Gas REGISTERED
THE ONLY OFFICIAL INDUSTRY PUBLICATION
Mobile catering What’s cooking in gas safety at this summer’s outdoor events?
Issue 159 June 2022
Part L Update How changes in Building Regs will affect you
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER
In this issue 09 News
Northern Ireland gas engineers fined following illegal work; meet heating and plumbing learner of the year Ruben Duggan; Golden celebrations as Williams Trade Supplies turns 50
Issue 159 June 2022 24 Mobile catering
What are the common gas safety issues that arise? How NCASS is supporting the mobile catering sector; technical checklist for mobile catering
14 The good, the bad and the ugly
19 Letters 21 Technical
06 Gas Safe news
Did you know you can access a whole range of free marketing materials to help promote your business as part of your Gas Safe registration? PLUS The countdown has started to Gas Safety Week 2022
Changes to Part L of the Building Regulations and how they affect you
22 Technical Bulletin 147
Clarification on manufactured, connection and telescopic chimney/ flue joints, developed with HHIC
30 Carbon monoxide alarms
New rules are on the way for CO alarms in rented properties as part of the Building Regulations update
33 Heat pumps
A sustainably sensible heating solution; what’s on the horizon; what do installers think of the future?
38 Product focus
Do you want to help trial a
new electrical safety product? PLUS How gas engineers can arm themselves against tool theft
41 Products
The latest launches from Bosch Commercial & Industrial, Intatec, Martindale Electric, Modutherm, Navien and Viessmann
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www.gassaferegister.co.uk 05
Free marketing
FROM THE EDITOR
Comment
U
pdates to Part L of the Building Regulations take effect this month, aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of the heating systems in our homes and minimising heat loss. Many are focused on new-build but there are changes that affect you when you install or replace a gas boiler, including making sure that heating systems are designed to operate at a maximum flow temperature of 55°C or lower, insulating hot water pipework, and fitting thermostatic radiator valves. And as summer finally arrives, we take an in-depth look at the specialist field of gas safety in mobile catering. What’s really going on behind the scenes when you buy hot food at a street market, or a delicious burger at a festival? We’ve been finding out what local authorities and Gas Safe Register do to keep people safe, and about the very real dangers, both hidden and visible. Finally, we’re focusing on heat pumps: now that they could be cheaper to run than gas boilers because of high gas prices (according to one manufacturer), could this be the boost that the industry has been waiting for? 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: Carl Banister, Stephen Gallagher, Jonathan Palmer Production: Mark Turpin Advertising enquiries only: Ian Carter ian@rgemagazine.co.uk Additional print subscriptions £25 per year email: wgardiner@circdata.com, Tel 01635 869 868 The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Gas Safe Register. The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to it at its absolute discretion and without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. ABC membership approved 19 March, 2009.
Registered Gas Engineer is written, designed and published by The Team on behalf of Gas Safe Register. 30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ
06 June 2022
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Countdown is on for Gas Safety Week 2022 Gas Safety Week 2022 is just three months away – and you can now sign up to pledge your support for the industry’s biggest national gas safety event. When you become a supporter, you’ll receive a toolkit from Gas Safe Register full of easy-to-use and eye-catching materials to help you raise awareness of gas safety throughout the week. This year will see messaging for consumers about the importance of having an annual gas safety check by a qualified registered engineer, tips to stay safe – such as not blocking vents – and knowing how to spot the signs of an unsafe gas appliance. New for this year is more animation and video – you’ve told Gas Safe that you want these to use on social media.
12-18 September 2022 The toolkit will also include leaflets and posters, logos, articles, images, social media updates and web banners. The full toolkit is being finalised now: just sign up and you’ll automatically receive one nearer the time. You can support Gas Safety Week at: bit.ly/GSW22RGE
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | GAS SAFE REGISTER NEWS
tools to help your business Did you know you can access a whole range of marketing materials to help promote your business – and they’re all free as part of your Gas Safe registration?
