Greater Belfast area.

The investigation also found that he was working despite having been banned from carrying out such work following a prohibition notice from an HSENI inspector in June 2017.

A total of 34 gas safety checks were sub-contracted to him by Ian Campbell, who had initially failed to check and ensure that Mr Horner was registered before any work started.

David Horner from Belfast was fined £2,500 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

Ian Campbell from Bangor, County Down, was fined £1,500 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

Speaking after the hearing, Gavin Rowan, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Conducting gas work without being registered to do so is not only a failure to comply with gas safety regulations, it unnecessarily places homeowners, tenants and others at significant risk from gas installations that may not have been properly maintained or inspected.”

£40,000 fine following gas explosion

A company in charge of refurbishing a property in Somerset has been fined £40,000 after the homeowner sustained burns when gas escaping from an open-ended pipe ignited.

North Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard that, following pre-sale refurbishment work at a property in Chard, a gas cooker was disconnected but the gas pipework was not sealed properly. This left an openended pipe connected to the mains gas supply, which was turned off at the meter only.

The cooker hob was removed during refurbishment in late summer 2018 when the property was empty. On 25 January 2019, the new owner moved in and turned on the gas to use the central heating boiler. He was unaware of the open-ended pipe, through which gas immediately started to escape.

As he was trying to turn on his cooker, the gas ignited, resulting in a small explosion and fire. The homeowner sustained smoke inhalation and burns, which required hospital treatment.

The HSE investigation found that the company in control of the refurbishment had failed to ensure that persons not in their employment were not exposed to risks from the gas installation.

Holt Estates England Ltd of High Street, Caterham, Surrey, was found guilty of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,105.90.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Dawn Lawrence said: “This was a terrifying incident for the homeowner and could have proved fatal.”

Contractor hired fitter who was working illegally

A gas fitter has been given a suspended sentence after he was found to be working illegally and had carried out dangerous gas work. The contractor that hired him has been fined for not checking that he was registered.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Valentin Pauliuc, trading as VP Plumbing & Heating, was hired in February 2019 by HSM Builders Limited, a principal contractor that was carrying out domestic renovations, to install a new gas boiler and gas cooker and other plumbing work.

A Gas Safe Register inspector subsequently found that some of this gas work was Immediately Dangerous.

The HSE investigation discovered that Mr Pauliuc was not registered and that HSM Builders did not check that he was registered to do the work.

Valentin Pauliuc of Downing Close, Harrow, pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also placed under a curfew and ordered to pay £4,747.68 in costs plus £1,644 in compensation to the owners of the property.

HSM Builders Limited of Cedar Avenue, Enfield, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £4,859 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Gordon Carson, said: “By law, businesses should make reasonable efforts to obtain evidence that any person they intend to perform gas installation work, either under contract or on their own behalf, is a member or employed by a member of Gas Safe Register.”

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

Ruben is Learner of the Year

Coleg Y Cymoedd heating and plumbing student Ruben Duggan is 2022’s HIP Learner of the Year, beating five other regional winners to be named the overall winner.

Ruben, who studies at the Mynach campus, won following a competition that included completing a live 12-hour practical test, carried out over two days at Worcester Bosch’s manufacturing plant.

HIP Magazine’s competition shines a light on and highlights the skills and talent of young apprentices in the industry. Students competed against each other to be named the best young installers in the country.

Head judge Jerry Whiteley from CIPHE says: “The judging became difficult and made the outcome of the competition so close due to the talent of all six young professionals.

“The quality that we saw at the competition will inspire the industry and homeowners to know that we are putting forward the next generation of excellent professionals who will progress into their careers in the future.”

This year’s five other finalists were Charlie Oliver from Shrewsbury College, Jack Payne from Buckinghamshire College Group’s Wycombe Campus, Andrew Poland from St Helens College, Elliot Julian from Cornwall College, and Kai Alexander-Weir from Darlington College.

Ruben said: “It was a big surprise. I found the competition really challenging; it wasn’t easy. It’s such a big thing to put on your CV.”

Get cashback on Tado smart thermostats

Tado has a new cashback programme that rewards you when you buy and fit its products. Smart thermostats are a proven way of helping to lower energy costs, with Tado products saving an average 22 per cent on heating costs, says the company.

Tado is now offering up to £20 cashback for professional installers when you buy from City Plumbing, Screwfix and Toolstation. Just upload your receipt to the new online portal. Cashback is available of: • £5 for every smart

radiator thermostat • £10 for every smart thermostat starter kit (wired or wireless) • £20 for every Quattro smart radiator thermostat (4x pack).

John Steven, consumer sales director for UK and Ireland, says: “Professional installers are the backbone of the heating industry in the UK. Now with the Tado Professional Installer Cashback Programme, they can start earning cashback at a competitive rate.”

You can also download a Tado app for for Android and iOS. Testo is giving away a free work surface protector when you buy a 327, 300 or 320B flue gas analyser. The protectors are ideal for covering your customers’ countertops and make cleaning up easier.

Testo provides flue gas analysers for basic domestic boiler testing through to the needs of commercial boiler engineers. The multi-function devices enable you to test gas pressures, flow and return temperatures, and some models include additional probes to

Free surface protector with Testo analysers

measure ambient CO and CO2.

Offers ends on 31 August 2022. Terms & conditions apply.

www.testo.com/en-UK/ free-surface

1 billion Euro boost for Viessmann green tech

The Viessmann Group will invest 1 billion Euros over the next three years to grow its renewables portfolio. The family company intends to expand its manufacturing and R&D labs and says its investment will also help to strengthen Europe’s energy independence.

