Registered Gas Engineer, October 2021 issue

Gas REGISTERED

THE ONLY OFFICIAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

Issue 151 October 2021

This one’s on us

Free hybrid heat pump training with Daikin.

Free boiler for your customer.

Not every home is ready to make the change to fully-renewable heating. But now, there’s a solution that means everyone can take advantage of the heat pump revolution.

Take your first step into the renewables market with Daikin’s free hybrid* heat pump training.

The gas engineer’s guide to annual boiler servicing

In just one day, you can expand your portfolio and gain the skills to upgrade customers to an eco-friendly hybrid solution, which combines the power of a heat pump with the familiarity of a high efficiency boiler.

And what’s more, when they choose a Daikin Altherma hybrid system, you can offer your customers the boiler absolutely free – this one’s on us!

Technical FAQs Boiler Plus The answers to some of the questions Was it a smart move? you ask Gas Safe Register most often What happens next?

Scan to find your local stockist: www.esteembathrooms.com

WIN: We’ve got 5 Knipex Cobra XS mini pliers to give away

Free training for you.

Free boiler for them.

Discover your Energy for Change and sign up for your free training today: daikin.co.uk/hybridtraining *Hybrid bi-valent. Terms and Conditions: Free boiler offer available to customers who purchase Daikin outdoor unit [EJHA04AV3], Boiler [D2CND024/28/35A4A] and appropriate accessories to be used as a bi-valent system.

Gas REGISTERED

THE ONLY OFFICIAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

Issue 151 October 2021

This one’s on us

Free hybrid heat pump training with Daikin.

Free boiler for your customer.

Not every home is ready to make the change to fully-renewable heating. But now, there’s a solution that means everyone can take advantage of the heat pump revolution.

Take your first step into the renewables market with Daikin’s free hybrid* heat pump training.

The gas engineer’s guide to annual boiler servicing

In just one day, you can expand your portfolio and gain the skills to upgrade customers to an eco-friendly hybrid solution, which combines the power of a heat pump with the familiarity of a high efficiency boiler.

And what’s more, when they choose a Daikin Altherma hybrid system, you can offer your customers the boiler absolutely free – this one’s on us!

Technical FAQs Boiler Plus The answers to some of the questions Was it a smart move? you ask Gas Safe Register most often What happens next?

Scan to find your local stockist: www.esteembathrooms.com

WIN: We’ve got 5 Knipex Cobra XS mini pliers to give away

Free training for you.

Free boiler for them.

Discover your Energy for Change and sign up for your free training today: daikin.co.uk/hybridtraining *Hybrid bi-valent. Terms and Conditions: Free boiler offer available to customers who purchase Daikin outdoor unit [EJHA04AV3], Boiler [D2CND024/28/35A4A] and appropriate accessories to be used as a bi-valent system.

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COMPETITION

Competition Join the renewable heat revolution

This one’s on us Not every home is ready to make the change to fully-renewable heating. But now, there’s a solution that means everyone can take advantage of the heat pump revolution.

Take your first step into the renewables market with Daikin’s free hybrid* heat pump training.

In just one day, you can expand your portfolio and gain the skills to upgrade customers to an eco-friendly hybrid solution, which combines the power of a heat pump with the familiarity of a high efficiency boiler.

And what’s more, when they choose a Daikin Altherma hybrid system, you can offer your customers the boiler absolutely free – this one’s on us!

Free hybrid heat pump training with Daikin.

Free boiler for your customer.

Free training for you.

Free boiler for them.

Discover your Energy for Change and sign up for your free training today: daikin.co.uk/hybridtraining *Hybrid bi-valent. Terms and Conditions: Free boiler offer available to customers who purchase Daikin outdoor unit [EJHA04AV3], Boiler [D2CND024/28/35A4A] and appropriate accessories to be used as a bi-valent system.

Grab yourself a Cobra XS We’ve teamed up with KNIPEX to give you the chance to win a KNIPEX Cobra XS – the most compact member of the Cobra family.

T

he Cobra XS is a fully functional pair of high-tech water pump pliers that comes into its own in tight spaces.

This ‘every-day carry’ tool can be kept readily accessible in your trouser or workwear pocket and can adapt to 11 adjustment positions via fine adjustment directly on the workpiece.

It can grip nuts up to 24mm in width across flats and other workpieces up to 28mm – and it’s just 100mm long.

Its compact size means it can be used easily with just one hand.

The Cobra XS is self-locking to pipes and nuts: the result is that there is no slipping from the workpiece and all work is considerably less strenuous.

The teeth are offset against the direction of rotation for perfect, efficient gripping, holding, pressing and bending.

There is no need to fiddle around to get the correct opening width; simply place the upper half of the jaw on to the workpiece and slide the lower jaw in position to fix the pliers in place.

The gripping surfaces have specially hardened teeth to ensure reliable gripping due to high wear resistance.

There’s no plastic coating: a ribbed, non-slip handle provides grip and it’s slim and easy to use. There’s a box joint for stability and durability via a double guide, as well as a pinch guard to protect against crush injuries. www.knipex.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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

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

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

• The prize cannot be substituted or upgraded.

5 cha For your chance to win a KNIPEX Cobra XS, simply answer the following question correctly:

nces to win

How long is the Cobra XS? a) 100mm b) 10mm c) 5mm Send your answer, plus your name, address and registration number to competition@ registeredgasengineer.co.uk and please include KNIPEX in the email subject line.

Five winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries received by the closing date of 29 October 2021.

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

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

• Registered Gas Engineer and Grundfos 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.

•O ne entry per person.

•Y our entry details will be provided to KNIPEX, which may use them for marketing purposes.

By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from them.

If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 67

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COMPETITION

Competition Join the renewable heat revolution

This one’s on us Not every home is ready to make the change to fully-renewable heating. But now, there’s a solution that means everyone can take advantage of the heat pump revolution.

Take your first step into the renewables market with Daikin’s free hybrid* heat pump training.

In just one day, you can expand your portfolio and gain the skills to upgrade customers to an eco-friendly hybrid solution, which combines the power of a heat pump with the familiarity of a high efficiency boiler.

And what’s more, when they choose a Daikin Altherma hybrid system, you can offer your customers the boiler absolutely free – this one’s on us!

Free hybrid heat pump training with Daikin.

Free boiler for your customer.

Free training for you.

Free boiler for them.

Discover your Energy for Change and sign up for your free training today: daikin.co.uk/hybridtraining *Hybrid bi-valent. Terms and Conditions: Free boiler offer available to customers who purchase Daikin outdoor unit [EJHA04AV3], Boiler [D2CND024/28/35A4A] and appropriate accessories to be used as a bi-valent system.

Grab yourself a Cobra XS We’ve teamed up with KNIPEX to give you the chance to win a KNIPEX Cobra XS – the most compact member of the Cobra family.

T

he Cobra XS is a fully functional pair of high-tech water pump pliers that comes into its own in tight spaces.

This ‘every-day carry’ tool can be kept readily accessible in your trouser or workwear pocket and can adapt to 11 adjustment positions via fine adjustment directly on the workpiece.

It can grip nuts up to 24mm in width across flats and other workpieces up to 28mm – and it’s just 100mm long.

Its compact size means it can be used easily with just one hand.

The Cobra XS is self-locking to pipes and nuts: the result is that there is no slipping from the workpiece and all work is considerably less strenuous.

The teeth are offset against the direction of rotation for perfect, efficient gripping, holding, pressing and bending.

There is no need to fiddle around to get the correct opening width; simply place the upper half of the jaw on to the workpiece and slide the lower jaw in position to fix the pliers in place.

The gripping surfaces have specially hardened teeth to ensure reliable gripping due to high wear resistance.

There’s no plastic coating: a ribbed, non-slip handle provides grip and it’s slim and easy to use. There’s a box joint for stability and durability via a double guide, as well as a pinch guard to protect against crush injuries. www.knipex.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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

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

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

• The prize cannot be substituted or upgraded.

5 cha For your chance to win a KNIPEX Cobra XS, simply answer the following question correctly:

nces to win

How long is the Cobra XS? a) 100mm b) 10mm c) 5mm Send your answer, plus your name, address and registration number to competition@ registeredgasengineer.co.uk and please include KNIPEX in the email subject line.

Five winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries received by the closing date of 29 October 2021.

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

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

• Registered Gas Engineer and Grundfos 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.

•O ne entry per person.

•Y our entry details will be provided to KNIPEX, which may use them for marketing purposes.

By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from them.

If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 67

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER

In this issue

Issue 151 October 2021 Best practice and top tips from the leading manufacturers 40 Hydrogen-ready boilers

A mandate to fit only hydrogen-ready boilers could help the UK in its ambition for net-zero carbon by 2050

04 Gas Safe news

There are no excuses for not taking gas safety seriously, as new research for Gas Safety Week finds that nearly one-third of Brits have used an excuse not to get their gas appliances checked; Jersey now covered by Gas Safe registration scheme

07 News

Green Homes Grant voucher scheme was rushed and didn’t listen to installers, says National Audit Office; government extends UKCA mark deadline; no more fossil fuel heating for new homes in Wales

13 News focus

Boiler Plus: has it been a smart move? New report reveals the levels of compliance and the impact of the standards, introduced in 2018 – and looks at what might come next

18 The good, the bad and the ugly 23 Letters

43 Your business

25 Technical Bulletin 120

The use of pliable corrugated (stainless steel) tubing in domestic and non-domestic gas installations

29 Can we help you?

Some of the questions that gas engineers ask Gas Safe Register’s Technical Officers most often – and the answers

34 A guide to boiler servicing What steps should a

boiler service include?

Competition

Some of the insurance options for your business – and the pitfalls you should avoid

48 The Legislative, Normative and Informative Documents List 57 Controls

Time is running out to get smart

58 Product focus

New CPD from Stelrad focuses on low temperatures

46 Back to basics

Falls from height are a common cause of injury: here we set out the HSE’s guidance on how to use ladders and stepladders safely while you’re working

60 Products

Win Page 67

Five chances to win a pair of KNIPEX’s Cobra XS fully functional high-tech water pump pliers

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 03

FROM THE EDITOR

Comment M

ore and more people are demanding action on climate change and some are taking it, with protests by Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain hitting the headlines last month.

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow next month, countries are expected to set out their 2030 emissions reduction targets in order to reach net-zero carbon by 2050. And how we heat our homes in the future will be a major contributor to cutting the UK’s CO2.

But the challenge of persuading people to give up their gas boilers cannot be under-estimated and future energy efficiency schemes will need to be fully planned and thought through, implemented and administered simply and efficiently – and in it for the long run.

Just as important as the scheme details is actually communicating with the people who will be affected by change, whether they’re consumers or the heating engineers who work in their homes. If people aren’t informed, given a choice and encouraged to make changes in how they live and work, then future schemes could meet the same fate as those of the past.

You can read inside this issue how the government came under fire recently from the National Audit Office for its short-lived Green Homes Grant voucher scheme.

Have lessons been learned? We’ll have to wait and see.

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, David Smith, Jonathan Stirling

No excuses for not taking gas safety seriously G

as Safety Week last month saw Brits urged to stop making excuses for ignoring their gas safety. The campaign teamed up with the nation’s favourite headteacher, Matthew Burton from TV’s Educating Yorkshire, to raise awareness throughout the week, during which the whole industry came together to help people stay gas safe.

Gas Safe research(1) found that one-third of UK adults (33 per cent) make excuses at least twice a week to get out of or put off doing things they know they should do: avoiding household chores is the top reason (cited by 51 per cent).

More than half have used an excuse to skip work and two-thirds (64 per cent) to side-step socialising.

More worryingly, one in three people (31 per cent) have used excuses not to get their gas appliances safety checked, despite nearly 80 per cent saying they would never make excuses if their loved ones’ safety was at risk.

Gas Safe’s latest inspection figures(2) showed just how real these risks are and why excuses aren’t worth making. Nearly 7 million homes – one in four – contain potentially dangerous gas appliances, including boilers, cookers and gas fires.

Tall tales Matthew Burton says he thought he’d heard every excuse in the book from his pupils until he spoke to Gas Safe engineers about the tall tales they commonly hear from their customers. Insights from more than 500 gas engineers(3) found that householders most commonly use “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” as an excuse for skipping their annual gas safety checks, failing to realise that this could be masking lethal faults.

Further far-fetched excuses that gas engineers have heard include: • The parrot doesn’t like gas fitters • I used a wine bottle cork to stop gas coming out of the hole in the wall • I just open the window if it starts smelling of gas, and • I didn’t think gas was dangerous.

Matthew says: “Having

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. Calls to phone numbers starting 084 and 087 cost up to 7p per minute plus your service provider’s charge.

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

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CIRCULATION:

Jan-Dec 2020

77,332 04 October 2021

Matthew Burton: ‘The excuses don’t stop when we leave school’

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | GAS SAFE REGISTER NEWS

Opening hours From 4 October, Gas Safe Register is extending its opening hours for Customer Services and Technical Support.

You can get in touch from 7.30am to 7pm on Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

“Householders most commonly use ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’ as an excuse for skipping their annual gas safety checks.”

been a teacher for many years, I thought I’d heard a wide range of excuses, from the old-school ‘the dog ate my homework’ to today’s ‘my laptop has blown up’.

“And excuses don’t stop when we leave school. We all lead busy lives and find little reasons here and there that sometimes help us justify putting off or avoiding things.

“But there are no excuses for not taking gas safety seriously in our homes. From personal experience, I know that unsafe and unchecked appliances – cookers, boilers, gas fires – can be deadly. Taking action is easy though: it’s so important that we educate ourselves on the warning signs of gas safety,

Emails from Gas Safe Register

and that we choose prevention over cure.”

Matthew experienced the effects of dangerous gas appliances himself when his family moved into a new home 10 years ago that housed a faulty boiler, making his family feeling nauseous.

Bob Kerr, Gas Services Director at Gas Safe Register, adds: “We’re urging the nation to take a ‘no excuses’ attitude.

Be better gas safe than sorry and don’t let excuses get in the way of the health and safety of your loved ones.”

Research conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Gas Safe Register.

3Gem surveyed 2,000 respondents in July 2021 (2) Findings based on 10,734 UK homes inspected between July 2020 and July 2021 (3) Poll conducted among 512 Gas Safe registered engineers in August 2021.

(1)

Jersey now covered by Gas Safe registration scheme The Gas Safe registration scheme has recently been extended to Jersey for the first time, and gas engineers must become registered in order to satisfy the requirements of the Building Regulations on the island. The requirement is fully endorsed and supported by Jersey’s Health and Safety Inspectorate.

Gas Safe registration has been voluntary on the Channel Island until now and nearly 20 businesses are already registered, with more expected to apply for the first time as a result of the change.

The route to registration for engineers on the island is the same as for those in the

UK, requiring qualifications and proof of competence in gas safety via ACS or other recognised routes.

Inspection of registered business will be carried out in the same way as in the UK too.

There is no natural gas in Jersey: homes and businesses are supplied by a manufactured mixture of LPG and air through the mains network or in bottled gas and bulk tanks, as in Guernsey, where the Gas Safe registration scheme has been mandatory since 2010.

Did you know?

Jersey is the biggest of the Channel Islands, at 22km long.

It is not part of the UK: it is a Crown Dependency and is self-governing.

Some engineers have got in touch with Gas Safe to ask whether the Register has emailed them about issues that are not related to their Gas Safe registration. For example, emails that appear to come from Gas Safe have offered service and repair work in the engineer’s local area.

Gas Safe Register does not send emails of this nature.

You can check whether an email is genuinely from Gas Safe by checking the sender’s details: all emails from Gas Safe Register are sent from the gassaferegister.co.uk email address.

Clarification The article ‘Why zoning matters’, written by Continal Underfloor Heating in our September 2021 issue, makes reference to a requirement for rooms in new-build properties to have their own temperature controls from April 2022.

We’d like to clarify that this is not a requirement currently under Part L of the Building Regulations.

However, it has been proposed under the most recent Part L consultation to become part of the Future Homes Standard, likely to take effect from April 2022.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 05

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

‘Green Homes Grant was rushed and didn’t listen to installers’ The short-lived Green Homes Grant voucher scheme was rushed, frustrating for installers and homeowners and had limited impact on job creation, a report by the National Audit Office has found.

The report examined the performance, implementation, procurement and management of the scheme against what it described as a backdrop of previous problematic attempts by the government to implement domestic energy efficiency schemes.

Among its findings were that the scheme did not deliver the expected number of home energy efficiency installations or support the expected number of jobs.

There were high levels of interest in the grant, but many homeowners and installers had a poor experience of using the scheme and made more than 3,000 complaints.

There was frustration about the delay in issuing and paying vouchers: the requirements were complicated and difficult to get right first time, says the report.

People had trouble finding certified installers, who were required to be registered with TrustMark as well as PAS or MCS certified. With the scheme scheduled to last just six months, installers were reluctant to invest in gaining these further accreditations. Just 248 TrustMark accredited installers gained the additional required certification out of a potential 880,

IGEM support for mandating hydrogen ready appliances IGEM has welcomed the government’s plans for 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity and to establish CCUS in four industrial clusters by 2030, as detailed in the Hydrogen Strategy.

It says it supports the commitments to support blending hydrogen into the existing gas network and the ‘twin-track’ approach to hydrogen production. This will enable the UK to leverage both electrolytic and CCUS-enabled low-carbon hydrogen production in order to scale up production in time to meet the 2030 and 2050 carbon emissions targets.

CEO Oliver Lancaster says: “It has become clear that a national hydrogen network will

be required to provide the storage and flexibility we need to safely and securely meet demand across industry, home heating, power generation and transport. We look forward to continuing our engagement on the front line for hydrogen to deliver a least-cost, least-disruption outcome for consumers.

“IGEM is supportive of mandating hydrogen-ready appliances as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition to hydrogen. Mandating hydrogenready boilers by 2026 will send a strong signal to the market to accelerate production in anticipation of demand, with manufacturers already well prepared for this ramp-up.” www.h2knowledgecentre.com

which meant that it was difficult for some homeowners to take part in the scheme.

The government didn’t fully understand the challenges facing installers before it announced the scheme, and hadn’t learned from previous schemes, says the report.

The scheme was announced in July 2020 but the government only consulted with installers after this, despite previous recommendations that energy efficiency schemes should be designed following a robust evaluation of stakeholders’ views.

The report says installers reported frustrations about the complexity of both the scheme and in gaining additional registration and certification.