I
t can be hard to find time to find new customers when you’re busy working. But there’s a whole range of materials that Gas Safe Register has created to help you promote your business easily and show your customers that you’re a qualified and competent gas engineer. When you log into your Gas Safe online account, choose the Resource Hub and then Marketing Toolkit: here you’ll see all the different advertising and marketing tools that are specially created for you to use on your website and on social media. Banners, leaflets, posters You can download banners for your own site that link to Gas Safe Register, so your customers can find out more and can easily verify that you are registered. There’s prewritten copy that you can
use too: just cut and paste whatever you need. You can print your own leaflets and posters, designed so that you can include your own business information. You can also order new free gas safety leaflets and posters. When it comes to social media, you can build your presence with information, videos and images from Gas Safe Register. And if you’re stuck for words, why not try some of the pre-written updates and images on your Twitter and Facebook profile to give your customers and potential customers important gas safety advice and promote your business along the way. There’s also a step-by-step guide on how you can upload videos from Gas Safe Register’s YouTube channel to use on your own social media updates and website.
Good news spreads about good deeds Social media plays an important role in gas engineer Jack Bellingham’s business. His Plymouth company GasJack Plumbing & Heating gets a lot of work via word of mouth and through recommendations on local Facebook groups. “Everyone recommends us, it’s great,” he says. But his company really came to people’s attention when Jack came helped an NHS nurse in the early part of the Covid pandemic. She had appealed for help to fix her boiler and Jack supplied and fitted a new boiler free. “I just felt it was a good thing to do,” he told Registered Gas Engineer. “When I’d finished, I took a photo and put it on social media.” And as the news of his generosity spread online, the company
picked up more and more work. Jack says local papers got in touch with him to share his story, resulting in even more work, particularly from NHS workers, to whom he gave a 20 per cent discount on work during the pandemic. But his growing reputation benefited the wider community too: other local companies followed his lead and also gave discounts to vital key workers.
Gas Safe Register’s new gas safety leaflets and posters are now available in English and Welsh. With an eye-catching refreshed design, you can use these free marketing materials for a range of different audiences – whether you’re talking to your customers, tenants, holidaymakers or students. The leaflets and posters have been designed with accessibility in mind, paying special attention to colour contrast, text size and style, and layout. Posters also include a QR code that links to further information on Gas Safe’s website. The addition of Welsh language literature underlines Gas Safe’s commitment to Welsh citizens, helping to keep them safe from the dangers of gas. You can order free leaflets and posters at: www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/leaflets
www.gassaferegister.co.uk 07
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY
Northern Ireland gas engineers fined following illegal work Two Northern Ireland gas engineers have been fined after one had sub-contracted the other to carry out gas safety checks without checking that he was registered and despite the fact that the contractor had been prohibited from working with gas. David Horner, trading as EDH Plumbing, and Ian Campbell, trading as Ian Campbell Gas Services, were fined at Belfast Magistrates Court for breaching gas safety regulations. Mr Horner was also fined for failing to comply with an earlier prohibition notice. The HSENI investigation found that Mr Horner had been carrying out gas work despite
being suspended by Gas Safe Register. Between February 2017 and October 2017, he completed multiple gas safety checks and a gas boiler installation at various residential properties in the Greater Belfast area. The investigation also found that he was working despite having been banned from carrying out such work following a prohibition notice from an HSENI inspector in June 2017. A total of 34 gas safety checks were sub-contracted to him by Ian Campbell, who had initially failed to check and ensure that Mr Horner was registered before any work started.
£40,000 fine following gas explosion A company in charge of refurbishing a property in Somerset has been fined £40,000 after the homeowner sustained burns when gas escaping from an open-ended pipe ignited. North Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard that, following pre-sale refurbishment work at a property in Chard, a gas cooker was disconnected but the gas pipework was not sealed properly. This left an openended pipe connected to the mains gas supply, which was turned off at the meter only. The cooker hob was removed during refurbishment in late summer 2018 when the property was empty. On 25 January 2019, the new owner moved in and turned on the gas to use the central heating boiler. He was unaware of the open-ended pipe, through which gas immediately started to escape. As he was trying to turn on his cooker, the gas ignited, resulting in a small explosion
and fire. The homeowner sustained smoke inhalation and burns, which required hospital treatment. The HSE investigation found that the company in control of the refurbishment had failed to ensure that persons not in their employment were not exposed to risks from the gas installation. Holt Estates England Ltd of High Street, Caterham, Surrey, was found guilty of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,105.90. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Dawn Lawrence said: “This was a terrifying incident for the homeowner and could have proved fatal.”