CEO Max Viessmann says: “Unprecedented geopolitical developments need unprecedented decisions. We all need more speed and pragmatism in order to fight climate change and to re-think energy generation and use.

“We are now accelerating our growth with dedicated investments in heat pumps and green climate solutions.”

Competition winners

Four lucky readers each won an ESi Series 6 heating control in our April issue competition. They are Ambrose Drane from Crook, County Durham; Defrim Bojku from London NW3; Jane Andrews from Bovey Tracey, Devon; and Gary Belgium from Bristol. Congratulations!

Worcester Bosch celebrates 60 with monthly prizes

Worcester Bosch is kicking off its 60th birthday celebrations with monthly prizes for heating engineers who spread warmth in their own communities.

Prizes range from new power tools and van wraps to day-out experiences and new heating systems.

The More Than 60 initiative runs every month until October 2022 and is open to Gas Safe registered engineers who have installed and registered at least one Worcester Bosch boiler or heat pump in 2022.

All you need to do is complete and submit the online competition entry form, including a written description of not less than 100 words about what you’ve done to help others in your community.

Marketing director Victoria Billings says: “We have gone through an incredible journey as a company over the past 60 years; and the one thing we have always aimed to do is warm lives. We want to recognise those who also warm lives in any way and who go that extra mile for others.

“We’re looking forward to hearing the inspiring stories of those who are nominated.”

The competition is also open to Worcester heating system owners, community groups and the company’s own employees. Terms and conditions apply.

www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/ professional/60thcompetition-installer

Screwfix expands refurbished power tools scheme

Screwfix is aiming to refurbish and sell 100,000 refurbished power tools this year in an expansion of its trial scheme. The company says keeping products in use for longer is a key part of its sustainability strategy. It started selling refurbished tools directly to customers in January.

CEO John Mewett says: “We know that our customers are already making sustainable choices and the success of this trial demonstrates the demand and importance for us to minimise our environmental impact, while customers can enjoy the cost savings of buying refurbished tools.

“The decision to sell refurbished products directly through the Screwfix website not only helps reduce waste, but also supports us in achieving our goal of refurbishing and reselling returned power tools. This is another step on our journey to reducing our environmental impact.”

Screwfix hit its ‘zero waste to landfill’ target in 2021, with 83 per cent of the waste it generates recycled and turned into new materials and 17 per cent incinerated for energy. Screwfix has also committed to reducing its own carbon emissions by using low-carbon energy sources.

Vaillant Academy opens for blended and on-demand learning

The new Vaillant Academy extends the company’s on-demand training and business support with options that can fit around your schedule.

Heating engineers can access the Academy through the Vaillant Advance loyalty programme or via the website, tapping into support whenever and wherever they want. The new e-learning platform combines online training courses, technical information and marketing tools.

The blended learning approach enables you to compete theorybased modules at home, so that you only need to visit a Vaillant Centre of Excellence to complete practical training elements. It cuts down on time away from work without having to compromise on training and professional development.

By completing part of the course online before attending an in-centre practical course, you can maximise your time working with the boiler or heat pump itself. All training certificates are available through the online portal.

Technologies and training director Mark Wilkins says: “While installers recognise the importance of training, time is often tight, which can that mean taking time out to attend training can prove difficult.

“The new Vaillant Academy has been created to offer more on-demand, blended learning and business support tools, so that training can be worked around their schedules as and when convenient, even when on the go.”

Up to 50 Advance points are awarded for each training module completed.

www.vaillant.co.uk/forinstallers/training/

Golden celebrations as Williams Trade Supplies turns 50

Williams Trade Supplies is celebrating 50 years since it opened its first branch in 1972.

Williams has supplied the heating and plumbing industry ever since it started in Portsmouth. Managing director Ray Stafford says: “When the business was founded in a corner shop in Portsmouth back in 1972, Roberta Flack was top of the pops, Bill Shankly took Liverpool to its first league title in seven years and Ted Heath was Prime Minister.

“Fifty years on, much has changed but the core proposition of delivering noticeably better service to trade customers lives on in the Williams ethos.”

The company was founded by Mick Williams when he left his job as a local plumbing contractor in 1972 to help his dad, who had been left unable to drive after a car accident. The experience of collecting materials from merchants convinced him that he could do things better.

What started as a traditional, local merchant has grown into an independent national merchant.

Founder Mick Williams says: “Of all the accolades the company has achieved over the years, the awards that I am most proud of are the company being recognised as one of the top 100 best companies to work for in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Roll on 2022.”

tradeonlyplumbing.co.uk

Queen’s Award for KANE

KANE International has received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2022, along with 226 other UK organisations.

The Innovation award came for KANE Care, the company’s pledge that it will give its customers the best after-sales service and support or their money back.

All emissions analysers must be recertified every year, which can mean that gas engineers lose time and money while this is being done, especially when their analyser is a few years old and needs more care or replacement parts. KANE Care guarantees same-day service with all-inclusive pricing for KANE analysers up to 20 years old and guarantees a 10-year no-quibble warranty on new analysers.

Jonathan Kane, CEO of KANE International, says: “I am thrilled KANE received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Year. We are so proud of what KANE Care promises our customers and honoured to see it recognised by the Queen’s Award.”

Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise is for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.