The costs of this and the scheme’s planned short duration put some off from taking part.

The scheme was launched in September 2020 to coincide with the expected end of furlough

The Green Homes Grant voucher scheme ran from September 2020 to March 2021, offering homeowners the chance to apply for up to £10,000 to install energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon heat sources in their homes. Homeowners had to find a certified installer and apply for vouchers, with the installer receiving grant funding once they had fitted the measure.

support at that time, and to maximise the number of installations before winter.

The March 2021 end date was intended to act as a stimulus to get people to use the scheme as quickly as possible. However, these dates were over-ambitious for BEIS to design the scheme, consult with stakeholders, find an administrator and launch.

Legionella leads train company off the rails Rail workers on Thameslink services threatened to go on strike over fears of a Legionella outbreak when the bacteria was found in a number of toilets.

Following the discovery, Thameslink locked the toilets and took the trains out of service to drain, bleach and refill the tanks.

In a statement, the company said: “Legionella can potentially be spread through atomised water droplets in the air in enclosed spaces, but water in our toilets is gravity-fed, which makes this extremely unlikely and further lowers the already very low risk.”

However, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said it had been raising concerns with Thameslink for weeks.

Seven toilets on four trains had

actionable traces of the bacteria.

The RMT has subsequently announced that members have been prepared for strikes, if urgent action is not taken.

CIPHE is urging caution when it comes to the hazards of Legionella and other biofilm contamination of water systems.

CEO Kevin Wellman says: “While there have been no recorded Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks due to train toilets to date, Legionella is a very serious issue and should never be underestimated. Legionnaires’ disease normally hits its peak number of cases during the milder months of June-October, so that places us firmly in the danger zone. Outbreaks can prove deadly, especially to those with underlying health conditions.” www.gassaferegister.co.uk 07

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Government extends UKCA mark deadline The government has given a reprieve to construction businesses struggling to transition their products to the new UKCA mark from the EU’s CE mark. They will now have an extra year to start using the new product safety marking, with the deadline to demonstrate compliance with the regulations extended until 1 January 2023.

Industry organisations

including the Manufacturers Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC) and Actuate UK had warned that the industry could come to a standstill if the deadline was not extended because of the lack of UKCA-approved bodies and available capacity in current certification bodies, as well as product-testing facilities (Registered Gas Engineer, July).

The government says the extension reflects the issues that businesses raised, particularly given the impact of the pandemic.

It says it will continue to engage with manufacturers to ensure they understand what they need to do to get ready, including providing a series of webinars.

Businesses have been able to

use the UKCA mark since 1 January 2021 to demonstrate their conformity with product standards in England, Scotland and Wales. The new UKCA rules do not apply to Northern Ireland, where the CE mark will continue.

Waste heat could power network ‘boilers’ Winner: Norbert Marokity

Norbert is Worcester’s Strava Relay winner Norbert Marokity has won a Greenstar 4000 boiler after clocking up more than 500 miles in Worcester Bosch’s Greenstar 4000 Strava Club.

The Greenstar 4000 Relay was launched in May 2021 to celebrate the launch of the boiler range, while encouraging people to get moving and explore the great outdoors.

Camden Gas engineer Norbert Marokity was chosen from the top 20 installer athletes and contributed more than 550 miles to the tally. He says: “I really enjoyed getting involved and seeing the community encourage each other to get active and enjoy the outdoors. ” Nicola Fisher, PR manager for Worcester Bosch, says: “To have reached over 11,000 miles is more than we could have hoped for.”

08 October 2021

Heat networks could be decarbonised by capturing waste heat from electricity transformers to generate heating and hot water for homes and businesses.

A project by SSE Energy Solutions and National Grid offers a route to net-zero heat when applied to transformers served by 100 per cent renewable electricity from wind or solar farms.

The heat-recovery project could initially reduce carbon emissions from heat networks by more than 40 per cent compared with traditional gas-led systems.

The project has the potential to save millions of tonnes of CO2 every year if rolled out across National Grid’s network of transformers in England and Wales, harnessing waste heat via SSE heat networks to serve towns and cities.

Nathan Sanders, managing director at SSE Energy Solutions, says: “Electric power transformers generate huge

amounts of heat as a by-product when electricity flows through them. At the moment, this heat is just vented directly into the atmosphere and wasted.

“By their very nature, electricity transformers are primarily located where people live, work and consume energy, meaning that they have the potential to be incredibly valuable community assets if we apply a bit of clever thinking.

“This ground-breaking project

aims to capture that waste heat and effectively turn transformers into community ‘boilers’ that serve local heat networks with a low or even zero-carbon alternative to fossil-fuel heat sources such as gas boilers.

“We see heat networks as a key part of the UK’s future low-carbon energy infrastructure, enabling us to exploit waste heat sources and use these to heat homes and businesses across the country.”

Stelrad Loyalty Club now includes Henrad Stelrad has extended its Loyalty Club to include its premium Henrad products.

You can earn points by buying qualifying premium panel and designer radiators,

and redeem the points for rewards.

When you register as a member of the Loyalty Club, just upload the invoices for the products you’ve bought and

you’ll get 10 points for every £100 spent. Points can be used to buy items in the rewards catalogue, including branded clothing and tools. www.henrad.co.uk/loyalty

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY

‘Gaps in net-zero plans are putting decarbonisation at risk’ It’s too complicated for people to adapt their homes for net zero and things go wrong too often, says a coalition of consumer and industry groups in an open letter to the Prime Minister.

Citizens Advice, Which?, the Federation of Master Builders and Aldersgate Group are urging the government to work with them to address the obstacles currently faced by consumers.

They say lessons must be learned from previous energy efficiency schemes or the UK’s ability to decarbonise its 29 million homes is at risk.

The coalition says the government can maintain public

trust and support and realise the benefits of emissions cuts, safer and warmer homes and innovation and jobs by making sure the process is as easy as possible for the public to engage with and understand.

Right now the process of installing low-carbon heating, upgrading insulation or installing smart technologies is timeconsuming, confusing and stressful for consumers.

Researching and choosing the right technology, finding a reputable installer and having the work completed demands huge amounts of knowledge, time and effort.

The process of making adaptations is often beset by

problems, including poor installation, technologies not working as expected, and difficulties fixing things when they go wrong.

The coalition is also urging the government to avoid the mistakes of past energy efficiency schemes. It says these mistakes left people struggling with damp and mould due to poorly installed insulation while others suffered damage to their homes, leaving them with long-term problems that were expensive, disruptive and distressing to resolve.

Despite recent improvements, current consumer protections are not ready for the pace and scale of

the work needed to improve millions of UK homes, says the coalition. It is calling on the government to take the opportunity to fix these gaps through its upcoming Net Zero Strategy and put in place a long-term strategy to help households overcome the barriers to adapting their homes for the net-zero transition.

It says people need information: from installing low-carbon heating to upgrading insulation, it’s confusing to know what steps to take and what technologies to install.

More accessible and unbiased information is needed to help make the right changes to their homes.

Vaillant blends training on site and at home

No more fossil fuels to heat new homes in Wales New-build social housing homes in Wales can no longer install fossil-fuel heating with effect from 1 October 2021. The Welsh Government has committed to renewable energies and cutting-edge technologies in its new-build standards, just published.

Homes will need to reach the highest energy efficiency standards to reduce carbon use during build and when inhabited, says the government, setting out its ambition for private developers to adopt Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 – Creating Beautiful Homes and Places by 2025.

The new rules are part of the Welsh Government’s response to the climate emergency and commitment to drive down emissions to reach net zero carbon by 2050. Residential emissions make up 10 per cent of the nation’s carbon emissions.

Modern methods of construction, such as the use of timber and factory-built homes, are also championed in the guidelines, as well as requiring new properties to be ready for fibre optic broadband or gigabit wireless technology, and favouring good design and generous space.

Vaillant has unveiled a series of training courses that combine on-site learning with theory-based modules that can be taken at home.

It has launched four blended learning courses with Cert-ain Certification Services, providing industry-accredited training.

The vocational courses, which cover Water Regulations, unvented hot water systems, energy efficiency and safe electrical isolation, see attendees learn about the current Building Regulations that apply to each topic. Once complete, you can then attend a Vaillant Centre of Excellence to complete the practical element, and then your qualification.

The new courses will

significantly reduce the time typically needed to attend training courses from one day per course, to three courses in two days.

Commercial director Spencer Clark says: “Training is a great way to upskill and diversify to offer new services.

“However, taking days away from the tools can be costly, especially when you consider many installers are still trying to recover from the past 18 months.

“Our new Cert-ain courses mean installers can invest in their learning without the additional cost of extended time away from their business. www.vaillant.co.uk/forinstallers/training/onlinetraining

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | NEWS FOCUS

Boiler Plus: has it been a smart move?

The government is considering extending the requirements of Boiler Plus to include system and regular boilers. But before it does so, it commissioned a report to understand the impact of and compliance with the standards that were introduced in April 2018. Registered Gas Engineer looks at some of the key findings of the report.

S

ince the introduction of Boiler Plus, gas engineers fitting new combi gas and oil boilers in England have needed to meet minimum requirements. Boiler Plus is additional legislation under Part L of the Building Regulations, with the aim of reducing domestic carbon emissions and encouraging energy efficiency.

Two years on, the government has published its first review of the standards, their efficacy and uptake by and impact on gas engineers, their customers and manufacturers. The report does state that it shouldn’t be taken as an indication of future policy, but it’s widely anticipated that its findings will influence the next iteration of the standards, potentially in June 2022.

The heating engineer experience While gas engineers had a broad awareness of Boiler Plus, not everyone knew all the details of its requirements. What they knew came from a range of sources including Gas Safe Register’s Technical Bulletins and Registered Gas Engineer magazine, manufacturer training sessions and word of mouth.

Gas engineers said their choice of boiler had not changed following its introduction and that they still made their decisions based on their customers’ needs

and budgets and their own preferred brands.

They tend to focus on one additional measure and install this as standard, rather than choose the most appropriate measure for each household. This is usually smart controls, often because of their relatively low cost, ease of installation, and the ability to offer different controls to suit their customers. Some said it’s easier to explain the benefits of smart controls than other required measures, and that some customers specifically request them.

The survey found mixed levels of knowledge about flue gas heat recovery (FGHR), load compensation and weather compensation. Those who install these measures were particularly positive about them when they come already built into the boiler, but those who do not often found them to be technically complex.

Heating engineers said they don’t discuss the Boiler Plus requirements with consumers when they think there will be limited interest – for example, if they need a quick boiler replacement within their budget.

The requirements are more likely to be discussed if the heating engineer has provided a choice of measure, where consumers had carried out their own research, or when providing

The Boiler Plus standards require: • All new gas and oil boilers in existing homes in England should be fitted with time and temperature controls, and boiler interlock • All gas boilers installed in England must have an ErP efficiency of at least 92 per cent.

• The installation of gas combi boilers must include the installation of at least one additional energy efficiency measure appropriate to the heating system – flue gas heat recovery, load compensation, weather compensation, and smart controls with optimisation and automation features.

More info at: registeredgasengineer.co.uk/technical/ everything-you-need-to-know-about-boiler-plus/ the rationale for installation costs.

Heating engineers also said that the implementation of Boiler Plus had pushed up installation prices because of the price of additional measures, the rising cost of compliant boilers, and additional labour – frequently time spent explaining how to use smart controls.

The consumer experience Not surprisingly, energy efficiency is not usually top of mind for consumers when they need a new boiler: their priorities are cost, availability, ability to site the boiler in their preferred place, and making sure it’s powerful enough.

Few carry out any research on

their gas engineer, boiler or any additional measures required.

And none recalled their heating engineer mentioning Boiler Plus requirements: the only additional measure they recalled, when prompted, was smart controls.

Nor were they given much choice of which additional measures would be installed beyond smart controls, which reflects the finding that heating engineers have already chosen the additional measure that they intend to install unless told otherwise.

Smart controls were the easiest measure to understand and use but the survey also found that consumers would often use www.gassaferegister.co.uk 13

>

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | NEWS FOCUS

Boiler Plus: has it been a smart move? continued >

them in the same way as a traditional on/off thermostat.

The other measures had limited appeal because people generally found them hard to understand and the additional cost could be offputting.

The manufacturer experience Generally, boiler manufacturers said the impact of the Boiler Plus standards on them had been limited, although some said they had needed to adjust their

a reliable estimate of whether additional measures are being installed as required under the standard, although it is likely that they are. Smart controls appear to be the most common measure, reflecting the views of installers and consumers, followed by compensators. Very few FGHR systems are being installed, probably due to the higher cost.

Heating engineers said they are concerned that if standards are not adequately monitored and

“No active monitoring and enforcement are in place because Boiler Plus requirements are not within the scope of existing enforcement mechanisms.” products or bring out new ones to meet the requirements. Sales of smart controls increased significantly, although this may have been part of a wider trend in any case. Sales of flue gas heat recovery units were not appreciably higher, probably because of their higher cost.

Some manufacturers said they were concerned about a lack of monitoring and enforcement of the standards, and lack of guidance or incentives so that heating engineers and consumers could choose the most suitable additional measure.

Compliance The analysis suggests that all installations meet the minimum requirement of 92 per cent ErP efficiency, and nearly all meet the requirement for time and temperature control. But there may be a low level of noncompliance with the requirement for boiler interlock.

There wasn’t enough information available to provide

14 October 2021

enforced, there will be mixed levels of compliance – with those choosing not to comply financially undercutting those who do.

Not all of them carry out hydraulic balancing as standard when installing a new boiler even though this is expected practice under Building Regulations.

Those who don’t do this were concerned about the additional time it would take, and the increased cost.

Lessons learned The report takes an all-round view of the effects of the Boiler Plus standard, based on a combination of feedback, analysis and observations by the research team.

• I n terms of boiler efficiency, the minimum 92 per cent efficiency has removed the least efficient boilers from sale while driving sales of higher-performing appliances.

•T he standards have also led to a significant increase in additional energy efficiency measures being fitted alongside

a new boiler.

• Consumers don’t have much of a say on their heating system, or the additional energy efficiency measures required, and didn’t demand a specific measure. They trust their gas engineer to recommend a boiler that suits them and don’t demand more choice, generally prioritising cost.

• Heating engineers generally don’t offer a choice from the four measures, usually favouring smart controls: the other measures were seen as too complex for consumers to understand.

• In some cases, consumers may not fully understand how their new heating controls work and so may not be unlocking their full potential or using them in the most efficient way.

The report goes on to state that the role of heating engineers is influencing the impact of the standard. The research suggests that compliance with the additional measures requirement for combi boilers is often focused on measures that are considered to be cost effective and simple to install. A range of factors are influencing the decisions made by heating engineers, including: • Varied knowledge of the additional measures • Mixed awareness of ‘out of the box’ compliance

• Perceptions of consumer needs and priorities • Perceptions of customer affordability and interest in Boiler Plus measures.

Enforcement The report found that there is no active monitoring and enforcement in place because the Boiler Plus requirements are not within the scope of existing enforcement mechanisms. No organisation has any statutory or business need to collect the necessary data.

Gas engineers self-certify boiler installations and so these are not reviewed by Building Control officers, which means there is no effective monitoring of compliance under Building Regulations.

Boiler Plus Plus?

While the report is not intended to be read as a direction of travel for future policy, it does consider three possible extensions to Boiler Plus: • Extending the additional measures requirement to system and regular boilers • Mandating maximum flow temperatures • Mandating hydraulic balancing at installation. ■ You can read the full report at: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/boiler-plus-initialpolicy-review

The survey was carried out by Ipsos MORI and the Energy Saving Trust to understand whether the Boiler Plus standards are being complied with and looking at their impact on gas engineers, consumers and manufacturers. It also asked for their views on extending the requirements to install additional energy efficiency measures on system and regular boilers, and to include mandatory hydraulic balancing at installation, and setting maximum flow temperatures.

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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

Vasilii Stavila soon discovered why this boiler wasn’t working: the chimney elbow was not fitted correctly on to the boiler, resulting in a breakdown and potential safety issue.

Vasilii made safe.

Stephen Leitch wanted to share this DIY attempt at modifying a boiler chimney with plumbing materials to divert the products of combustion away from the property’s extension.

Stephen made safe and rectified the installation.

Jack Yews traced the source of a gas escape to corroded, unprotected pipework in the catchment area of a gas fire.

Jack was told that the catchment area had been cleaned and the chimney swept recently… He made safe and rectified the situation.

This bucket had been left hanging on the system filter, presumably to collect any discharge from the pressure relief valve copper tail – which had never been installed correctly. Derek Airey rectified the situation and terminated the PRV in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

18 October 2021

Another boiler breakdown, and here Malcolm Chessell found that the flue gas analyser point’s cap was missing and it was covered with duct tape. Malcolm made safe and put things right.

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS

When Tom Smith was called to a boiler breakdown, the last thing he was expecting to find was a potato obstructing the plume management kit flue-way. The offending spud was removed, the plume management kit refitted with correct parts and the boiler was left functioning safe and well.

S-mashing work, Tom.

Haroon Ikhlaq found the air intake duct of the chimney, which was boxed in, had been drilled through by another tradesperson while they were looking somewhere to install an extractor fan ducting. The installation was made safe and then rectified.

Simon Peters advised his customer to get their TV aerial fitted correctly after seeing it strapped and taped to the boiler’s vertical chimney on the roof.

Philippa Cunningham was horrified to find this boiler installation, where the gas supply pipework to the boiler was run in plastic plumbing pipe, not to mention the electric cable taped to the gas pipe, and other issues with the installation. Philippa made safe following guidance from the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (IGEM/G/11).

Jamie Newman attended a carbon monoxide alarm activation and found the old balanced-flue boiler in a bit of a state.

Jamie immediately made the installation safe.

Matthew Griffiths shows us his excellent work putting right an ugly attempt at making good around the chimney terminal on a boiler installation.

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 month winne ’s r

P Faulks found this inappropriate jointing method on gas installation pipework at the meter. After discussion with the customer, the pipework was re-done using appropriate fittings as per British Standard 6891.

Sam Northern’s customer was complaining of damp and condensation inside their new carport roof.

A simple solution, really: Sam relocated the boiler chimney.

Photo prize

Mick Jeavons spotted this humdinger of an installation in the garden next door to the property where he was working.

Here is a fine example of a badly corroded and damaged boiler chimney sent by Leigh Shapcott, who made the installation safe.