David Horner from Belfast was fined £2,500 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
Ian Campbell from Bangor, County Down, was fined £1,500 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978. Speaking after the hearing, Gavin Rowan, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Conducting gas work without being registered to do so is not only a failure to comply with gas safety regulations, it unnecessarily places homeowners, tenants and others at significant risk from gas installations that may not have been properly maintained or inspected.”
Contractor hired fitter who was working illegally A gas fitter has been given a suspended sentence after he was found to be working illegally and had carried out dangerous gas work. The contractor that hired him has been fined for not checking that he was registered. Southwark Crown Court heard that Valentin Pauliuc, trading as VP Plumbing & Heating, was hired in February 2019 by HSM Builders Limited, a principal contractor that was carrying out domestic renovations, to install a new gas boiler and gas cooker and other plumbing work. A Gas Safe Register inspector subsequently found that some of this gas work was Immediately Dangerous. The HSE investigation discovered that Mr Pauliuc was not registered and that HSM
To report illegal gas work please call 0800 408 5577 or go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/reportillegal
Builders did not check that he was registered to do the work. Valentin Pauliuc of Downing Close, Harrow, pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also placed under a curfew and ordered to pay £4,747.68 in costs plus £1,644 in compensation to the owners of the property. HSM Builders Limited of Cedar Avenue, Enfield, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £4,859 in costs. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Gordon Carson, said: “By law, businesses should make reasonable efforts to obtain evidence that any person they intend to perform gas installation work, either under contract or on their own behalf, is a member or employed by a member of Gas Safe Register.” www.gassaferegister.co.uk 09
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY
Ruben is Learner of the Year Coleg Y Cymoedd heating and plumbing student Ruben Duggan is 2022’s HIP Learner of the Year, beating five other regional winners to be named the overall winner. Ruben, who studies at the Mynach campus, won following a competition that included completing a live 12-hour practical test, carried out over two days at Worcester Bosch’s manufacturing plant. HIP Magazine’s competition shines a light on and highlights the skills and talent of young
apprentices in the industry. Students competed against each other to be named the best young installers in the country. Head judge Jerry Whiteley from CIPHE says: “The judging became difficult and made the outcome of the competition so close due to the talent of all six young professionals. “The quality that we saw at the competition will inspire the industry and homeowners to know that we are putting forward the next generation of excellent professionals who will progress
into their careers in the future.” This year’s five other finalists were Charlie Oliver from Shrewsbury College, Jack Payne from Buckinghamshire College Group’s Wycombe Campus, Andrew Poland from St Helens College, Elliot Julian from Cornwall College, and Kai Alexander-Weir from Darlington College. Ruben said: “It was a big surprise. I found the competition really challenging; it wasn’t easy. It’s such a big thing to put on your CV.”
Get cashback on Tado Free surface protector with Testo analysers smart thermostats Tado has a new cashback programme that rewards you when you buy and fit its products. Smart thermostats are a proven way of helping to lower energy costs, with Tado products saving an average 22 per cent on heating costs, says the company. Tado is now offering up to £20 cashback for professional installers when you buy from City Plumbing, Screwfix and Toolstation. Just upload your receipt to the new online portal. Cashback is available of: •£ 5 for every smart
radiator thermostat • £10 for every smart thermostat starter kit (wired or wireless) • £20 for every Quattro smart radiator thermostat (4x pack). John Steven, consumer sales director for UK and Ireland, says: “Professional installers are the backbone of the heating industry in the UK. Now with the Tado Professional Installer Cashback Programme, they can start earning cashback at a competitive rate.” You can also download a Tado app for for Android and iOS.
1 billion Euro boost for Viessmann green tech The Viessmann Group will invest 1 billion Euros over the next three years to grow its renewables portfolio. The family company intends to expand its manufacturing and R&D labs and says its investment will also help to strengthen Europe’s energy independence. CEO Max Viessmann says: “Unprecedented geopolitical developments need unprecedented decisions. We all need more speed and pragmatism in order to fight climate change and to re-think energy generation and use. “We are now accelerating our growth with dedicated investments in heat pumps and green climate solutions.”