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.

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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 Mick Jeavons from Doncaster. Congratulations!

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LETTERS

Intouch Plume kits gone wrong The picture of the extended DIY plume kit in August’s the Good, the Bad and the Ugly highlights to me the need for it to be classified as ID when the correct manufacturer’s plume kit is used in an unapproved manner through a conservatory.

This should be regardless of how it’s fitted or supported: it is clearly a breach of the manufacturer’s instructions.

I have asked for this classification to be re-addressed before the use of a plume kit through a conservatory comes apart by children playing in there, damaging it and resulting in CO poisoning or even death.

Alan Teal

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

Boat checks put us in danger too In response to Mr Frost’s letter about engineer safety (No Care in Care Home, August), in the boat world we too find we are working daily in an environment that poses clear risks to our health.

In carrying out gas testing of open-flued appliances as part of Boat Safety Scheme examinations, we can first establish inadequate ventilation to the vessel interior, see but not act on an incorrect flue terminal, and see but not act on an incorrect flue length.

We then close the doors and windows, run the appliance for five minutes, and complete a

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flue spillage test, knowing it would probably fail.

The engineer or examiner is working in a confined space and is breathing in the products of combustion (POC) during this process. We can then run the appliance for a further 10 minutes, repeat the test, and continue breathing in POCs. More needs to be done to safeguard engineers across the industry, and the relevant authorities have a responsibility to take action to protect our health at work.

Tom Keeling Small Craft Services Ltd/ Marine Surveys

When safety measures put people at risk I was doing a gas safety inspection on a mobile catering trailer where the owner was safety-conscious and had installed a Perspex Covid-19 screen. However, the screen covered most of the hatch, which must be open in order to provide ventilation – and was blocking the ventilation.

Clearly the situation was unsafe. I was able to make it safe by putting into place a procedure to keep the door open while running the gas appliances, and this was effective in improving the air quality.

I suspect this may be happening a lot at the moment.

David Webster

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Technical Bulletin 120 The use of pliable corrugated (stainless steel) tubing in domestic and non-domestic gas installations Date issued: 11 August 2021

Note: This version of Technical Bulletin (TB) 120 replaces the version originally published on 29 February 2021, which is now withdrawn. This version has been reviewed and revised, where appropriate, to ensure that it remains both current and relevant.

This Technical Bulletin provides guidance to Gas Safe registered businesses/engineers on the use of pliable corrugated (stainless steel) tubing and fittings for domestic and non-domestic installations.

Industry standards (product) Pliable corrugated (stainlesssteel) tubing (PCSST) is manufactured to the requirements of BS EN 15266(1).

PCSST meeting this manufacturing standard is a high-quality product that can be used as an alternative to more traditional, rigid steel and copper pipework for fuel gases.

eg, continuous lengths (no joints) of copper, steel, polyethylene, and be installed in accordance with relevant industry standards.

Pipes passing through walls and floors Although PCSST has a factory-applied cover(s), when passing through walls or floors it is treated the same as other gas pipework material and should be located in a separate sleeve passing through the full width of the wall or the full thickness of the floor. This applies to installation pipework for all gas types, ie, natural gas (NG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and LPG/air.

PCSST mechanical fittings PCSST tubing and fittings need to be assembled in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Only fittings and tubing from the same manufacturer should be used.

It is not permitted to use the fittings from one manufacturer with the tubing of a different manufacturer. BS 6891 states in Clause 7.3: “Any mechanical joint shall be located in a readily accessible position that allows the fitting to be tightened to make a gas-tight joint.”

IGEM/UP/2 states in Clause 6.7.2: “Joints shall be located in readily accessible positions for inspection and maintenance.”

Fittings manufactured and compliant with BS EN 15266 are defined as mechanical fittings and should not be concealed within the fabric of the building, placed within a sleeve or buried either internally or externally. Fittings of this type need to be installed in a readily accessible and ventilated space and must not be located within a fire-protected area such as protected shafts, lobbies and corridors.

Note 1: Sleeves for gas pipework need to be manufactured from a corrosionresistant material that is impermeable to gas and is capable of protecting the pipework against failure caused by movement of the structure,

The installation of PCSST in unventilated ducts or voids Regulation 19(6) of GSIUR states: “Where any installation pipework is not itself contained in a ventilated duct, no person shall install any installation pipework in any shaft, duct or

Industry standards (installation requirements) The industry standards covering the installation of PCSST are: • BS 6891(2) • IGEM/UP/2(3) • PD 54823:2016(4) Clarification on some of the questions relating to the use of PCSST within these standards is provided below.

void which is not adequately ventilated.”

Note 2: Similar legislative requirements apply in other geographical areas covered by Gas Safe Register. For details of current gas safety legislation, building legislation and industry standards for the geographical areas covered by Gas Safe Register, see the Legislative, Normative & Informative Document List (LNIDL).

Clause 8.16.1 of BS 6891 states: • “Vertical and horizontal ducts containing pipework shall be ventilated to ensure that minor gas leakage does not cause the atmosphere within the duct to become unsafe.

• Any ventilation opening shall be located such that air movement can occur within the duct.

• Any ventilation opening shall lead to a safe place, preferably to outside air.

• Ducts shall be sealed from any cavity, wall or floor void through which they pass.”

IGEM/UP/2, which covers both NG and LPG in a non-domestic environment, states in Clause 10.6: “Pipework must not be installed in an unventilated duct, void or enclosure. Where it is necessary to pass pipework through an unventilated void, the following options are available: • The pipework shall be sleeved continuously through the unventilated duct or void, with the sleeve ventilated at one or both ends into a safe area, or • The unventilated duct or void

shall be filled with a material infill to reduce to a minimum the volume of any gas that can accumulate. The infill material should be of a dry, chemically neutral and fire-resistant nature, for example, crushed slate chippings or dry, washed sand.”

IGEM/UP/2 also clarifies in Clause 5.2.7.3, in relation to PCSST, that: “Where pipework is required to be enclosed in a sleeve, for example, when passing through a wall or an unventilated void, the factoryapplied coating on copper pipe or pliable corrugated stainless steel tube shall not be considered to fulfil such a purpose.”

Note 3: Manufacturers of PCSST in the UK may offer innovative dual-covered products designed to be used within unventilated ducts or voids. Products of this type are not currently covered by any normative manufacturing standard. Before using products of this type, users should ensure the product has been independently assessed by a third-party test authority against pre-determined test criteria to ensure it is fit for purpose. See also Status of Manufacturer’s Technical Specification/Guidance.

Installation of PCSST within a fire-protected area For the purpose of this TB, the term protected area is used in relation to fire safety and is a ventilated space containing gas pipework and isolated from

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 25

>

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Technical Bulletin 120 continued

>

other parts of the building within fire-resisting construction.

Examples of protected areas will include a protected stairway, a protected corridor/lobby and a protected entrance hall/landing.

Note 4: Reference should be made to Annex D of BS 6891 for additional guidance on fire protected areas For the installation of PCSST within a protected area, BS 6891 Clause 8.19 states: “In addition to the requirements for fire resistance fire stopping, any pipework carrying gas installed in, or passing through, a protected area shall be: • Steel pipework with screwed joints •S teel pipework with welded joints •C ontinuous length of copper (no joints), or •C ontinuous length of pliable corrugated (stainless-steel) tubing manufactured to withstand Fire Test A of BS EN 1775:2007(5), Annex A. Note 5: PCSST manufactured to BS 7838 [Standard now withdrawn] meets Fire Test A. For pliable corrugated tubing manufactured to BS EN 15266, the manufacturer should be consulted.

In the non-domestic environment, the guidance published in IGEM/UP/2 Clause 7.2.5 states: “Pipework must not pass through or along a protected shaft containing a stair or lift (see The Building Regulations), unless all the following conditions apply: •O P (Operating pressure) does not exceed 75mbar and •P ipework, including fittings, is of carbon or stainless steel •A ny joint is either threaded (screwed) or welded •P liable corrugated stainless steel tube is of continuous length without joints

26 October 2021

manufactured to withstand fire test A of BS EN 1775, Annex A. Pliable corrugated (stainlesssteel) tubing manufactured to BS EN 15266 may be tested to meet Fire Test A, Fire Test B or both. The PCSST manufacturer should be consulted to confirm which fire test has been achieved before installing the pipe within any fire-protected areas.

Direct burial of PCSST (internally and externally) BS 6891 states that where PCSST is to be directly buried: • It shall conform to BS 7838 [Standard now withdrawn] or BS EN 15266 • The manufacturer’s instructions allow for direct burial • I t is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and • I t has a factory-applied cover with a minimum thickness of 0.5mm, manufactured from a non-chlorinated material of a synthetic polymer or elastomer with a total chloride content not exceeding 50ppm.

Products manufactured to BS EN 15266 may not meet the above requirements for minimum thickness of cover and maximum chloride content as the requirements were originally part of the now withdrawn BS 7838 and do not form part of BS EN 15266. The PCSST manufacturer should be consulted before the product can be directly buried internally or externally.

With regard to burial of PCSST in non-domestic situations, IGEM/UP/2 states in the notes to Clause 5.2.6.1 that products only complying with BS EN 15266 cannot be directly buried in the ground or screed unless additional corrosion protection is applied.

It also states that BS 7838

[Standard now withdrawn] products are suitable for direct burial without the need for additional protection.

Because BS 7838 has been withdrawn, before using a product manufactured to BS EN 15266 for direct burial internally or externally, the PCSST manufacturer should be consulted to confirm that this is acceptable practice for its particular product.

For both BS 6891 and IGEM/UP/2, suitable methods of burying PCSST and the required burial depths are stipulated depending on the situation and these would need to be applied as appropriate. The PCSST manufacturer should also be contacted for any specific requirements for their individual product.

Status of manufacturer’s technical specification/ guidance Installation guidance published by product manufacturers may be deemed as appropriate standards within the meaning of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, provided that the technical specification/ guidance provides, in use, equivalent levels of safety, suitability and fitness for purpose to those achieved by the relevant standard(s) to which it is expressed to be equivalent.

Registered businesses/engineers are responsible for ensuring that the methods adopted for PCSST product installation satisfy the requirements of all relevant regulations.

Note 6: For general information about the process behind the development of Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the expectations for all Stakeholders, see TB 1000(8) by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister. co.uk/sign-in/ Bibliography (1) BS EN 15266: 2007 – Incorporating corrigendum April 2008 – Stainless steel pliable corrugated tubing kits in buildings for gas with an operating pressure up to 0.5 bar (2) BS 6891:2015 + A1 2019 Specification for the installation and maintenance of low pressure gas installation pipework of up 35mm (R1 1/4) on premises (3) IGEM/UP/2 Edition 3 – Installation pipework on industrial and commercial premises (Communication 1771) (4) PD 54823: 2016 – Guidance for the design, commissioning and maintenance of LPG systems in small craft (5) BS EN 1775: 2007 Gas supply.

Gas supply for buildings. Maximum operating pressure less than or equal to 5 bar.

Note 7: Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the Legislative, Normative & Informative Document List can be viewed by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ sign-in/

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Can we help you?

Every day, Gas Safe Register’s Technical Team answer calls and emails from gas engineers. They may need support in classifying an installation or just need to check something with the highly experienced and helpful Technical Officers.

Here are just a few of questions that are asked most frequently – and the answers.

Q

While I was servicing a boiler, I found that the inlet working pressure was low when testing as per the manufacturer’s instructions (MIs). How do I classify this?

When you encounter an appliance that has low working pressure, a few variants need to be considered before you decide how to classify it. The main issue is whether or not the appliance is working safely.

Where a boiler has a working pressure below the manufacturer’s minimum recommended requirements, but the gas rate is correct, and flue gas analysis shows that the appliance is burning correctly, then this is not necessarily unsafe, and could be left as Not to Current Standards (NCS). You should seek further guidance from the manufacturer in this case, and follow its advice regarding classification.

However, if the appliance safety or any other gas appliance in the property is being affected by the low pressure, you must follow the guidance given in IGEM/G/11, the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP). You can find further guidance in Technical Bulletin 129.

A

Q

I have a domestic boiler in a commercial setting.

Do I need commercial qualifications to work on this?

When considering which qualifications you need to work on an appliance, you must first know how the manufacturer categorises the appliance. As a rule, appliances under 70kW are deemed domestic: however, there are some exceptions and you

A

More information

should check with the manufacturer. Any appliance over 70kW will always be a commercial appliance and you will need non-domestic qualifications to work on it.

Where a domestic appliance is fitted in a commercial building, it is the appliance classification that matters. For instance, if there is a stand-alone domestic boiler fitted in a factory, then you need CENWAT to work on that appliance.

However, where multiple domestic appliances with an aggregate of over 70kW are fitted in series in the same room – for example two 40kW boilers fitted together, then the room becomes a plant room.

As such, you need commercial knowledge and qualifications as well as the domestic boiler qualification.

You should also know the limitations of the pipework on which you can work. If you have domestic qualifications, you can work on up to a U16 meter, 35mm copper or 1¼” steel, and an installation volume of 0.035m3.

Anything over this requires non-domestic qualifications.

This article provides at-a-glance information on some of the questions asked by gas engineers. You can find more in-depth information on some of these topics in the Technical Bulletins published by Gas Safe Register. You can read and download all Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in • Technical Bulletin 129: Boiler inlet gas pressure measurement • Technical Bulletin 005: Gas cookers in internal kitchens • Technical Bulletin 055: Duties of landlords • Technical Bulletin 063: Carrying out gas work on leisure accommodation vehicles, residential park homes and holiday accommodation • BS 5440–1:2008: Flueing and ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (1st, 2nd and 3rd family gases). Specification for installation of gas appliances to chimneys and for maintenance of chimneys

Q

There is no equipotential bonding on the meter but the electrician says it’s fine.

Are they right?

When a gas installation does not appear to have the correct equipotential bonding fitted, the gas engineer’s responsibility is to inform the responsible person, in writing, that they should employ a competent electrician to check that the installation is electrically correct.

Equipotential bonding is an electrical issue, not a gas safety one. Ultimately, if the electrician states that the bonding is correct or not needed, then that should be taken as correct. For instance,

A

where the gas service pipework (mains gas) is run in PE pipe, there may be no need for equipotential bonding. This decision is for a competent electrician to make.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 29

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Can we help you? >

Q

I’m replacing a boiler and the old chimney goes over a boundary. The neighbour has given their permission to fit the new boiler in the same place.

Can I do this?

No. When you install any gas appliance, it must be installed in accordance with all relevant British standards, regulations, and the

manufacturer’s instructions.

BS 5440 Part 1 and Building Regulations Approved Document J state that any chimney must terminate at least 600mm from a facing boundary, and 300mm if running parallel to the boundary.

Some manufacturers may allow these distances to be reduced if using plume management kits. However, no

hard soldered (brazed) fittings should be used.

There some confusion about the qualifications required to work on a static mobile home. The qualification required is leisure accommodation vehicles (LAV), not residential park homes.

Both qualifications show as ‘caravans’ on the back

of your Gas Safe ID card.

If you are unsure whether you are qualified to work on an installation, you should always check with Technical Team before carrying out any gas work. You can find more information about working on LAVs, RPHs and holiday accommodation in Technical Bulletin 063.

A

Q

What are the requirements for soldering gas installation pipework in a caravan? Can I use any solder?

When installing pipework in a caravan, static mobile home or motor home, it is not permitted to use soft soldered fittings.

Only mechanical fittings or

A

continued

chimneys should terminate over the property boundary.

Even if the neighbour gives their permission to terminate the chimney on to their property, this is not permitted because, in the event of the property changing hands, the new owner may object. In this instance, it should be re-routed, and the boiler may need to be re-sited.

Working in rental properties Q Q A A I’m doing a landlord’s gas safety record (LGSR) check and have a hob in a room with no window, ie, an internal room. Should I fail the LGSR? When carrying out an LGSR, and there is a cooker or hob fitted in an internal kitchen, this does not necessarily mean that the appliance is unsafe.

All cooking appliances should be fitted in a room with a window or door direct to outside. This is for purge ventilation not combustion ventilation. If there is no window or door to outside, then the kitchen becomes an internal kitchen, and the guidance given in Technical Bulletin 005 should be followed.

TB 005 states that alternative types of purge ventilation should be installed, such as extract fans that vent outside or trickle vents into a conservatory. The requirements vary in the different UK nations and you can find these in the Technical Bulletin.

However, if there is no purge ventilation in the kitchen at all, this is a Building Regulations issue, not a gas safety one.

As long as the kitchen is bigger than 10m2 the installation would usually be deemed Not to Current Standards (NCS).

30 October 2021

What is the new rule about due dates on landlords’ gas safety record checks?

When the GSIUR was updated in 2018, Regulation 36a was added. This states that an LGSR check may be carried out up to two months before the renewal date, and the renewal will remain the same. For instance, if the LGSR is due on 1/10/2021, it can be carried out any time from 1/8/2021, and the renewal date for next year will be 1/10/2022. If the check is carried out early, the landlord must be able to produce the previous two years’ records.

None of this affects the way you carry out the safety check in any way: the rule is designed to minimise the risk of LGSRs running out and the tenant being left without a valid record.

You must not post-date the record.

You may added the extended renewal date on the record if you wish, though this is not a requirement.

You can find more information on this ruling in Technical Bulletin 055, as well as at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords

Q A

Does a gas cooker only need a visual inspection on the LGSR? This depends who owns the cooker.

If it’s the tenant’s own appliance, then it is not the responsibility of the landlord, and so requires only a visual inspection.

If it is owned by the landlord, then it must be fully checked, with all other appliances, in accordance with Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR). Further guidance on landlords’ responsibilities can be found in Technical Bulletin 055, or at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords

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With roughly 14% of the UK’s carbon emissions coming from heating homes, a clear full-scale policy roadmap is needed to lay out how the UK should tackle carbon emissions in homes and businesses. Karl Bateman, National Specifier Manager at Calor, explains why BioLPG should be recognised in government policies as one of the vital solutions in tackling decarbonisation in rural homes today.

Few doubt the need to tackle the climate crisis urgently, but also fairly. A fair approach is vital for the next big Net Zero challenge: lowering emissions from our home heating.

At the time of writing, the Government’s current strategy seems to focus on decarbonising rural homes first, with the phase out of fossil fuel heating earlier in rural homes off the gas grid compared with their urban, on-grid counterparts.

Rural homes located off the mains gas grid may represent a small proportion of homes in this country. But moving to low carbon heating in these properties presents a far bigger hurdle compared to homes connected to mains gas. The majority of off-grid households – estimated at around 60% – rely on heating oil. Currently, there is no viable biofuel to replace domestic heating oil1 (kerosene), and there is no easy way for homeowners to use other biofuels such as B30k or B100k.

Electrification via heat pumps With heat pumps presented as the likely solution for decarbonising the energy supply to heat our homes, the government had pledged to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. At the time of writing, it is anticipated that the Heat and Buildings Strategy will contain further details on how this will be achieved, and how to incentivise heat pumps for homeowners.

32 October 2021

However, heat pumps generally require good levels of home insulation to heat effectively. Many rural homes are hard to insulate, so in reality, an electric heat pump alone may not keep occupants warm

“Moving to low-carbon heating in rural properties presents a bigger hurdle than homes on mains gas.” enough. What’s more, owners may end up with bigger electricity bills than expected because a higher flow temperature would be required in a poorly insulated building, reducing a heat pump’s efficiency. BEIS, CCC, National Grid and others have identified that 20-50% of properties are unsuitable for electric heat pump installation.

High upfront costs To give clear signals to homeowners about the need to improve their energy efficiency, the Heat and Buildings Strategy could impose legal commitments that homeowners will have to adhere to. This could be in the form of introducing lowcarbon heating systems such as heat

pumps, or retrofitting homes to make them more energy-efficient.

However, the cost of moving many rural properties over to electric heat pumps – and necessary energy efficiency improvements – is much higher than the Committee on Climate Change’s national average figure of £9k. Only 3% of off-grid homes in England have an Energy Performance Certificate of band C or higher. Lots have solid walls, 78% are detached and 47% were built before 1949, many much, much earlier. The cost of carrying out deep retrofit improvements to a property’s fabric, together with installation of a heat pump, could set a homeowner back by nearly £31,7002. A recent report by the Energy and Utilities Alliance revealed 80% of people said that this was either too excessive and they couldn’t afford to pay (54%), or that they would pay it only with financial support (26%).

If rural homeowners were penalised on their EPCs for not moving away quickly enough from fossil fuels due to the considerable costs involved, the value of their properties and their future sale potential could be badly affected.

Many in rural communities will ask if this approach is fair, given the move to lower carbon heating can be very disruptive and often comes with higher upfront and running costs than their existing heating. The Government expects the higher technology

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | ADVERTORIAL

BioLPG and Hybrid Systems If standalone heat pumps aren’t suitable, what can be done?

Independent analysis suggests that BioLPG fuel, either in standalone boilers or in combination with a heat pump in a hybrid system, will be the most affordable way to decarbonise around 44% of rural homes currently heated by highly polluting heating oil3.

That’s because BioLPG is a direct, drop-in replacement for conventional LPG, so LPG boilers can use it now and in the future. This biofuel is an affordable, renewable option for those ‘hard to treat’ homes common in rural areas. It also means that installers who are already LPG trained and on the Gas Safe Register don’t need to do anything differently.

For many rural homes, BioLPG represents the most cost effective and least disruptive route to low carbon heating.

BioLPG works in existing LPG boilers – without upgrade – and also perfectly complements heat pumps in a hybrid system. The transition to BioLPG from heating oil – the main heating fuel off-grid – is also more straightforward and cheaper than a heat pump. Talk of ‘banning boilers’ doesn’t make sense when you

have a net zero-compatible fuel available like BioLPG. Calor offers it now to consumers as a blend of 40% BioLPG and 60% conventional LPG, providing 38% carbon savings compared with heating oil4. Over time, this blend will move to 100% BioLPG, and the whole LPG industry has pledged that by 2040, 100% of all its energy products will be produced from renewable sources. Calor is going faster, and its parent company (SHV Energy) has committed to cut its carbon impact by 25% by 2025, across all business units.

The need to decarbonise heat in our homes and buildings is driving change which is set to be even bigger and more impactful on people’s lives than the nation’s move from coal to gas 50 years ago. Despite of the availability of BioLPG, many hurdles still remain in order to decarbonise heat in off-grid, rural areas.

Thankfully, there is one company installers can call upon to seek advice. With over 85 years of expertise in off-grid, rural home energy, Calor are best placed to guide installers on how off-grid and hard to treat homes are best heated – for both homeowners and the heating businesses that serve them.

costs to reduce over time, but rural homes will not benefit if they are required to change their heating first.

Retraining required Fewer than 2% of UK homes are heated by a low-carbon source and estimates put the number of gas boilers that will need to be replaced, either by a heat pump or hydrogen-ready boiler, at around 20 million.

These figures are set alongside an existing shortage of approximately 100,000 gas engineers.

The Government is expected to set out detailed plans on how it will attract, train, retain and upskill the huge number of engineers we are going to need to install new heating systems across the country.

But given the obstacles faced by many rural households in changing their heating system from one powered by fossil fuels, to one with a low-carbon heat source, many installers who are members of Calor’s Boiler Installer Scheme said in a recent survey that there is insufficient demand to entice them into training in low-carbon technologies.

Others cited the time and cost needed to retrain and become government-certified as barriers to upskilling themselves and/or their employees in renewable heating technologies in the next five to ten years.

However, over half of the respondents were keen to diversify their businesses in the near future and get trained up in heat pump-related systems. What’s needed is more support from the Government for installers who work in off-grid areas, as well as the wider heating industry. 61% of respondents felt that central government was not doing enough to help them navigate the road ahead.

About Calor Calor is the UK’s leading supplier of LPG and LNG, which has spent the last 85 years bringing clean and efficient energy to rural Britain.

The company provides gas to more than 100,00 homes and 350,000 commercial premises located off the mains gas grid, distributed via the UK’s largest LPG and LNG delivery fleet. Calor also has BioLPG available to the UK market, providing a renewable off-grid gas solution to homes and businesses across the country.

Calor continues to invest in its offering to make the provision of energy in off-grid areas as simple as energy on-grid.

Please visit www.calor.co.uk for more information.

1 https://www.crownoil.co.uk/guides/biofuel-guide/ 2 Based on a large detached home built before 1918, with a floor area of 198m2, and an annual heating demand of 31,906 kWh. Fabric improvements needed include loft insulation, solid wall insulation, double glazing and PVC doors.

3 https://www.ecuity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Ecuity_Off-Grid-Heat-DecarbonisationPathways-compressed-1.pdf 43 8% reduction in GHGs (CO2e/ eq function) compared to heating oil. Emission savings calculated based on allocation of 40% BioLPG and 60% conventional LPG. (Atlantic Consulting, 2017, a report commissioned by Calor Gas Limited)

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 33

A guide to annual boiler servicing What steps should a boiler service include? In this feature, we outline agreed industry best practice and reveal top tips from some of the leading boiler manufacturers.

Servicing the boiler 1. H ave the manufacturer’s instructions for the boiler to hand (try to find out the boiler’s make and model in advance so you can download the manual before you arrive) 2. O perate the boiler briefly to ensure it appears to work correctly. Isolate the boiler/ heating system electrically and confirm this with suitable test equipment. Check that the fuse rating for the boiler/heating system is correct 3. R emove the boiler case and visually inspect the appliance, internally and externally, for any signs of distress, such as corrosion or water leaks 4. C lean the boiler and its components, including the primary heat exchanger, burner, and any condensate trap, in line with the

manufacturer’s instructions 5. S afely reinstate the electrical supply. Carry out a check of the boiler’s gas burner pressure, a gas-rate check (taken at the gas meter), or both, where appropriate 6. V isually check the flame picture (where visible) and carry out a flue gas analysis test 7. E nsure that any combustion analysis test points are correctly replaced, and any boiler case seals are forming an effective seal 8. C heck that any ventilation requirements for the boiler have been met 9. C heck the boiler chimney/flue throughout its length, including its point of termination. Carry out flue-flow and spillage tests (smoke tests) if the boiler is open-flued 10. C heck that any boiler safety

devices operate correctly 11. Check there is no escape of gas from the boiler, or connecting pipework 12. In the event of any safety defect(s) being noted, advise the customer of the details, and either rectify them, or follow the guidance in IGEM/G/11, the Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) 13. Where rectification is not possible, discuss with the customer any remedial action required, and the options to correct the faults 14. Complete the Benchmark service record, and provide any additional work documentation.

Final checks • Check system controls for correct operation, and that

both the central heating and hot water function correctly.

• Walk the heating system, checking for any water leaks, signs of corrosion, and that all radiators heat evenly, bleeding any air present. Check any hot water cylinder for leaks, correct insulation, and obvious installation defects. Check and clean system sludge/debris from any installed heating system filter.

• For sealed heating systems, check that the final system pressure is in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions • If the customer is present, discuss the work you have carried out and ask if they have any questions • If further work is required, explain what it is, why it is needed, and provide a quotation if the work is not

Record servicing online The Benchmark Checklist is now digitised, with new apps that encourage a ‘whole-life’ approach to boiler care.

Separate Benchmark apps for gas engineers and homeowners store information about the boiler installation and its servicing history, so that engineers know all relevant details about the appliance before they start work, even if they’ve never visited the property before. The apps also make it easier for gas engineers to register boilers after they’ve been installed, and to fill in the boiler’s commissioning details.

The consumer app will soon be launched, giving homeowners their boiler’s full installation and service history in one place, should they ever need it.

The app sends notifications when servicing is due, to help make sure that regular services are carried out and that boilers remain within their manufacturer’s warranty.

The Benchmark checklist has been an effective way of demonstrating compliance with Building Regulations for boiler installation, commissioning and servicing since it was created in 1999.

You can find out more and download the free apps at: www.benchmark.org.uk 34 October 2021

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | BOILERS

Manufacturers give their own hints and tips As well as agreed best practice, every manufacturer has its own recommendations on how to best service its boilers. Here, some of them set out their guidance and top tips.

Baxi

already covered by an existing contract. Try to agree a suitable date and time for the return visit where possible. When returning to carry out further work or repairs, ensure that all relevant parts and materials are ordered for the job, and that these are as specified by the manufacturer • Check that the appliance and system control settings (eg, on/off times for the central heating and thermostat settings) are as the customer requires, or are left as you found them • If you have not already recorded information about the service directly on to the Benchmark service record, add the relevant appliance readings and information, and record a short job report, including any parts fitted • Advise the customer that

continued regular servicing of their gas appliances is recommended, and that it is a condition of any ongoing appliance manufacturer’s warranty that gas boilers are appropriately serviced, at least annually, by a qualified Gas Safe engineer • Check that any audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarm installed in the home is in date, operating correctly, appropriately located and installed, and that it conforms to BS EN 50291 • If the customer does not have a CO alarm, advise them of the benefits and how they can obtain a suitable product. ■ Note: A CO alarm is not a substitute for regular servicing of gas and other fuel-burning appliances.

Source: HHIC Guide to Boiler Servicing

When servicing any Baxi boiler, you should refer to the appropriate installation and service manual for the type and model of boiler, which provides detailed servicing instructions and combustion performance figures.

If your customer doesn’t have their manual, these are available online free of charge for all models, past and present.

The best way to identify any problems is to talk to your customer about their heating system. Ask how it’s been performing, whether there have been any recent changes or renovations to their home, or any instances of pressure loss.

This will help identify whether any changes need to be made to ensure the system is safe and efficient.

Visual checks are very important during any service; not only of the boiler itself but also when looking around the house for other warning signs. Staining around cookers and fires or an incorrect flame picture could help to identify a potential problem.

Check that chimney/flue outlets are not compromised or blocked, particularly if there has been an extension or refurbishment since the last service. You should also check that any lengths of chimney/flue are properly supported and joints are intact and undamaged.

Always flush the system and top up with sufficient inhibitors to avoid debris build-up.

• Do not leave non-Gas Safe registered employees (eg, apprentices) unsupervised when carrying out work, as this is not compliant with gas safety measures.

• Do not replace parts with non-genuine or third-party

spares. Baxi Genuine Spares have been through testing procedures to make sure they are safe and reliable and are approved for use in Baxi’s boilers.

An annual service is a requirement of the warranty for all Baxi boilers.

If this requirement is not met, the warranty on the boiler could be void, so it is vital that you encourage your customers to keep up their servicing schedule each year.

COVID-19 has had an impact on servicing over the past 18 months, so Baxi has made allowances for instances where a service has had to be delayed.

If there is any doubt about whether a warranty is still valid, check with Baxi.

Baxi recommends that a filter is fitted with every boiler as per guidance in BS 7593. This is a requirement of the warranty for the Baxi 800 boiler range, which comes with a magnetic system filter in the box.

When refilling the system after any installation or remedial work, make sure it is flushed sufficiently and correct levels of chemical inhibitors are added to stop debris build-up. Whenever a radiator is changed, or thermostatic valves are installed and the system is drained, don’t forget to add inhibitor. Many system failures are caused by debris build-up from insufficiently cleaned systems, so the flushing and cleaning process is vital.

If a filter has been fitted on the system, this should also be cleaned as part of the service, even if it is new.

Seals across each system can vary greatly, so a systematic approach to checking them is important to make sure any replacements made are using the www.gassaferegister.co.uk 35

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | BOILERS

A guide to annual boiler servicing continued >

replaced if necessary. Excessive heat can cause cracks or broken seals in the heat exchanger or nearby components, which can result in a leak.

The extent of what needs replacing varies between manufacturers. On a Navien NCB condensing gas unit, for example, the heat exchanger seal can be replaced on its own, but other boiler models may require the whole component to be dismantled for further repair. navienuk.com

correct part. Visually inspecting seals for any damage is key. If a seal needs replacing, Baxi always recommends using Baxi Genuine Parts to ensure the correct seal has been selected, otherwise this could invalidate the boiler warranty and risk system failure. www.baxi.co.uk

Navien

Regardless of the boiler’s age, servicing is essential to ensure that everything is working safely and efficiently. When servicing a Navien NCB condensing gas boiler or LCB700 Blue Flame oil boiler, you should look for any signs of water leaks inside the case during your visual inspection.

Take the case off the boiler and check all components – such as the burner and heat exchanger – for any signs of wear and tear, overheating or stress. Always check there are no small signs of distress or possible leaks; particular attention should be given to key components such as the diverter valves, heat exchangers, pump and pipework.

Close inspection of these parts will identify any potential fault before it can progress and cause damage.

Check that any expansion vessels on the boiler or system have the correct amount of pre-charged air. It is important to ensure any expansion of water can be taken by the vessel, so there are no issues with overpressurisation and/or the pressure relief valve (PRV) leaking because

the expansion vessel has lost its charge.

Always check the instruction manual for any servicing tips, as some recommended steps may be product-specific.

Navien’s warranties cover gas and oil boilers in the unfortunate event of any internal components failing. However, if a failure occurs because of poor installation or sludge in the system, this may not be covered by the warranty.

Navien recommends checking that inhibitor chemical levels in the central heating system are correct to provide ongoing protection against the potential build-up of corrosion and limescale. If a magnetic system filter is fitted, it will need isolating and cleaning out.

It is also important to compare the flue gas analyser readings with the manufacturer’s recommended levels in terms of

Electric Heating Company No specific manufacturer checks are required with EHC boilers, which helps keep service duration times to a minimum.

EHC recommends that you should check the system water quality, clean the filters every year, and always use a good-quality inhibitor. Where there is evidence of severe system contamination, a full powerflush is recommended to restore system efficiency.

Make sure to safely isolate the main electrical supply before beginning the service, and don’t use the pressure relief valve to drain the boiler.

All electrical connections should be checked, and the expansion vessel re-pressurised accordingly.

EHC electric boilers do not require seals to be replaced, nor any component adjustment. www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk

36 October 2021

the CO/CO2 combustion ratio for gas (in gas boilers this is 0.004).

This will indicate whether the boiler is working to its optimum efficiency.

If the reading is below the necessary level, Navien recommends a visual check is carried out for any water leaks and any debris, eg, dust, is

Viessmann

The biggest indicator that something might be amiss during a boiler service is a lack of previous servicing.

Boilers should be serviced every year, and this is often a condition of their warranty.

Condensate back-up is another sign to look out for.

This could indicate condensate

“Particular attention should be given to key components such as the diverter valves, heat exchangers, pumps and pipework.” removed from the case. If the reading is higher, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and carry out a full service, which usually includes cleaning the burner and the heat exchanger. Should the readings remain high after this, further investigation is required.

Also check the chimney/flue termination and the chimney/flue route for its entire length (including the joints) from the boiler to the outside of the property to make sure no exhaust gases are escaping. Any obstructions must be removed from the terminals and the chimney/flue should be fitted safely.

The inspection and replacement of seals depends on the manufacturer’s instructions.

The case seal should be checked to ensure there are no leaks, and other key parts checked and

traps not being cleaned, or poor condensate drain or pipework.

If left unnoticed, this could lead to condensate holding in the heat exchanger, causing damage to insulation pads and seals, and potentially blocking the main heat exchanger.

Viessmann also recommends that the system is flushed clean.

However, judgements around water quality, the use of inhibitors, and how much flushing/cleaning is needed must be made on site, as conditions vary so widely.

Remember that the expansion vessel can lose some of its charge pressure after some time in use. Checking and repressuring the boiler and system expansion vessels is part of the annual servicing procedure, but this is often missed. The problem can be seen when the boiler heats up and its pressure gauge indicates

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A guide to annual boiler servicing continued >

• Visually check the appliance.

Observe any signs of distress, and always check the chimney/ flue routing and termination.

• Do not assume the boiler does not need servicing because the flue gas readings are within tolerance. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions and always run the checks it recommends as part of a service.

• Do not refit old gas connection seals – always

seals are the most important ones and must be inspected at each service.

If the annual service is carried out correctly, there should be no problems when it comes to warranty. Viessmann often finds issues when engineers do not follow the manufacturer’s instructions correctly – they go in and run basic analysis, but don’t actually open the boiler to check it properly. Over time, failing to

“It’s important to check the expansion vessel pre-charge pressure annually and set it according to site conditions.”

a higher pressure of two or three bar, only for the safety valve to respond and discharge the excess pressure.

Boilers with expansion vessel pressure issues need their water pressure topping up regularly.

It’s important to check the expansion vessel pre-charge pressure annually as part of the service, and set it according to site conditions.