Competition winners Four lucky readers each won an ESi Series 6 heating control in our April issue competition. They are Ambrose Drane from Crook, County Durham; Defrim Bojku from London NW3; Jane Andrews from Bovey Tracey, Devon; and Gary Belgium from Bristol. Congratulations! 10 June 2022
Testo is giving away a free work surface protector when you buy a 327, 300 or 320B flue gas analyser. The protectors are ideal for covering your customers’ countertops and make cleaning up easier. Testo provides flue gas analysers for basic domestic boiler testing through to the needs of commercial boiler engineers. The multi-function devices enable you to test gas pressures, flow and return temperatures, and some models include additional probes to
measure ambient CO and CO2. Offers ends on 31 August 2022. Terms & conditions apply. www.testo.com/en-UK/ free-surface
Worcester Bosch celebrates 60 with monthly prizes Worcester Bosch is kicking off its 60th birthday celebrations with monthly prizes for heating engineers who spread warmth in their own communities. Prizes range from new power tools and van wraps to day-out experiences and new heating systems. The More Than 60 initiative runs every month until October 2022 and is open to Gas Safe registered engineers who have installed and registered at least one Worcester Bosch boiler or heat pump in 2022. All you need to do is complete and submit the online competition entry form, including a written description of not less than 100 words about what you’ve done to
help others in your community. Marketing director Victoria Billings says: “We have gone through an incredible journey as a company over the past 60 years; and the one thing we have always aimed to do is warm lives. We want to recognise those who also warm lives in any way and who go that extra mile for others. “We’re looking forward to hearing the inspiring stories of those who are nominated.” The competition is also open to Worcester heating system owners, community groups and the company’s own employees. Terms and conditions apply. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/ professional/60thcompetition-installer
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | AROUND THE INDUSTRY
Screwfix expands refurbished power tools scheme Screwfix is aiming to refurbish and sell 100,000 refurbished power tools this year in an expansion of its trial scheme. The company says keeping products in use for longer is a key part of its sustainability strategy. It started selling refurbished tools directly to customers in January. CEO John Mewett says: “We know that our customers are already making sustainable choices and the success of
this trial demonstrates the demand and importance for us to minimise our environmental impact, while customers can enjoy the cost savings of buying refurbished tools.
“The decision to sell refurbished products directly through the Screwfix website not only helps reduce waste, but also supports us in achieving our goal of refurbishing and
Vaillant Academy opens for blended and on-demand learning The new Vaillant Academy extends the company’s on-demand training and business support with options that can fit around your schedule. Heating engineers can access the Academy through the Vaillant Advance loyalty programme or via the website, tapping into support whenever and wherever they want. The new e-learning platform combines online training courses, technical information and marketing tools. The blended learning approach enables you to compete theorybased modules at home, so that
you only need to visit a Vaillant Centre of Excellence to complete practical training elements. It cuts down on time away from work without having to compromise on training and professional development. By completing part of the course online before attending an in-centre practical course, you can maximise your time working with the boiler or heat pump itself. All training certificates are available through the online portal. Technologies and training director Mark Wilkins says: “While installers recognise the importance
of training, time is often tight, which can that mean taking time out to attend training can prove difficult. “The new Vaillant Academy has been created to offer more on-demand, blended learning and business support tools, so that training can be worked around their schedules as and when convenient, even when on the go.” Up to 50 Advance points are awarded for each training module completed. www.vaillant.co.uk/forinstallers/training/
Golden celebrations as Williams Trade Supplies turns 50 Williams Trade Supplies is celebrating 50 years since it opened its first branch in 1972. Williams has supplied the heating and plumbing industry ever since it started in Portsmouth. Managing director Ray Stafford says: “When the business was founded in a corner shop in Portsmouth back in 1972, Roberta Flack was top of the pops, Bill Shankly took Liverpool to its first league title in seven years and Ted Heath was Prime Minister. “Fifty years on, much has changed but the core proposition of delivering noticeably better
service to trade customers lives on in the Williams ethos.” The company was founded by Mick Williams when he left his job as a local plumbing contractor in 1972 to help his dad, who had been left unable to drive after a
car accident. The experience of collecting materials from merchants convinced him that he could do things better. What started as a traditional, local merchant has grown into an independent national merchant. Founder Mick Williams says: “Of all the accolades the company has achieved over the years, the awards that I am most proud of are the company being recognised as one of the top 100 best companies to work for in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Roll on 2022.” tradeonlyplumbing.co.uk
reselling returned power tools. This is another step on our journey to reducing our environmental impact.” Screwfix hit its ‘zero waste to landfill’ target in 2021, with 83 per cent of the waste it generates recycled and turned into new materials and 17 per cent incinerated for energy. Screwfix has also committed to reducing its own carbon emissions by using low-carbon energy sources.