•F ollow the manufacturer’s instructions service procedure. With every domestic Viessmann boiler, the instructions show you exactly what checks need doing at the commissioning, maintenance and inspection stages. Everything from checking the burner gasket and safety valve functions, to checking the connections on heating water and DHW sides for leaks is included, and linked to the relevant page for step-by-step instructions.

• Use the correct tools for the job. Trying to use the same tool 38 October 2021

for everything can end up rounding screw heads or bolts due to excessive wear. Using the correct torx bit size for loosening screw heads and bolts makes for a safer and more accurate job.

Worcester Bosch Always look for signs of heat damage to seals, gaskets and any sight glasses. Check the electrical cables on view and the electrode leads for any sign of wear. Check the chimney/flue terminal for signs of soot or foliage, or any other restriction.

You should always follow the comprehensive maintenance instructions for that specific boiler, and keep in mind that some services may require different actions from others.

Read the boiler instructions before attending to make sure there are no specific parts that need to be taken to site. There may be specific servicing

check issues such as burner, heat exchanger, electrodes, expansion vessel and system pressure, etc, can leave the boiler in bad condition. But with a thorough annual service, complications around warranty don’t occur. www.viessmann.co.uk

replace with new. Over time, the fibre washer, for example, can get harder and brittle and will lose the secure seal needed to keep the gas connection safe. A new washer only costs a couple of pence, and you should keep them in your toolkit. Viessmann offers service kits with all domestic Viessmann boilers.

For non-gas-connection seals, always carry out a visual check for signs of wear and tear, such as leaks, nicks or brittle points.

The burner door and gas union

Editor’s note: Unfortunately Vaillant and Glow-worm were unable to take part in this feature, but you can find out more about their servicing requirements at: www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/

intervals, ie, every fifth year, when a gasket or electrode needs to be exchanged, even if it appears to be working correctly.

Most modern boilers have quite long warranty periods of up to 10 years. That warranty is valid on the completion of an annual service, so it’s important that this and any actions required in specific servicing years are completed.

Some boilers don’t always require a strip-down service every year. Some manufacturers will ask for an air pressure test to be taken over the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger that will identify any contamination. This,

combined with a flue gas analysis, may dictate exactly what actions and cleaning are needed.

When a seal is disturbed, it often needs to be replaced, so checking the integrity of a seal can sometimes be done with a gas leak detector.

This will highlight whether the seal needs changing outside the intervals recommended in the maintenance instructions.

The heating system water should also be checked for its condition and for the concentration of any inhibitor present to see whether it needs to be topped up. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | BOILERS

What do we want? A mandate When do we want it? Now Martyn Bridges, director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, looks at how a hydrogen boiler mandate could help the UK in its ambition for net-zero carbon by 2050.

F

ollowing the recent release of the Hydrogen Strategy, home heating with hydrogen looks to be a very positive low-carbon solution on the road to net zero 2050. The Strategy confirmed that the government will consult on the feasibility of a mandatory policy throughout the remainder of 2021.

2015 to test whether it was possible to burn hydrogen in a domestic boiler.

In December 2017, we fired up our prototype hydrogen boiler and proved that it was possible.

Our achievement led BEIS and the government to fund various trials across the country, to test the safety and feasibility of a

“People will be no worse off if they buy a hydrogen-ready boiler from the mid-2020s – even if hydrogen never becomes available in their area.”

But our industry wants to know whether the government will mandate hydrogen-ready boilers as the only gas boiler option available from 2026, leading to a full hydrogen switchover. What would be the benefits, and why is the government considering it?

Proven feasibility We were approached by BEIS (the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) in 40 October 2021

hydrogen boiler, and build up evidence to facilitate wholescale development.

Trials at sites such as Keele University, Winlaton and, most recently, the Hydrogen Home in Gateshead, have shown that hydrogen could be a secure and relatively easy alternative to natural gas because it provides the outcomes that the market expects from domestic natural gas.

So it makes sense to continue

with familiar technology, only with a different energy source.

Waste not, want not The ease of such a transition makes hydrogen heating a very attractive option in support of decarbonisation, and a transition via mandated hydrogen-ready boilers will also minimise waste.

If the transition to net-zero carbon was done by creating a 100 per cent hydrogen boiler to replace current natural gas boilers, it would mean scrapping existing boilers when hydrogen becomes available in the grid.

However, a hydrogen-ready boiler will avoid such waste because it can run on natural gas until hydrogen becomes available.

Around 1.7 million new boilers are fitted every year in the UK, at which rate it would take around 15 years for all homes connected to the gas grid to have a hydrogen-ready boiler installed.

This would only be possible if the government mandates that only boilers that are designed to run on both natural gas and hydrogen can be sold.

These boilers can run on

natural gas for as long as is needed – their whole lifespan if required – until hydrogen becomes available. Then a small conversion would take place, with two or three inexpensive components replaced so that the boiler can run on hydrogen.

The big four boiler manufacturers have pledged that their hydrogen-ready appliance will cost no more than a natural gas boiler. This means people will be no worse off if they buy a hydrogen-ready boiler from the mid-2020s – even if hydrogen never becomes available in their area.

The sooner such a mandate is put into policy the better, as the earlier we begin to ensure that only hydrogen-ready boilers are installed in homes across the UK, the sooner a hydrogen transformation will take place.

Government plans A positive move on hydrogen is beginning to become apparent.

And the forthcoming, substantial Heat in Buildings Strategy is set to give details of the hydrogen roll-out later this year. ■

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR BUSINESS

Is your business insured?

Is your business fully insured if something goes wrong? Thousands of policies are sold to gas engineers every year, but which ones do you really need? Registered Gas Engineer looks at some of the options available – and some of the pitfalls to avoid.

Public liability insurance Public liability insurance covers any legal costs or compensation claims if you are sued for injury or property damage to a customer, another tradesperson, or a member of the public. It isn’t a legal requirement but many businesses do take out these policies to protect themselves.

Consider the potential costs if, while you’re on site installing underfloor heating or a new shower, a fitting you use fails and the property floods. You could be liable for all the repairs, a new floor, and any damaged fixtures and fittings – a bill that could quickly reach thousands of pounds.

Depending on the kind of work you carry out, cover can be set up to £10 million. The higher the limit, the higher the premiums

consultancy as well as physical plumbing and heating work.

Employers’ liability insurance Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you employ anyone else. This will pay compensation if your employee is injured or becomes ill as a direct result of the work they do for you, and you must have at least £5 million of cover. You could be fined £2,500 per day if you are found not to be properly insured.1 However, under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, you may not need it if the person you are employing is a family member or based abroad.

The insurer you choose must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

“Many insurance policies overlap, so you might already have all the cover you need without paying for different policies.” will be – most companies choose insurance cover around £1 million. If you frequently work for commercial or public-sector clients, your clients may require public liability insurance.

Professional indemnity insurance Professional indemnity insurance covers you if you make a mistake in your work that your customer later claims has caused them financial loss or reputational damage. This coverage is less about practical work, where public liability insurance may be more suitable, but covers the potential consequences of any advice you give, or any misleading statements you might make inadvertently. This type of insurance isn’t a legal requirement but might be something to consider if your business involves

every

23

minutes a van is broken into and tools are stolen

£17.5 million

value of tools stolen in London in 2020

Income protection insurance Income protection can be a useful back-up for self-employed tradespeople who don’t get sickness benefits from an employer. Income protection insurance can cover your income by giving you a tax-free monthly amount if you’re signed off or unable to work because of illness or injury. Plans vary in terms of cover, but some will cover your full average income, other essential bills and living expenses.

Many require you to provide proof of income, but some will cover you from the first day you become unable to work, while others will pay after a defined period of time if you prefer to pay a lower monthly premium.

could pay medical costs and compensation if you or your employees are hurt in an accident. It usually provides 24-hour protection, so you are protected whether you are injured at work or in your own time – anything that prevents you from being able to work.

HSE’s 2020 annual report identified 65,427 non-fatal employee injuries and 111 fatal accidents reported by employers in 2019-2020, mainly due to falls from height, or being struck by a vehicle or moving object.

The primary causes of workplace injuries included slips, trips, and incorrect manual handling, lifting and carrying – common risks for plumbers and gas engineers.

Personal accident insurance Personal accident insurance isn’t strictly a business expense, but it

Legal expenses insurance Legal expenses insurance covers legal costs that you could incur

£1,692 average tool theft claim

1

%

stolen powered hand tools recovered during legal disputes such as unpaid bills, personal injury or unfulfilled contracts. It can be a standalone insurance policy, but many other policies offer legal cover as a standard or optional extra. If you already hold legal cover as part of another policy, you may not need to take out a standalone version, but it’s worth checking exactly what you are already covered for.

Vehicle insurance If you own a car or van then you must be insured to drive it. But the insurance needed to use that vehicle for business is different from standard personal vehicle insurance. If you’re self-employed and own a van or if you ever use your family car for business then you need to make sure the insurance policy specifically covers business use and not just www.gassaferegister.co.uk 43

>

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR BUSINESS

Is your business insured? continued

“Some insurance companies have refused to pay out because the van lacked specific security measures.” >

‘social, domestic and pleasure’.

That coverage might be cheaper, but if you’re carrying tools or goods and you’re in an accident, or your vehicle is stolen, you may not be covered. Even if you are insured for the damage to the vehicle, it probably wouldn’t cover contents such as tools or spare parts unless you have added that coverage to the policy.

If you have a young employee or apprentice that you want to allow to drive your business’s van, check your policy before handing over the keys. Some insurance companies have a lower age limit for additional drivers or charge more for a driver under 25.

If you haven’t yet bought the van and you know it’s going to be driven by someone under 25, it’s worth shopping around.

Some makes and models of van are cheaper to insure than others. According to Compare the Market2, some of the cheapest vans to insure for young drivers include: • Volkswagen Transporter • Renault Kangoo • Ford T230 • Volkswagen Caddy • Citroen Berlingo.

Tax enquiry insurance Tax enquiry insurance is designed to protect you if you find yourself subject to a HMRC tax enquiry or dispute. The insurance won’t pay your fines if you are found to be at fault by HMRC, but it could cover some, or all, of the fees incurred during the investigation.

44 October 2021

Tool and equipment insurance Tools and equipment insurance will cover the cost of replacing your tools if they are lost or stolen. There are thousands of different policies, sometimes standalone and sometimes as part of another insurance policy – but make sure you read the small print before you buy. This is because many insurers won’t cover tools if they’re left in a van overnight,

unless the policy specifically includes overnight cover.

Tools in Transit policies could be suitable if you regularly carry tools in your vehicle – but, again, be cautious.

Gas engineers have shared their experiences on social media of tools being stolen from their vans while on site, and sometimes insurance

Depending on the insurer, it may also give you access to expert tax advice.

cover, or you may have legal cover on more than one policy, so try not to over or under-insure yourself. Some insurance companies offer specialist ‘plumbers’ insurance, which includes a number of these policies under one umbrella policy that you can mix and match to get exactly the coverage that your business needs. ■

Never pay more than you have to Many insurance policies overlap, so you may have all the cover you need without paying for different policies. Your public liability insurance might include tools

1 www.gov.uk/employers-liability-insurance 2 www.comparethemarket.com/van-insurance/young-drivers/

companies have refused to pay out because the van lacked specific security measures, or because the thieves used a known ‘vehicle design flaw’ to get inside.

Always make sure you know exactly what you are covered for, and what you aren’t.

Check how secure your van is and secure your precious tools accordingly.

Claim tax relief If you’re self-employed, any insurance policies you take out purely for your business should be tax-deductible, so don’t forget to declare them to HMRC when the time comes to complete your self-assessment tax forms. However, personal accident insurance isn’t tax-deductible because it’s not considered to be strictly a business expense.

WiFi Inside

Ladders and stepladders: Falls from height are a common cause of work-related injuries – and even fatalities.

HSE has some useful guidance on how gas engineers can use ladders and stepladders safely while at work. Registered Gas Engineer reports.

F

alls from height are the most common single cause of work-related fatalities in Great Britain, accounting for 40 of the 147 fatalities reported via RIDDOR during 2018-19.

Non-fatal work-related injuries are substantially under-reported, especially among self-employed construction workers. Falls from height comprised 32 per cent of the 4,872 non-fatal incidents reported in 2018-19. But the Labour Force Survey estimates that the figures were nearer to 581,000 non-fatal injuries, with 8 per cent of them caused by a fall from height – equating to 46,480 incidents and thousands of days off work.

For gas engineers, especially those who are self-employed, being unable to work means not getting paid, and any serious accident can have potentially life-changing physical and financial effects.

Ladders can be used for work at height when a risk assessment has shown that using a higher level of fall protection is not justified, either because of the low risk and short duration of use, or where there are existing workplace features that cannot be altered.

Risk should be the deciding factor in establishing whether or not to use a ladder. As a guide, if your task requires staying up a leaning ladder or stepladder for more than 30 minutes at a time, you should consider alternative equipment.

Check first Always check a ladder or stepladder for any obvious defects before each use, as well as at the beginning of the working day; and whenever something in the area has changed, eg, a ladder has been dropped or moved from one area to another.

• Check the stiles – make sure they are not bent or damaged • Check the feet – if they are 46 October 2021

The consequences of not planning to prevent falls from height HSE regularly prosecutes people and companies that have not done enough to prevent the risk of falls from height.

Earlier this year, a Chesterfield construction company was fined £8,000 after a subcontractor sustained life-changing injuries when he fell from the roof joists to the concrete floor below.

The company was working on an extension on the rear of a home in Nottingham, attaching roof joists. These were accessed using a ladder, which then led to an unprotected trestle platform.

The subcontractor was sitting astride one of the joists when it gave way and he fell on to the concrete floor below, sustaining serious injuries including brain trauma and a broken neck.

HSE inspector Phill Gratton said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident,

missing, worn or damaged, the ladder could slip. Also check the feet when moving from soft/ dirty ground (dug soil, loose sand/stone, a dirty workshop) to a smooth, solid surface (paving slabs) to make sure the foot material is making contact with the ground • Check the rungs – if they are bent, worn, missing, or loose, the ladder could fail • Check any locking mechanisms – if they are bent, or the fixings are worn or damaged, the ladder could collapse.

Ensure that any locking bars are engaged • Check the stepladder platform – if it is split or buckled, the ladder could become unstable or collapse

caused by the failure of the host company to implement safe systems of work, and failure to ensure that work at height was properly planned and appropriately supervised.”

In another HSE prosecution, a London relocation and refurbishment company was fined more than £1 million after a worker was seriously injured when he fell from height.

The engineer had been testing a sprinkler system for leaks at a site. He climbed on to an internal roof and was

• Check the steps or treads on stepladders – if they are contaminated, they could be slippery; if the fixings are loose on steps, they could collapse.

If you spot any of the above defects, don’t use the ladder.

Leaning ladders When using a leaning ladder to carry out a task: • Carry only light materials and tools – read manufacturers’ labels and assess the risks • Don’t over-reach – make sure your belt buckle (navel) stays within the stiles • Make sure it is long enough or high enough for the task • Don’t overload it – consider the worker’s weight and the equipment or materials they are

inspecting the leak from an extension ladder.

The ladder slipped away from him and he fell almost 3m into the gap between the internal roof and the external wall, suffering severe blood loss. He needed a blood transfusion and received 14 stiches to his head. He also sustained fractured vertebrae and suffered soft tissue damage.

The HSE investigation found that reasonably practicable measures had not been taken to prevent a fall from the internal roof, both for the engineer and other contractors working on the roof.

HSE inspector John Berezansky said: “The engineer’s injuries were life changing and he could have easily been killed. This serious incident and devastation could have been avoided if basic safety measures had been put in place.” carrying. Check the ladder’s pictogram or label for information • Make sure the ladder angle is at 75° and use the 1-in-4 rule (ie, 1 unit out for every 4 units up) • Always grip the ladder and face the ladder rungs while climbing or descending – don’t slide down the stiles • Don’t try to move or extend ladders while standing on the rungs • Don’t work off the top three rungs, and try to make sure the ladder extends at least 1m (three rungs) above where you are working • Don’t stand ladders on moveable objects, such as pallets, bricks, lift trucks, tower scaffolds, excavator buckets,

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | BACK TO BASICS

know the risks vans, or mobile elevating work platforms •A void holding items when climbing (consider using a tool belt) •D on’t work within 6m horizontally of any overhead power line, unless it has been made dead or is protected with insulation. Use a nonconductive ladder (eg, fibreglass or timber) for any electrical work •M aintain three points of contact when climbing and, wherever possible, at the work position •W here you cannot maintain a handhold, other than for a brief period (eg, to hold a nail while starting to knock it in, starting a screw, etc), you will need to take other measures to prevent a fall or reduce the consequences if one happened

stepladder) without a suitable handhold •E nsure that any locking devices are engaged •T ry to position the stepladder to face the work activity and not side-on. However, there are occasions when a risk assessment may show that it is safer to work side-on •T ry to avoid work that imposes side loading, such as side-on drilling through solid materials such as bricks or concrete •W here side-on loading cannot be avoided, the steps should be tied to prevent them from tipping. Otherwise, use a more suitable type of access equipment •M aintain three points of contact at the working position. This means two feet and one hand

Did you know?

It is a common misconception that ladders and stepladders are banned under health and safety law. When used correctly, they can be a sensible and practical option for low-risk, short-duration tasks.

• For a leaning ladder, secure it (eg, by tying the ladder to prevent it from slipping) and have a strong upper resting point. Do not rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces such as glazing or plastic gutters • Consider a stability device.

Stepladders • Check that all four feet are in contact with the ground and the steps are level • Only carry light materials and tools • Don’t over-reach • Don’t stand and work on the top three steps (including a step forming the very top of the

or, when you need both hands free for a brief period, two feet and the body supported by the stepladder.

When deciding whether it is safe to use a stepladder where you cannot maintain a handhold (eg, to install a CO alarm on a ceiling), take into account: •T he height of the task •W hether a handhold is available to steady yourself before and after the task •W hether it is light work •W hether it avoids side loading •W hether it avoids overreaching •W hether the stepladder can be tied (such as when side-on working).

Where should the ladder be positioned?

• On firm ground • On level ground – refer to the manufacturer’s pictograms on the side of the ladder • Use proprietary levelling devices, not ad-hoc packing such as bricks or timbers • On clean, solid surfaces (paving slabs, floors, etc). These should be clean and free of loose material so the feet can grip. Shiny floor surfaces can be slippery even without contamination • Where they will not be struck by vehicles (protect the area using suitable barriers or cones) • Where they will not be pushed over by other hazards. Secure any doors (not fire exits) and windows where possible • Where the public are prevented from using it, walking underneath it or being at risk because they are too near • Where it has been secured.

Securing the ladder • Tie the ladder to a suitable point, making sure both stiles are tied • Where this is not practical, secure with an effective ladder stability device • If this is not possible, securely wedge the ladder • If you can’t achieve any of these options, foot the ladder as a last resort. Avoid this, where reasonably practicable, by using other access equipment. ■

Further reading •H SE Publication Safe use of ladders and stepladders: a brief guide: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg455.pdf •H SE Publication Working at height: A brief guide: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf www.gassaferegister.co.uk 47

Legislative, Normative & Informative The Gas Safe Register Legislation & Standards Document List Date issued: 1 October 2021 Introduction This document defines all documents recognised by Gas Safe Register as being Legislative, Normative (gas standards) and Informative reference documents.

Some documents may only be available as hard copy documents, but the majority are available to download, either via Gas Safe Register’s engineer website or from the organisation or body promoting the document. In some cases, the document is only available for purchase from the organisation or a recognised supplier.

Hierarchy of legislation and standards In this document list, the hierarchy of documents within the following tables is defined in order of significance.

Detailed first are Statutory Acts, or regulations that are legally enforceable. These are followed by a recognised list of documents known as ‘second tier’ documents.

This series of documents provides practical guidance on ways to comply with the functional requirements of regulations. This guidance is not law, but provides information that, if followed correctly, will ensure that legal obligations have been met.

Where someone chooses to depart from this guidance, they will need to ensure that the method chosen provides equivalent or better standards of safety than the relevant published guidance. The guidance provided within appropriate second-tier documents will be used to assess compliance.

The next tier of documents is gas industry standards that are aimed specifically at the installation, commissioning or maintenance of gas equipment (pipework, appliances, etc). These are known as Normative Documents and are referred to as ‘Gas Industry Standards’. These documents, in conjunction with any available manufacturer’s instructions, will be used by Gas Safe Register to assess compliance.

Finally, the remaining listings provide details of links to other available information, which is considered useful to help

48 October 2021

registered businesses comply with their obligations and assist them in carrying out their day-to-day activities. These are referred to as Informative Documents.

1. Hierarchy of documents Legislation In this section, the listed documents are those brought to the Statute Book by an Act of Parliament and are referenced as Statutory Instruments (SI) or equivalent. These are the law in the respective countries as stated and must be followed. The SI Reference number (or equivalent) is preceded by the year of it being added to the Statute Book, ie, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 has an SI Number of 1998:2451.

Regulations are in general written in a format that provides high-level requirements.

Documents supporting legislation These documents provide practical guidance on ways to comply with the functional requirements of the Regulations. For the Building Regulations, these are outlined in a series of Approved Documents (AD) published by the appropriate government department responsible for the Regulations.

The ADs that currently apply to gas work are: • A Structure • B Fire safety • F Ventilation • G3 Hot water storage • J Heat producing appliances • L Conservation of fuel and power • M Access to and use of buildings • P Electrical safety in dwellings.

Each document contains general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply with each of the requirements of the Building Regulations; and practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations.

2. Gas industry standards In this section are all the gas industry standards published by the three current Standard Setting Bodies, which are: • British and European Standards (BSI) • Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) • Liquid Gas UK (formerly known as UKLPG).

One standard is published by National Caravan Council (NCC).

3. Documents under review If it is known that the three-month validity period coincides with a period of time in which a standard being revised is out for public comment, the final date for comment will be included.

Gas Safe Register will use best endeavours to keep the documents under review as up to date as possible, but the Register is NOT responsible for reviewing, revising or updating industry standards. Where a registered business or industry stakeholder has an enquiry about revisions to guidance documents, this should be directed to the relevant Standard Setting Body.

Comments on draft standards can be submitted to: • British and European Standards (BSI) https:// standardsdevelopment. bsigroup.com • Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) www.igem. org.uk/technical-services/ comment-on-draft-standards/

4. Links to online documents When viewing this document online, hyperlinks are active, so that you can open the document and read it or save it for later use.

However, all saved documents will be considered as uncontrolled versions and you should check that you are referencing the current version.

5. Inspections undertaken

by Gas Safe Register When Gas Safe Register inspects work undertaken by registered gas businesses in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey, in the first instance,

it will assess against the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Where these are not available or relevant, it will inspect against the criteria as specified within legislative documents and relevant gas industry standards.

However, it is recognised that, due to the differences of individual legislation used in different geographical areas, there will be some differences in application.

While conducting inspections, due regard will be taken of the requirements of all appropriate guidance.

6. General This Gas Safe Register document will be updated and republished on, or about, the following dates each year: • 1 January • 1 April • 1 July • 1 October.

If you identify an error in this document, or you are aware of reference documents that may be useful that you think should be added to future editions, please email: technical@

gassaferegister.co.uk BSI, IGEM and Liquid Gas UK develop and publish guidance with the help of industry in the form of committees. Gas Safe Register does not have any responsibility for the development and publication of this type of guidance document.

Where registered businesses and stakeholders have questions regarding these guidance documents, they should be directed to the relevant Standard Setting Body.

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | KNOWLEDGE BANK

SECTION 7:

LEGISLATION Health & Safety Legislation Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (GB) The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (GB) The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (GB) Health & Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (of Parliament) (As applied to Isle of Man) The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2003 (As applied to Isle of Man) The Health & Safety at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1987 As Amended – Version May 2016 Gas Safety Legislation The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 (England, Scotland & Wales) The Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1994 as amended & applied by the Gas Safety (Application) Order 1996 (As applied to Isle of Man) The Health & Safety (Gas) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2006 As Amended Version – May 2016 Approved Code of Practice ‘Safe Work with Gas Systems and Appliances’ – Jersey The Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (As applied in the United Kingdom) The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (As applied in Great Britain) The Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1997 (As applied in Northern Ireland) Gas Safety (Rights of Entry) Regulations 1996 as applied to Great Britain Schedule 5 (Powers of Entry, etc) of The Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 Gas Safety (Rights of Entry) Regulations 1983 as applied by the Gas Safety (Application) Order 1996 (Isle of Man) Part 7 of The Health & Safety (Gas) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2006 As Amended Version May 2016 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) (GB) Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1999 (RIDDOR) (Isle of Man) The Health & Safety at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1987 (includes RIDDOR-type reporting) Building Legislation Building Regulations (England and Wales) 2010 Building and Buildings, England & Wales, The Building Regulations & C (Amendment) Regulations 2015 Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2004 Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 Building (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 The Building (Guernsey) Regulations 2012 Building Bylaws (Jersey) 2007 Building Regulations 2014 Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (Great Britain) The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2003 (As applied to Isle of Man) Building Control (Approved Documents) Order 2014 (As applied to Isle of Man) Other Legislation The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 The Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) (GB) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) (GB) The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 The Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (UK) The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (GB) Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (GB) Control of Asbestos at Work (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2003 The Control of Asbestos Regulations (GB) 2012 The Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 Managing asbestos (Isle of Man) HSE Guernsey – Management of Exposure to Asbestos in Workplace Buildings and Structures – ACOP HSE Guernsey – Control of Asbestos – ACOP 2017

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (GB) Electricity At Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991 Note 1: Further information on ordinances in Guernsey at: www. gov.gg/hseguidance Note 2: Further information on legislation in the Isle of Man at: www.gov.im/about-the-government/ departments/environment-foodand-agriculture/environment-safetyand-health-directorate/healthand-safety-at-work-inspectorate/ legislation/ SECTION 8:

DOCUMENTS SUPPORTING LEGISLATION Key Approved Documents to the Building Regulations (England) Approved Document 7: Materials and workmanship B: Fire Safety – Volume 1: Dwelling houses B: Fire Safety – Volume 2: Buildings other than dwelling houses F: Ventilation G: Sanitation, hot water safety & water efficiency (2016 edition) J: Combustion Appliances & Fuel Storage Systems L1A: Conservation of fuel & power (New dwellings) L1B: Conservation of fuel & power (Existing dwellings) L2A: Conservation of fuel & power (New buildings other than dwellings) L2B: Conservation of fuel & power (Existing buildings other than dwellings) Second tier documents to the Building Regulations – England Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide 2013 edition incorporating 2018 amendments – England Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide 2013 edition – England Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide Guide to the Condensing Boiler Installation Assessment Procedure for Dwellings Code for Sustainable Homes & Technical Guide December 2014 Building Energy Performance Assessment Key approved documents to the Building Regulations (Wales) B: Fire Safety – Volume 1: Dwelling houses B: Fire Safety – Volume 2: Buildings other than dwelling houses F: Ventilation G: Sanitation, hot water safety & water efficiency (2016 edition) J: Combustion Appliances & Fuel Storage Systems

L1A: Conservation of fuel & power (New dwellings) L1B: Conservation of fuel & power (Existing dwellings) L2A: Conservation of fuel & power (New buildings other than dwellings) L2B: Conservation of fuel & power (Existing buildings other than dwellings) Second tier documents to the Building Regulations – Wales Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide Guide to the Condensing Boiler Installation Assessment Procedure for Dwellings Code for Sustainable Homes & Technical Guide December 2014 Building Energy Performance Assessment Key Approved Documents to the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations (Domestic) Scottish Technical Handbook (Domestic) Section 2 – Domestic Fire Section 3 – Domestic Environment Section 6 – Domestic Energy Building Energy Performance Assessment Key Approved Documents to the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations (Non-domestic) Scottish Technical Handbook (Non-Domestic) Section 2 – Non-Domestic Fire Section 3 – Non-Domestic Environment Section 6 – Non-Domestic Energy Second tier documents to the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations Scottish Government Guide to the Condensing Boiler Installation Assessment Building Energy Performance Assessment Key Approved Documents to the Building Standards (Regulations) Northern Ireland DFP Technical Booklet C: 2012 – Site preparation & resistance to moisture DFP Technical Booklet E: 2012 – Fire Safety DFP Technical Booklet C: 2012 – Site preparation & resistance to moisture DFP Technical Booklet E: 2012 – Fire Safety DFP Technical Booklet F1: 2012 – Conservation of fuel & power in dwellings

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DFP Technical Booklet F2: 2012 – Conservation of fuel & power in buildings other than dwellings DFP Technical Booklet K: 2012 – Ventilation DFP Technical Booklet L: 2012 – Combustion appliances & fuel storage systems DFP Technical Booklet P: 2012 – Sanitary appliances, unvented hot water storage systems and reducing the risk of scalding Building Energy Performance Assessment Key Approved Documents to the Building Regulations Isle of Man (IoM) B – Fire Safety – Fire safety (2000 Edition consolidated with 2000 & 2002 amendments) F – Ventilation (Second impression 1995) J – Combustion Appliances & Fuel Storage Systems (2002 Edition) L1 – Conservation of Fuel & Power in Dwellings (2002 Edition) L2 – Conservation of Fuel & Power in Buildings other than Dwellings (2002 Edition) Building Energy Performance Assessment Key Approved Documents to the Building Bylaws (Guernsey) – Channel Islands B – Fire Safety – Volume 1: Dwelling houses B – Fire Safety – Volume 2: Buildings other than dwelling houses F – Ventilation J – Heat producing appliances & Fuel Storage Systems L1 – Conservation of Fuel & Power in Dwellings L2 – Conservation of Fuel & Power – Buildings other than Dwellings Building Energy Performance Assessment Key Approved Documents to the Building Bylaws (Jersey) – Channel Islands Part 2 – Fire Safety Part 3 – Combustion appliances and Fuel Storage Systems Part 5 – Ventilation Part 11 – Conservation of Fuel and Power HSE Publications and other Approved Codes of Practice (Great Britain) L21 – Management of Health & Safety at Work Withdrawn.

See HSG65 below L24 – Workplace health, safety & welfare (ACoP & Guidance) 2nd Edition L25 – Personal Protective Equipment at Work L56 – Safety in the Installation & use of Gas Systems & Appliances – Approved Code of Practice

L80 – A guide to the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 L108 – Controlling noise at work – The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 – Guidance on Regulations L122 – Safety of pressure systems – Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 – Approved Code of Practice (Second Edition) L138 – Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres. Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.

Approved Code of Practice & Guidance L143 – Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (ACoP) – The management of asbestos in non-domestic premises, and Work with materials containing asbestos (Second Edition) Incorporating previous L127 L144 – Managing health & safety in construction – Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 Approved Code of Practice HSG47 – Avoiding danger from underground services – Third edition 2014 HSG48 – Reducing error & influencing behaviour HSG65 – Managing for Health & Safety Management – Third Edition – 2013 HSG85 – Electricity at Work – Safe working practices – Third Edition 2013 HSG97 – A step by step guide to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessment (see also COSHH Essential Guidance publications) HSG137 – Health Risk Management – A practical guide for managers in small & medium-sized enterprises HSG176 – The storage of flammable liquids in tanks HSG210 – Asbestos Essentials – A task manual for building, maintenance & allied trades on non-licensed asbestos work (Free task sheets) HSG213 – Introduction to Asbestos Essentials HSG250 – Guidance on permit-towork systems: A guide for the petroleum, chemical & allied industries HSG253 – The safe isolation of plant and equipment (Second edition) HSG261 – Health & safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries EH40 – Occupational Exposure Limits (2020) INDG163 (rev4) – Risk assessment (A brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace) INDG223 (rev5) – Managing asbestos in buildings (A brief guide) INDG231 (rev1) – Electrical safety and you (A brief guide)

INDG258 (rev1) – Confined spaces (A brief guide to working safely) INDG428 (08/09) – Inspecting and maintaining or replacing buried metallic pipework carrying LPG vapour INDG223 – Manage buildings?

You must manage asbestos INDG370 (rev1) – Controlling Fire and explosion risks in the workplace – A brief guide to the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regs INDG453 (rev1) – Reporting accidents and incidents at work.

A brief guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) HSE aO – Advice on non-licensed work with Asbestos. Introduction to ‘Asbestos essentials’ task sheets Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essentials guidance publications Building Bulletin 101 – Ventilation of school buildings (Called up in IGEM/ UP/11 Edition 2) LAQM.TG(09) Local Air Quality Management – Technical Guidance CAIS10 (Revision 2) – Ventilation of kitchens in catering establishments (7.12) CAIS23 (Revision 2) – Gas safety in catering and hospitality (July 2013 version aimed at those operating catering and hospitality businesses) Note 3: Further asbestos-related guidance is at: www.hse.gov.uk/ asbestos/essentials/index.htm Note 4: Further Health and Safety Guidance (HSG) publications is at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/ index-hsg-ref.htm HSENI Publications and other Approved Codes of Practice (Northern Ireland) A guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 L56 Safety in the installation and use of gas systems and appliances – GB ACOP approved for use in NI Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991 Note 5: Further information on Northern Ireland Approved Codes of Practice and guidance notes can be found at: www.hseni.gov.uk/ publications HSE Publications and other Approved Codes of Practice (Guernsey) Safety in the Installation & Use of Gas Systems & Appliances. The Health & Safety (Gas) (Guernsey) Ordinance 2006 The Organisation & Management of Health & Safety in Construction (Guernsey) Reporting an Injury, Disease or Dangerous Occurrence (Guernsey)

Note 6: Further information on Approved Codes of Practice and guidance notes for gas safety and other important issues at: www.gov. gg/hseguidance SECTION 9:

GAS INDUSTRY STANDARDS

British & European Standards BS 4163: 2014 Health and safety for design and technology in schools and similar establishments – Code of practice BS 5440-1: 2008 Flueing & ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases) Specification for installation of gas appliances to chimneys & for maintenance of chimneys BS 5440-2: 2009 Installation & maintenance of flues & ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases). Specification for installation & maintenance of ventilation provision for gas appliances BS 5546: 2010 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas-fired water-heating appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net PD 54823: 2016 Code of practice for domestic butane & propane gas-burning installations. Installations in boats, yachts & other vessels BS 5864: 2019 Installation & maintenance of gas-fired ducted air heaters of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (2nd & 3rd family gases).

Specification BS 5871-1: 2005 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel-effect gas appliances – Gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & heating stoves (1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 5871-2: 2005 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel-effect gas appliances – Inset live fuel-effect gas fires of heat input not exceeding 15kW & fire/back boilers (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 5871-3: 2005 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel effect gas appliances – Decorative fuel-effect gas appliances of heat input not exceeding 20kW (net) (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 5871-4: 2007 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel effect gas appliances – Independent gas-fired flueless fires, convector heaters & heating stoves of nominal heat input not exceeding 6kW (net) (2nd & 3rd family gases)

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BS 6172: 2010 + A1 2017

Specification for installation, servicing and maintenance of domestic gas cooking appliances (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6173: 2020 Specification for installation of gas-fired catering appliances for use in all types of catering establishments (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6230: 2011 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas-fired forced convection air heaters for commercial & industrial space heating (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6400-1: 2016 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation, maintenance and removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6m3/h – Part 1 – Low pressure (2nd family gases) BS 6400-2: 2018 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation & removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6m3/h (2nd & 3rd family gases) – Medium pressure (2nd family gases) BS 6400-3: 2007 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation & removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6m3/h – Low & medium pressure (3rd family gases) BS 6644: 2011 Specification for Installation of gas-fired hot water boilers of rated inputs between 70kW (net) & 1.8MW (net) (2nd & 3rd family gases) – Incorporating Corrigendum No. 1 BS 6798: 2014 Specification for selection, installation, inspection, commissioning, servicing and maintenance of gas-fired boilers of rated input not exceeding 70kW net BS 6891: 2015 + A1 2019

Specification for the installation and maintenance of low-pressure gas installation pipework of up to 35mm (R1¼) on premises BS 6896: 2011 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas-fired overhead radiant heaters for industrial & commercial heating (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 7624: 2004 Specification for installation & maintenance of domestic direct gas-fired tumble dryers of up to 6kW heat input (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for electrical installations. Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Wiring Regulations (formally IEE Wiring Regulations) – Eighteenth edition BS 7967: 2015 Guide for the use of electronic portable combustion gas analysers for the measurement of carbon monoxide in dwellings and the combustion performance of domestic gas-fired appliances BS 7967-5: 2010 Carbon monoxide in dwellings & other premises & the combustion performance of gas-fired appliances – Guide for

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using electronic portable combustion gas analysers in non-domestic premises for the measurement of carbon monoxide & carbon dioxide levels & the determination of combustion performance BS 8313: 1997 Code of practice for accommodation of building services in ducts BS 8446: 2020 Specification for the installation & maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances.