Queen’s Award for KANE KANE International has received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2022, along with 226 other UK organisations. The Innovation award came for KANE Care, the company’s pledge that it will give its customers the best after-sales service and support or their money back. All emissions analysers must be recertified every year, which can mean that gas engineers lose time and money while this is being done, especially when their analyser is a few years old and needs more care or replacement parts. KANE Care guarantees same-day service with all-inclusive pricing for KANE analysers up to 20 years old and guarantees a 10-year no-quibble warranty on new analysers. Jonathan Kane, CEO of KANE International, says: “I am thrilled KANE received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Year. We are so proud of what KANE Care promises our customers and honoured to see it recognised by the Queen’s Award.” Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise is for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. www.gassaferegister.co.uk 13
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 please email your stories and pictures to editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk or via Twitter @RGEMag
Chris Belton was carrying out a service when he discovered this chimney installation, which he has arranged to correct.
Jason Hearn removed an inspection hatch to discover that the chimney/flue had come apart and condensate was dripping through the ceiling. The chimney installation has now been installed and secured correctly.
Daniel Inkpin soon discovered the cause of the boiler’s flame failure: the air intake had been restricted by ivy growing in the boiler chimney.
Mike Fewtrell was called out after a boiler fire caused by the build-up of soot on the heat exchanger because of the lack of maintenance. The boiler has now been replaced.
14 June 2022
Imran Sheikh was asked to carry out a gas safety check only to find that an extension had been built around the boiler flue, which was pluming into the cavity. The boiler has now been relocated to a safe location.
This month’s winner
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS
During a routine boiler service, Michael Whalley saw that the chimney terminal was right up against the boundary fence. The appliance installer was contacted to correct the installation.
Waseem Rahim traced a gas escape to this pipe after a failed tightness test: the gas fire supply pipe had been covered with damp debris in the catchment area. The fire has been removed and the pipework capped off.
Paul Brown came across this pipework on an LPG hob. The hob has been replaced and the pipework fitted correctly.
Neal Young saw this tube sticking out of the property, which had been bunged up with a plastic bottle. He removed the bottle and then found smoke from the smoke pellet coming out of the tube and terminal during the flue flow test. Neal made the installation safe.
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 15
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | YOUR PHOTOS
Thegoodthebad+theugly Peter Wilkinson found these sections of pipe joined with a 15mm soldered coupling inside then covered with an earth bonding clamp. No wonder he’d been called to a gas escape. The pipework has now been renewed.
Mike Dwyer had been called out to replace a kitchen tap but saw this boiler which had severe scorching on its casing. Mike made safe.
Photo prize
David Grist noticed this gas meter with an open-ended gas pipe with electrical tape keeping the handle shut. There were shops either side and living accommodation above. David called the emergency service provider, which made 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. The Clip has audible, visual and vibrate alarms at 30ppm and 100ppm, plus a sensor range of 0-300ppm. It has a two-year, maintenance-free fixed life PLUS on-screen life duration countdown, self-test and ingress protection to IP66 and IP67. Details of the Clip CO alarm and many more products – as well as fast two-day turnaround on FGA servicing – can be found at www.shop.crowcon.com This month’s winner is Jason Hearn from Bath. Congratulations!
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | LETTERS
Intouch
Please send your letters, which may be edited, to editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk.