BS 8660-1: 2011 Gas-fired micro-cogeneration appliances of rated thermal input not exceeding 70kW net Part 1: Specification for selection, installation, inspection, commissioning, servicing and maintenance of Stirling engine micro-cogeneration appliances BS EN 721: 2019 Leisure accommodation vehicles – Safety ventilation requirements BS EN 751-1:1997 Sealing materials for metallic threaded joints in contact with 1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases & hot water. Anaerobic jointing compounds BS EN 751-2:1997 Sealing materials for metallic threaded joints in contact with 1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases & hot water. Non-hardening jointing compounds BS EN 751-3:1997 Sealing materials for metallic threaded joints in contact with 1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases & hot water. Unsintered PTFE tapes BS EN 1775: 2007 Gas supply pipework for buildings – Maximum operating pressure loss ≤5bar – Functional requirements BS EN 12327: 2012 Gas infrastructure – Pressure testing, commissioning and decommissioning procedures – Functional requirements BS EN 50292: 2013 Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises – Guide on the selection, installation, use & maintenance BS EN 15001-1: 2009 Gas installation pipework with an operating pressure greater than 0.5bar for industrial installations & greater than 5bar for industrial & non industrial installations – Detailed functional requirements for design, materials, construction, inspection & testing BS EN 15001-2: 2008 Gas installation pipework with an operating pressure greater than 0.5bar for industrial installations & greater than 5bar for industrial & non industrial installations – Detailed functional requirements for commissioning, operation & maintenance BS EN 1949: 2011 +A1 2013

Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles & accommodation purposes in other vehicles.

Under review

BS EN ISO 10239: 2017 Small craft – Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems. Under review BS EN 13410: 2001 Gas-fired overhead radiant heaters – Ventilation requirements for non-domestic premises (Amd Jan 03) BS EN 1749: 2020 European scheme for the classification of gas appliances according to the method of evacuation of the products of combustion

Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers Documents (IGEM) IGE/UP/1 Strength & tightness testing & purging of industrial & commercial gas installations (inc Amd published March 05).

Under review IGE/UP/1A Strength testing, tightness testing & direct purging of small low pressure industrial & commercial Natural gas installations (inc amendments published March 2005). Under review IGEM/UP/1B Tightness testing and direct purging of small Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Air, Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas installations (with Amendments October 2012) Under review IGEM/UP/1C Strength testing, tightness testing & direct purging of natural gas and LPG meter installations IGEM/UP/2 Installation pipework on industrial and commercial premises.

Under review IGEM/UP/3 Gas fuelled spark ignition and dual-fuel engines.

Under review IGEM/UP/4 Commissioning of gas fired plant on industrial & commercial premises IGEM/UP/6 Application of compressors to Natural Gas fuel systems IGE/UP/7 Gas installations in timber framed & light steel framed buildings (inc amendments published October 2008) Note 7: IGE/UP/7 – Edition 2 is available free at: www.igem.org. uk/technical-services/technicalgas-standards/utilisation/ ige-up-7-edition-2-a-2008-gasinstallations-in-timber-framed-andlight-steel-framed-buildings/ IGE/UP/9 Application of Natural Gas and fuel oil systems to Gas turbines and supplementary and auxiliary fired burners. Revision expected IGEM/UP/10 – Edition 4 with amendments – March 2016 Installation of flued gas appliances in industrial and commercial premises IGEM/UP/11 Gas installations in educational establishments IGEM/UP/12 Application of burners and controls to gas fired process plant. Under review

IGEM/UP/16 Design for Natural

Gas installations on industrial and commercial premises with respect to hazardous area classification and preparation of risk assessments IGEM/UP/17 Shared chimney and flue systems for domestic gas appliances IGEM/UP/18 Gas installations for vehicle repair and bodyshops (Replaced British Gas Technical Publication IM/28: 1993) IGEM/UP/19 Design and application of interlock devices and associated systems used with gas appliance installations in commercial catering establishments IGEM/GL/8 Reporting and investigation of gas related incidents.

Under review IGE/GL/9 Guidance for large gas consumers in dealing with Natural Gas supply emergencies. Available free at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/technical-gas-standards/ legislation/igem-gl-9/ IGE/TD/4 Gas Services.

Revision expected IGEM/G/1 Defining the end of the Network, a meter installation and installation pipework. Under review IGEM/G/4 Definitions in the Gas Industry. Under review IGEM/G/5 Gas in multi-occupancy buildings. Revision expected IGEM/G/6 Gas supplies to mobile dwellings. Under review IGEM/G/7 Risk Assessment Techniques IGEM/G/10 Non-return valves IGEM/G/11 The Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) Note 8: IGEM/G/11 is available free at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/technical-gas-standards/ general/igem-g-11-edition-2gas-industry-unsafe-situationsprocedure/ IGE/GM/4 Flow metering practice for pressures between 38 & 100bar IGE/GM/5 Selection, installation & use of electronic gas meter volume conversion systems. Under review IGEM/GM/6 Non-domestic meter installations – Standard designs.

Under review IGEM/GM/7A Electrical connections for gas metering equipment IGEM/GM/7B Hazardous area classification for gas metering equipment IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 1 Non-domestic meter installations. Flow rate exceeding 6m3/h-1 & inlet pressure not exceeding 38bar Design IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 2 Non-domestic meter installations. Location, housings and compounds IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 3 Non-domestic meter installations. Installation and commissioning

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IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 4 Non-domestic meter installations. Operation and maintenance IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 5 Non-domestic meter installations. Notices and labels IGEM/IG/1 Standards of Training in Gas Work Note 9: IGEM/IG/1 is available free at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/technical-gas-standards/ industry-guidance/igem-ig-1-ed2-standards-of-training-in-gas-work/ IGEM/IG/1 Supplement 1 Standards of Training in Gas Work, Nondomestic training specification Note 10: IGEM/IG/1 Supplement 1 is available free at: www.igem.org. uk/technical-services/technical-gasstandards/industry-guidance/igemig-1-supplement-1-non-domestictraining-specification/ IGEM/IG/2 Engineer’s Guide to relevant sections of IGEM/UP/19 in catering establishments Note 11: IGEM/IG/2 is available free at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/technical-gas-standards/ industry-guidance/igem-ig-2guidance-for-gas-engineers/ IGEM/G/7 Risk assessment techniques IGEM/SR/25 Hazardous area classification of natural gas installations (with amendments July 2013). Under review IGEM/SR/29 Dealing with gas escapes IGEM/H/1 Reference Standard for low pressure hydrogen utilisation Note 12: IGEM/H/1 is available free at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/technical-gas-standards/ hydrogen/igem-h-1-referencestandard-for-low-pressurehydrogen-utilisation/

Liquid Gas UK Codes of Practice (CoP) UKLPG – LPG Technical Fundamentals CoP 1 Part 1 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed Installations – Design, installation & Operation of Vessels Located Above Ground CoP 1 Part 2 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed Installations – Small bulk installations for domestic purposes.

Revised guidance document CoP 1 Part 3 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed installations – Examination & Inspection CoP 1 Part 4 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed Installations – Buried/Mounded LPG Storage Vessels. Revised guidance document CoP 7 Storage of full & empty LPG cylinders & cartridges. Under review CoP 17 Purging LPG vessels & systems CoP 21 Guidelines for Safety Checks on LPG appliances in Caravans (Including Amendment Aug 2000)

CoP 22 Design Installation and Testing of LPG Piping Systems CoP 24 Part 1 Use of LPG Cylinders – At residential & similar premises CoP 24 Part 3 Use of LPG for Commercial Catering Events, Street Food and Mobile Catering CoP 24 Part 5 Use of LPG Cylinders – Storage & use of LPG on construction sites CoP 24 Part 6 Use of Propane in cylinders at commercial & industrial premises CoP 25 LPG Central storage & distribution systems for multiple consumers (Including Amendment 1 2008) CoP 32 Liquid Gas UK CoP 32 LPG systems in Leisure Accommodation Vehicles and Road Vehicles with Habitation – Post Delivery Inspection, Commissioning and Maintenance GN 2 A guide to servicing cabinet heaters

National Caravan Council (NCC) Codes of Practice (CoP) CoP 306 Motorhomes: Fixed LPG tanks for habitation purposes V2.0 SECTION 10:

OTHER INFORMATIVE DOCUMENTS AND USEFUL REFERENCES Liquid Gas UK Consumer Guidance Sheets (CGS) CGS 01 Mobile Bottled Gas Heaters and Condensation CGS 03 The Use of LPG Cylinders Indoors CGS 04 LPG Patio Heaters – Safe Use CGS 05 LPG Hose and Tubing for use with Vapour Offtake Cylinders CGS 20 Camping Safely CGS 22 Owning Your Own LPG Storage Vessel CGS 25 LPG Installation Record & Documentation CGS 28 Safe Use of Propane and Butane Cylinders and Cartridges CGS 37 Guidance for Private Ownership and Filling of LPG Cylinders CGS 39 Regulators – Safe Use Note 13: Liquid Gas UK Consumer Guidance Sheets (CGS) are available at: www.liquidgasuk.org/ domestic/consumer-guidancesheets Other Industry Procedures/ Documents DW/172 Standard for kitchen ventilation systems

IGEM/G/11 The Gas Industry Unsafe

Situations Procedure (GIUSP) This can be viewed by logging into your online account at: www. gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in or the IGEM website at: www.igem.org.uk/ technical-services/technical-gasstandards/general/igem-g-11edition-2-gas-industry-unsafesituations-procedure/ All Technical Bulletins For further information see TB 1000.

This can be viewed by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in All Gas Safe Register Safety Alerts This can be viewed by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in All Gas Safe Register Industry Standard Updates This can be viewed by logging into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in Note 14: Gas Safe registered businesses can find up-to-date manufacturer’s instructions/ information for a wide range of heating appliances, notably boilers and warm air heating appliances, on the HHIC’s website.

Further information at: installersfirst.co.uk/register SECTION 11:

ACCESS TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS FROM GAS SAFE REGISTER The Industry Standards below are those included in the list of current Industry Standards available on a subscription basis to the majority of Gas Safe registered businesses.

To subscribe, log into your online account at: www.gassaferegister.co. uk/sign-in and choose Standards Subscriptions. Choose and pay for a one or three-year subscription and then you will be able to access the normative documents.

BS 5440-1: 2008 Flueing & ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases) Specification for installation of gas appliances to chimneys & for maintenance of chimneys BS 5440-2: 2009 Installation & maintenance of flues & ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases). Specification for installation & maintenance of ventilation provision for gas appliances BS 5546: 2010 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas-fired water-heating appliances of rated input not exceeding 70kW net PD 54823: 2016 Code of practice for domestic butane & propane gas-burning installations. Installations in boats, yachts & other vessels

BS 5864: 2019 Installation &

maintenance of gas-fired ducted air heaters of rated input not exceeding 70kW net (2nd & 3rd family gases).

Specification BS 5871-1: 2005 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel-effect gas appliances – Gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & heating stoves (1st, 2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 5871-2: 2005 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel-effect gas appliances – Inset live fuel-effect gas fires of heat input not exceeding 15kW & fire/back boilers (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 5871-3: 2005 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel effect gas appliances – Decorative fuel-effect gas appliances of heat input not exceeding 20kW (net) (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 5871-4: 2007 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas fires, convector heaters, fire/back boilers & decorative fuel effect gas appliances – Independent gas-fired flueless fires, convector heaters & heating stoves of nominal heat input not exceeding 6kW (net) (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6172: 2010 + A1 2017

Specification for installation, servicing and maintenance of domestic gas cooking appliances (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6173: 2020 Specification for installation of gas-fired catering appliances for use in all types of catering establishments (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6230: 2011 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas-fired forced convection air heaters for commercial & industrial space heating (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 6400-1: 2016 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation, maintenance and removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6m3/h – Part 1 – Low pressure (2nd family gases) BS 6400-2: 2006 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation & removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6m3/h (2nd & 3rd family gases) – Medium pressure (2nd family gases) BS 6400-3: 2007 Specification for installation, exchange, relocation & removal of gas meters with a maximum capacity not exceeding 6m3/h – Low & medium pressure (3rd family gases) BS 6644: 2011 Specification for Installation of gas-fired hot water boilers of rated inputs between 70kW (net) & 1.8MW (net) (2nd & 3rd family gases) – Incorporating Corrigendum No. 1

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BS 6798: 2014 Specification for

BS EN 13410: 2001 Gas-fired

BS 6891: 2015 + A1 2019

Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers Documents (IGEM) IGE/UP/1 Strength & tightness testing & purging of industrial & commercial gas installations (inc Amd published March 05) IGE/UP/1A Strength testing, tightness testing & direct purging of small low pressure industrial & commercial Natural gas installations (inc amendments published March 2005) IGEM/UP/1B Tightness testing and direct purging of small Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Air, Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas installations (with Amendments October 2012) IGEM/UP/1C Strength testing, tightness testing & direct purging of natural gas and LPG meter installations IGEM/UP/2 Installation pipework on industrial and commercial premises IGEM/UP/3 Gas fuelled spark ignition and dual-fuel engines IGEM/UP/4 Commissioning of gas fired plant on industrial & commercial premises IGEM/UP/6 Application of compressors to Natural Gas fuel systems IGE/UP/7 Gas installations in timber framed & light steel framed buildings (inc amendments published October 2008). See Note 7 IGE/UP/9 Application of Natural Gas and fuel oil systems to Gas turbines and supplementary and auxiliary fired burners IGEM/UP/10 Installation of flued gas appliances in industrial and commercial premises IGEM/UP/11 Gas installations in educational establishments IGEM/UP/12 Application of burners and controls to gas fired process plant IGEM/UP/16 Design for Natural Gas installations on industrial and commercial premises with respect to hazardous area classification and preparation of risk assessments IGEM/UP/17 Shared chimney and flue systems for domestic gas appliances IGEM/UP/18 Gas installations for vehicle repair and bodyshops (Replaced British Gas Technical Publication IM/28: 1993) IGEM/UP/19 Design and application of interlock devices and associated systems used with gas appliance installations in commercial catering establishments IGEM/GL/8 Reporting and investigation of gas related incidents

selection, installation, inspection, commissioning, servicing and maintenance of gas-fired boilers of rated input not exceeding 70kW net

Specification for the installation and maintenance of low-pressure gas installation pipework of up to 35mm (R1¼) on premises BS 6896: 2011 Specification for installation & maintenance of gas-fired overhead radiant heaters for industrial & commercial heating (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 7624: 2004 Specification for installation & maintenance of domestic direct gas-fired tumble dryers of up to 6kW heat input (2nd & 3rd family gases) BS 7967: 2015 Guide for the use of electronic portable combustion gas analysers for the measurement of carbon monoxide in dwellings and the combustion performance of domestic gas-fired appliances BS 7967-5: 2010 Carbon monoxide in dwellings & other premises & the combustion performance of gas-fired appliances – Guide for using electronic portable combustion gas analysers in non-domestic premises for the measurement of carbon monoxide & carbon dioxide levels & the determination of combustion performance BS 8446: 2005 Specification for the installation & maintenance of open-flued, non-domestic gas-fired laundry appliances BS EN 721: 2019 Leisure accommodation vehicles – Safety ventilation requirements BS EN 12327: 2012 Gas infrastructure – Pressure testing, commissioning and decommissioning procedures – Functional requirements BS EN 15001-1: 2009 Gas installation pipework with an operating pressure greater than 0.5bar for industrial installations & greater than 5bar for industrial & non industrial installations – Detailed functional requirements for design, materials, construction, inspection & testing BS EN 15001-2: 2008 Gas installation pipework with an operating pressure greater than 0.5bar for industrial installations & greater than 5bar for industrial & non industrial installations – Detailed functional requirements for commissioning, operation & maintenance BS EN 1949: 2011 +A1 2013

Specification for the installation of LPG systems for habitation purposes in leisure accommodation vehicles & accommodation purposes in other vehicles BS EN ISO 10239: 2017 Small craft – Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems

54 October 2021

overhead radiant heaters – Ventilation requirements for non-domestic premises (Amd Jan 03)

IGE/GL/9 Guidance for large gas

consumers in dealing with Natural Gas supply emergencies. Available free at: www.igem.org.uk/technicalservices/technical-gas-standards/ legislation/igem-gl-9/ IGE/TD/4 Gas Services IGEM/G/1 Defining the end of the Network, a meter installation and installation pipework IGEM/G/4 Definitions in the Gas Industry IGEM/G/5 Gas in multi-occupancy buildings IGEM/G/6 Gas supplies to mobile dwellings IGEM/G/11 The Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) IGE/GM/4 Flow metering practice for pressures between 38 & 100bar IGE/GM/5 Selection, installation & use of electronic gas meter volume conversion systems IGEM/GM/6 Non-domestic meter installations – Standard designs IGEM/GM/7A Electrical connections for gas metering equipment IGEM/GM/7B Hazardous area classification for gas metering equipment IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 1 Non-domestic meter installations. Flow rate exceeding 6m3/h & inlet pressure not exceeding 38bar Design IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 2 Non-domestic meter installations. Location, housings and compounds IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 3 Non-domestic meter installations. Installation and commissioning IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 4 Non-domestic meter installations. Operation and maintenance IGEM/GM/8 – Pt 5 Non-domestic meter installations. Notices and labels Liquid Gas UK Codes of Practice (CoP) CoP 1 Part 1 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed Installations – Design, installation & Operation of Vessels Located Above Ground CoP 1 Part 2 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed Installations – Small bulk installations for domestic purposes CoP 1 Part 3 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed installations – Examination & Inspection CoP 1 Part 4 Bulk LPG Storage at Fixed Installations – Buried/Mounded LPG Storage Vessels (Inc Amendment March 2013) CoP 7 Storage of full & empty LPG cylinders & cartridges CoP 17 Purging LPG vessels & systems CoP 21 Guidelines for Safety Checks on LPG appliances in Caravans (Including Amendment Aug 2000) CoP 22 Design Installation and Testing of LPG Piping Systems

CoP 24 Part 1 Use of LPG Cylinders – At residential & similar premises CoP 24 Part 3 Use of LPG for Commercial Catering Events, Street Food and Mobile Catering CoP 24 Part 5 Use of LPG Cylinders – Storage & use of LPG on construction sites CoP 24 Part 6 Use of Propane in cylinders at commercial & industrial premises CoP 25 LPG Central storage & distribution systems for multiple consumers (Including Amendment 1 2008) CoP 32 Liquid Gas UK CoP 32 LPG systems in Leisure Accommodation Vehicles and Road Vehicles with Habitation – Post Delivery Inspection, Commissioning and Maintenance GN 2 A guide to servicing cabinet heaters n

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | CONTROLS

Time is running out to get smart The evolution of smart heating controls means that they will play a key role in helping the country to operate more sustainably. Heating engineers need to understand their full capabilities sooner rather than later, says Richard Harvey, commercial director for Plumbing and Heating at Wolseley Plumb & Parts.

E

verything is smart now, from phones to TVs, cookers to fridges and everything in between. The Internet of Things continues to grow, connecting everything in homes while providing incredible benefits to homeowners. With the continued rollout of smart devices, demand continues to rise for another one of these technologies: smart heating controls.

Several factors have led to the surge in demand: people are spending more time at home, leading to higher spending on improving their environment.

At the same time, hybrid work patterns make it imperative that the heating system can cope with an ever changing schedule.

There is a fear that this technology is just another gimmick; a fad that will fade away over time without delivering benefits for installers and users alike.

The evolution of home heating It’s important to remember that Smart is actually an acronym to describe what devices are capable of: it stands for SelfMonitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology.

Traditional thermostats provide basic functions, including turning the heating on and off, timers and essential temperature controls.

A smart thermostat gives users complete management of their

“Smart is actually an acronym to describe what devices are capable of. It stands for Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology.”

Boilers providing heating and hot water account for 80 per cent of all energy consumption in the home, leading to high bills and a greater carbon footprint. It’s no wonder that homeowners are seeking alternative ways to save.

According to Beama(1), adding upgrades such as advanced room thermostats and thermostatic radiator controls can reduce heating bills by 32 per cent. Because smart heating systems are compatible with many boilers, it makes for a seamless transition.

But although demand continues to grow, there is still a hesitancy by heating engineers to fit smart systems into homes.

heating schedule through smartphones or tablets. People don’t even have to be in the home to set the temperature for rooms and start timers.

Heating engineers need to learn new skills to fit the most up-to-date systems, which can include training to understand the benefits and, of course, the installation techniques.

Most smart controls providers offer this free.

Multizone heating will be a staple of homes for the future, and with the next update to the Building Regulations looking highly likely to feature energy efficient heating, heating engineers should be proficient in

installing smart controls and not get left behind by the change.

These controls will play a key role in meeting the new regulations.

New Building Regulations will likely accelerate the fitting of heat pumps and hybrid heat pump systems to help the green agenda. With new technologies come new controls and new knowledge to be shared with homeowners, so it’s important that everyone knows how to get the best out of each system.

What you need to know You can get to grips with the basics by understanding the benefits of the latest smart heating systems, from better efficiency to providing less strain on heating systems. Many thermostats provide clear information regarding the current status of a system, including potential issues.

The initial outlay for multiple sensors may seem steep for some, but the increased control of heating is a good talking point.

Most systems learn heating patterns and automate heating around the house, providing further efficiency.

Another huge benefit is load compensation. This pretty common feature in smart controls and thermostats helps maintain the user’s ideal temperature without using too much energy.

Devices measure the gap between the actual internal temperature and what the user wants it to be before modulating the boiler so that it uses just enough fuel to close the gap.

It’s important to note that the cheapest option may not be the most suitable for the user. With further efforts to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, a smart heating system will no longer be seen as a gimmick, but as an essential part of our lives in the same way as smart speakers and doorbells.

As demand grows and regulations change, it’s time for heating engineers to get smart too. ■ www.wolseley.co.uk

(1) www.beama.org.uk/resourceLibrary/saving-energy-with-heating-controls.html

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 57

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | PRODUCT FOCUS

New Stelrad CPD focuses on low temperatures It’s never been more important to size radiators correctly, especially in low-temperature systems, says Stelrad.

S

telrad is offering a new CPD programme designed to help people use radiators in a variety of scenarios and circumstances.

The latest CPD offers a guide to heating the home with heat emitters on low-temperature systems, and is accredited by CIBSE and RIBA. A low-temperature heating system operates at cooler temperatures compared with traditional gas boiler systems.

Traditional gas systems operate at around 80°C whereas low-temperature systems operate efficiently at 45°-50°C. Stelrad says that if radiators

for the lower circulating temperatures associated with renewables, in particular in heat pump-driven systems.

The larger K3 models provide three panels and three fins as opposed to the more traditional K1 and K2 formats. K3s have been common in Europe for many years but have only been growing in popularity here in the UK recently. Stelrad recently launched K3 versions of its Planar, Elite and Compact with Style designs, adding to the existing K3 Compact radiators.

The company is adding significantly to its range of vertical

“If radiators are sized properly in well-insulated homes, they are still suitable for renewable heating systems, whether in new-build or older homes.” are sized properly in well-insulated homes, they are still suitable for renewable heating systems, whether in new-build or older homes that need replacement heating systems with radiators.

The company has added larger models in all its key radiator models in recognition of the fact that in many homes larger radiators will be needed to cater

radiators. These have a smaller radiator footprint but manage to provide a larger metal surface area for heat to warm the air drawn up behind the radiators to heat the rooms.

“This latest CPD addresses the issues related to radiators and low-temperature renewable heating systems,” says Stelrad’s Chris Harvey. “We know that the

key to selecting radiators that are right for the homes in which they are installed is to size them properly for each room.

“Using our Heat Loss Calculator and Radiator Sizing Software, you simply input the size of the room, the size and number of windows and doors, and the materials used in the building, and the software will direct you to the right number of BTUs you need to adequately heat that room and suggest radiators from our range that will meet those needs.

“As with traditional boilerdriven systems, it is very important to size renewable heating systems correctly. We know that there has been a tendency to oversize radiators for a long while rather than calculating what was needed in

homes, seeing many radiators never actually achieving the heat output they are capable of.

“After taking this latest CPD, it will be clear that correct sizing is valuable not simply to ensure the radiators are the right size for each room but, as importantly, that you don’t spend more than you need to, ending up with an oversized radiator in each room.

“As well as saving money by having the right sized radiators to provide the levels of heat you need in a home, you will save money by buying the right-sized radiators rather than spending more on larger radiators that you don’t actually need.” ■ Find out more about Stelrad CPD seminars on 01709 578950 or email info@stelrad.com

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Press here for Inox press-fit addition

Re.Guard is a smart control system that uses ultrasound to monitor the flow of water and so help spot and prevent leaks and burst pipes. It’s suitable for people who are concerned about potential water damage in the property, either for their own daily use or as the landlord of another property or holiday home.

The system consists of a smart water controller, water sensors, a hub gateway and an app. The smart water controller, installed after the water meter, helps to detect burst pipes and leaks and

Conex Bänninger has extended its Inox fittings range, adding an <A> Press Inox single-press option in 316L stainless steel in sizes from 15 to 54mm.

WRAS-approved <A> Press Inox fittings are suitable for a variety of commercial and industrial applications, including drinking water, heating and cooling installations, and rainwater harvesting. They are also suitable for low-pressure steam, oil-free compressed air and industrial process water systems.

The new 316L fitting is a low-carbon version of the standard 316 grade. <A> Press products are pressed using ‘M’ profile jaws and have a 25-year warranty.

Dan Wild, business unit director for UK and Ireland, says: “We are delighted to bring <A> Press Inox to the market and expect it to be a popular choice with installers.

“Stainless steel is a high-

shuts off the water supply to mitigate damage.

It’s supported by water sensors positioned through the property that detect leaking water in critical areas even faster, connecting to the smart water controller via the Z-Wave radio standard.

All devices are connected to the internet via a hub gateway that can be connected to the home’s router. Essential information is then available to the homeowner at a glance, which also helps users to identify sustainable ways to save on water consumption.

Steve Richmond, head of Marketing and Technical at Rehau Building Solutions, says: “Not only is water damage an expensive problem to face, but it can also result in the formation of mould within just 24 hours of moisture penetrating a building structure, which is harmful to health and requires extensive remediation work. The unfortunate reality is that many property owners don’t find out until it’s too late.

“With smart technology now embedded into most of our daily lives, we just knew there should be a better solution to this issue. We monitor the health of our bodies, so why shouldn’t we monitor the health of our buildings?” www.rehau.uk/re.guard

Hot water from LG’s hydro kit LG’s new wall-mounted hydro kit is designed to provide hot water both in the home and in small commercial settings.

It’s an indoor unit that can connect to LG Multi V VRF systems and the R32 Multi VS Compact units. The unit uses waste heat from cooling to produce hot water for heating up to 50°C and cooling down to 5°C. The unit comes in sizes from 5.5kW to 9.0kW and is compatible with low GWP R32 refrigerant. It can be used with a heating priority function and domestic hot water is always available, even during the cooling season, without manual mode changes.

The intuitive user interface is easy and quick to use, and daily or monthly power consumption monitoring provides efficient energy management. www.lg.com/uk/business/hydro-kits 60 October 2021

performing alloy with excellent properties that make it perfect for heating and plumbing applications.

“It is corrosion-resistant, protected by the formation of a self-repairing passive oxide film, and the addition of chromium and the mineral molybdenum give it increased resilience.

“Also, the presence of nickel in the alloy encourages austenite, a form of iron that makes the material malleable, with good formability.” www.conexbanninger.com

Fernox system cleaning in smaller sizes Fernox has brought out a smaller volume 265ml Protector F1 and Cleaner F3. A single bottle treats an average-sized home, cleaning and inhibiting up to 100 litres of system water.

The smaller bottle means the 265ml range uses less plastic packaging and it is fully recyclable, and its smaller size helps to maximise space in the van.

Each bottle is sufficient to treat 12 radiators or 190m2 of underfloor heating. The chemicals are easy to dose into the central heating system: for open-vented systems they can be added via the feed and expansion tank; for sealed systems, add via a towel rail or at the magnetic filter.

Richard Crisp, head of Chemistry, says: “Correctly dosing central heating systems with a high-quality cleaner and inhibitor has long been part of installers’ best practice approach to central heating system

maintenance – and updates to BS 7593:2019 and the Benchmark Commissioning Checklist have only reinforced this practice.

“The 265ml Protector F1 and Cleaner F3 offer the same high-performance you would expect from any Fernox product – just in a smaller bottle.” www.fernox.com

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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Floor joists? No problem Chris Ingram, founder of Continal Underfloor Heating, explains how UFH can be fitted easily even on suspended and joisted floors.

F

itting underfloor heating on joisted or suspended floors has been seen as a challenge in the past. But modern UFH systems make it a relatively straightforward installation when you choose the right system.

Several systems are compatible with these floor types.

The traditional method is to use aluminium spreader plates. These fast-acting plate systems offer high heat outputs, with inset grooves into which 16mm pipe is slotted.

This ensures excellent surface contact between the pipe and the floor deck, with no increase in the finished floor height.

If you do choose to fit a plate system, check the thickness of the plate itself: the optimum plate thickness is 0.5-0.6mm.

This makes the plate solid and strong, without being so thick

that energy is lost dispersing the heat through the aluminium.

Plate systems have been a staple of the industry for many years, but recent advances have created a more efficient solution that is even easier to fit and offers improved response times.

A structural chipboard panel system can be laid directly on the joists, replacing the chipboard floor layer that is normally fitted as a base under the floor covering.

Because the UFH sits within the chipboard, which works as a fully structural floor, the floor height is raised by only a minimal amount, making it ideal for both new-build and retrofit installations.

The composite chipboard panel contains a heat dissipation foil for excellent output and response, with pipe channels inset into the board, and the pipe

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returns are offset to stop the floor being weaker at those points.

The boards slot together using simple tongue-and-groove connections laid in a herringbone pattern for additional strength, making them an easy way to fit UFH on any floor without raising the height. The floor is flat once it has been laid, with no extra levelling work required, saving time and making work easier on site.

Fit a suitable amount of insulation in the gap between the joists, then lay the board on top.

It’s suitable for all joist types and centres, including solid wood and metal joists, and can be used with both high and low-temperature heat sources.

It’s also rated for use in wet areas such as bathrooms, so that the same system can be fitted throughout the home. ■

Continal Underfloor Heating runs regular online training courses and webinars for engineers who want to learn more about different types of UFH. www.ufh.co.uk/training

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Domestic Gas Engineer

Local Government (NJC): S01 £32,301 - £33,474 p.a + 12% Shift Enhancement Permanent Hours Full time - 35 hours per week Job ref SSA/6728/WG-B Islington Council has a number of exciting opportunities for qualified domestic gas engineers within its in house repairs and maintenance service. Reporting to the Senior Mechanical Engineer, the Domestic Gas Engineer will play a key role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of domestic gas appliances within the borough. As well as completing annual landlord gas safety checks to approximately 10,000 properties in the north of the borough, the gas service is also responsible for completing responsive breakdown repairs and successful candidates will have an aptitude for both areas of work.

In order to deliver the highest levels of service the Council operates an out of hour’s Rota, which includes regular weekday evening and weekend shifts. Out of hours’ work is contractual and as such attracts an unsocial hour’s payment of 12% of gross salary in addition to the basic salary as indicated. The Council is looking for enthusiastic, diligent and suitably qualified gas engineers to join our existing team.

As this role will involve daily interaction with customers, we require individuals with excellent interpersonal skills who will strive to achieve the best outcome and service delivery for the residents of Islington.

Closing date: Sunday 17th October 2021 at 23:59 Online Applications - https://www.islington.gov.uk/ Proposed Interview and test date: TBC For an informal discussion about the role please contact Joseph Grace Senior Mechanical Engineer on 0207 527 7732 or Romano Lusignani, Senior Mechanical Engineer on 0207 527 8513

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 63 www.gassaferegister.co.uk 63

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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

BOILER AND HEATING PARTS Cash waiting for job lots of new boiler and heating parts Genuine parts in good condition and manufacturer’s original packaging

• Excess Stock • Retirement Sale • Closing Down Sale • Slow Moving Parts • Pristine Van Stock

Text or WhatsApp on 07958 665075 joblotboilerparts.co.uk

66 October 2021

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15/09/2021 14:53

REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COMPETITION

Competition Join the renewable heat revolution

This one’s on us Not every home is ready to make the change to fully-renewable heating. But now, there’s a solution that means everyone can take advantage of the heat pump revolution.

Take your first step into the renewables market with Daikin’s free hybrid* heat pump training.

In just one day, you can expand your portfolio and gain the skills to upgrade customers to an eco-friendly hybrid solution, which combines the power of a heat pump with the familiarity of a high efficiency boiler.

And what’s more, when they choose a Daikin Altherma hybrid system, you can offer your customers the boiler absolutely free – this one’s on us!

Free hybrid heat pump training with Daikin.

Free boiler for your customer.

Free training for you.

Free boiler for them.

Discover your Energy for Change and sign up for your free training today: daikin.co.uk/hybridtraining *Hybrid bi-valent. Terms and Conditions: Free boiler offer available to customers who purchase Daikin outdoor unit [EJHA04AV3], Boiler [D2CND024/28/35A4A] and appropriate accessories to be used as a bi-valent system.

Grab yourself a Cobra XS We’ve teamed up with KNIPEX to give you the chance to win a KNIPEX Cobra XS – the most compact member of the Cobra family.

T

he Cobra XS is a fully functional pair of high-tech water pump pliers that comes into its own in tight spaces.

This ‘every-day carry’ tool can be kept readily accessible in your trouser or workwear pocket and can adapt to 11 adjustment positions via fine adjustment directly on the workpiece.

It can grip nuts up to 24mm in width across flats and other workpieces up to 28mm – and it’s just 100mm long.

Its compact size means it can be used easily with just one hand.

The Cobra XS is self-locking to pipes and nuts: the result is that there is no slipping from the workpiece and all work is considerably less strenuous.

The teeth are offset against the direction of rotation for perfect, efficient gripping, holding, pressing and bending.

There is no need to fiddle around to get the correct opening width; simply place the upper half of the jaw on to the workpiece and slide the lower jaw in position to fix the pliers in place.

The gripping surfaces have specially hardened teeth to ensure reliable gripping due to high wear resistance.

There’s no plastic coating: a ribbed, non-slip handle provides grip and it’s slim and easy to use. There’s a box joint for stability and durability via a double guide, as well as a pinch guard to protect against crush injuries. www.knipex.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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

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

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

• The prize cannot be substituted or upgraded.

5 cha For your chance to win a KNIPEX Cobra XS, simply answer the following question correctly:

nces to win

How long is the Cobra XS? a) 100mm b) 10mm c) 5mm Send your answer, plus your name, address and registration number to competition@ registeredgasengineer.co.uk and please include KNIPEX in the email subject line.

Five winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries received by the closing date of 29 October 2021.

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

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

• Registered Gas Engineer and Grundfos 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.

•O ne entry per person.

•Y our entry details will be provided to KNIPEX, which may use them for marketing purposes.

By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from them.

If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.

www.gassaferegister.co.uk 67

Gas REGISTERED

THE ONLY OFFICIAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATION

Issue 151 October 2021

This one’s on us

Free hybrid heat pump training with Daikin.

Free boiler for your customer.

Not every home is ready to make the change to fully-renewable heating. But now, there’s a solution that means everyone can take advantage of the heat pump revolution.

Take your first step into the renewables market with Daikin’s free hybrid* heat pump training.

The gas engineer’s guide to annual boiler servicing

In just one day, you can expand your portfolio and gain the skills to upgrade customers to an eco-friendly hybrid solution, which combines the power of a heat pump with the familiarity of a high efficiency boiler.

And what’s more, when they choose a Daikin Altherma hybrid system, you can offer your customers the boiler absolutely free – this one’s on us!

Technical FAQs Boiler Plus The answers to some of the questions Was it a smart move? you ask Gas Safe Register most often What happens next?

Scan to find your local stockist: www.esteembathrooms.com

WIN: We’ve got 5 Knipex Cobra XS mini pliers to give away

Free training for you.

Free boiler for them.

Discover your Energy for Change and sign up for your free training today: daikin.co.uk/hybridtraining *Hybrid bi-valent. Terms and Conditions: Free boiler offer available to customers who purchase Daikin outdoor unit [EJHA04AV3], Boiler [D2CND024/28/35A4A] and appropriate accessories to be used as a bi-valent system.