Photos must show best practice
What about weather compensation? Reading last month’s Registered Gas Engineer, I see that you have tried to explain weather compensation: I have to say that your definition is quite incorrect. The purpose of weather compensation is to adjust the flow temperature in line with the outside air temperature. As the air temperature outside increases, the house needs less heat because there is less heat loss through the structure. To achieve less heat, the flow temperature is reduced. This has a knock-on effect in a condensing boiler because it means that more latent heat can be extracted from the exhaust gases. Latent heat is when the hot water vapour (exhaust gas) condenses into condensate water. When this happens, latent heat is given out, which passes through the heat exchanger to the incoming return water, which is at a low temperature. The lower the return water
temperature, the greater the harvesting of latent heat from the exhaust gases and hence the greater efficiency. The greatest benefit of this system, as opposed to just turning down the flow temperature, is that the boiler’s computer is making this calculation every second and optimising the flow temperature. The result is a house that feels much more comfortable because the heat in the rooms is gradually increased or decreased in line with the outside temperature rather than starting up and shutting down with a traditional internal room stat. The benefits are about a 5 per cent or more energy saving, which could, in some houses, equate to £100 per year. All system boilers with weather compensation systems also have a system where they revert to high-temperature heating when recharging a
cylinder: this is to allow the cylinder to quickly reach its set point of say 55°C. Weather compensation controls can be fitted to most existing boilers of about 10 years old. Richard Weir, Boiler Bee From the editor: Last month’s article ‘How can you help cut your customers’ heating bills’ is a simple guide that gas engineers can use to discuss possible energy-saving measures with their customers. We did not go into detail about how any of these measures work, particularly so on weather compensation, which Mr Weir explains so clearly. We’re all acutely aware of the current pressure on household budgets, and these measures are suggestions on how your customers can use less energy – and, in turn, save money.
You produce a great publication which keeps me up to date on good practice for when I teach the ACS courses at a number of centres. I know you use stock photographs for your articles but they should be checked for good practice, otherwise the people who read it may think this is the way it should be done because it’s shown in your publication. When you look at the photograph [page 24, April 2022, ‘Become an approved meter installer’] there does not appear to be any access to the regulator should it need adjustment and/or to re-attach the security wire. The main cause for concern, however, is the fact that the meter control valve appears to fall to on, which goes against the Gas Safety Regulations. Any stock photos where good practice is not shown should be mentioned in the text somewhere with an explanation. Rodney Briddon C Eng From the editor: Thank you to those readers who pointed out that the stock picture accompanying this article was not appropriate. The article was written by our friends at ElectraLink, who also provided the picture, but we agree that this particular image should not have been included and we will make sure that images supplied to us by external contributors are checked carefully. ElectraLink says: “Upon investigation, we have found that the image provided by ElectraLink was a stock photograph selected by a non-technical team member and the non-compliant nature of the meter was not recognised. ElectraLink did not intend this stock image to represent a compliant meter, and upon realisation that it does, ElectraLink has removed the photo from its stock library and will refrain from using images with this level of technical detail in future.” www.gassaferegister.co.uk 19
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL
Part L changes and how they affect you Changes to Buildings Regulations in England, due to take effect this month, include additional requirements when you install gas boilers and heating systems. Gas Safe Register’s Technical Team set out the main updates.
B
uilding Regulations Approved Document L has been updated. The previous version of the document was split into four parts: • L1A – Conservation of fuel and power in new dwellings • L1B – Conservation of fuel and power in existing dwellings • L2A – Conservation of fuel and power in new buildings other than dwellings • L2B – Conservation of fuel and power in existing buildings other than dwellings. The updated document now consists of only two parts: • Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1: Dwellings • Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings. Why does this matter to me? With the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels driving many changes in the industry, these documents give guidance
and the wet central heating systems that they serve. What’s new in Volume 1? The changes mainly cover limiting heat losses through building services. The easiest way to do this is by insulating the hot water and heating pipework. As before, the guidance is that in a new system, heating pipework must be lagged when it passes outside the heated living space, including where it passes into a void. There is now an additional requirement that when a boiler or hot water storage vessel is replaced, any accessible pipes in the dwelling should be insulated. All new hot water pipework must be insulated – on both primary and secondary circulation – along with all pipework connected to a hot water storage vessel, for at least 1 metre from the point at which they connect to the vessel. The level of insulation required is given in Table 4.4 of the document:
“All new hot water pipework must be insulated on both primary and secondary circulation, along with all pipework connected to a hot water storage vessel.” on how to comply with Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010. While most of the information contained in these documents does not affect gas engineers, there are some parts in both new documents that will affect the work you do when you’re installing a gas appliance, most notably central heating boilers,
for example, pipework between 11mm and 25mm would require 10mm lagging. There is also guidance on sizing heating and hot water systems: systems should be designed following sizing methodology so as not be significantly oversized. An example of this can be found in the Chartered Institute of
This article is an overview of some of the changes that will come into effect this month. You can read the full Building Regulations Approved Document L Volumes 1 and 2 at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-of-fueland-power-approved-document-l Plumbing and Heating Engineering’s Plumbing Engineering Services Design Guide. When the central heating system is newly installed or fully replaced in an existing building, it should be designed to operate effectively at a maximum flow temperature of 55°C or lower. It is now a requirement to fit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on all radiators except those fitted in the same space as the room thermostat. This also applies when replacing the boiler on an existing system. Previously this was good practice but not a requirement.
Tables 4.4 and 4.5. As in Volume 1, any new or fully replaced wet heating system should be designed to work effectively with a heating flow temperature of 55°C or lower. However, to maximise the efficiency of these systems, it would be preferable to design systems to work at a lower flow temperature than this. Where pipework is run in a communal area of a building other than a dwelling but that contains a dwelling – such as in a block of flats – then Volume 2 is the Approved Document to follow for the communal area, and Volume 1 for the dwelling.
What’s new in Volume 2? Volume 2 contains clear guidance for buildings other than dwellings. Again, most of the changes involve minimising heat loss. For instance, hot water pipework should be insulated in all areas inside and outside the building, unless it can be demonstrated that the heat is ‘always useful’. The insulation thickness requirements are different from those in Volume 1 and also differ for heating and hot water. The requirements can be found in
When do the changes take effect? Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 come into effect on 15 June 2022 for use in England. Wales has recently concluded a consultation period for its own version of Part L, and Gas Safe Register will update you further once these have been published. There have been no recent changes to Technical Handbooks in Scotland or Technical Booklets in Northern Ireland. ■ www.gassaferegister.co.uk 21
Technical Bulletin 147 (Edition 2)
Developed with HHIC
Clarification on manufactured, connection and telescopic chimney/flue joints Date issued: 19 April 2022
Note: This version of Technical Bulletin (TB) 147 replaces the version originally published on 15 July 2010, 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 has been produced to clarify the differences between a manufactured joint, a connection joint and a telescopic joint in relation to concealed vertical and horizontal chimney/flue systems. Introduction This Technical Bulletin identifies the differences between manufactured, connection, and telescopic chimney/flue joints. It is important to recognise that longitudinal seam joints along the length of chimney/flue section are considered to be a manufactured joint. This TB also details several manufacturing techniques for the fabrication of chimney/flue lengths incorporating longitudinal seam joints. Background With the introduction of Building Regulations for ‘chimney/flues in voids’ and the requirement for the inspection of joints and bracketing, boiler and chimney/ flue manufacturers are continuously looking into ways to make life easier for both the appliance installer and maintenance engineer. Note 1: For guidance on flexible concentric flue systems, see TB 139: Room-sealed, fanneddraught vertical condensing flexible flues concealed within voids(1). Extended concentric flue lengths More recently, longer concentric chimney/flue sections have been developed that can be installed in vertical or horizontal voids, as long as they are supported in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, which, in some cases, may require only a bracket at each end. The construction of these
22 June 2022
extended flue lengths differs between manufacturers, but in all cases the inner flue section is constructed from one full-length extrusion without any hidden joints. The difference comes in the manufacture of the outer air duct. Some are made using conventional welding or mechanical lock-forming along their length, but whichever method is used, they all comply with the required levels of air tightness demanded by the relevant standards, and can therefore be considered as continuous chimney/flue lengths. Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 show examples of manufactured longitudinal seams. These manufactured seams are not considered to be connection joints. It may not be practicable or commercially viable, however, for manufacturers to produce the outer air duct from a single piece of material. Some products will therefore have a manufactured joint, made as part of the manufacturing process, at the end circumference of the air duct, ie, two sections of tube sleeved together with a material overlap and mechanically fixed during manufacture and which cannot be separated without intervention. The integrity of the air duct is tested and maintained, meeting the required level of air tightness. An example of a manufactured joint is shown in Appendix 1. Flue integrity check TB 143(2) sets a requirement for a flue integrity check to be
carried out when the boiler is commissioned, including using a flue gas analyser where possible (ie, the boiler installation has a suitable air-inlet test-point), to check that: O2 = >=20.6%, OR CO2 = <=0.2% Boiler manufacturers have agreed that this check should also be repeated at the time of annual service or maintenance of the appliance, and this is a requirement of the Benchmark service/interim work record, to be recorded digitally on the app, and/or the consumer’s documentation. Note 2: For the purposes of this TB, maintenance is where gas work has been completed on the boiler and testing in accordance with Regulation 26(9) of the Gas Safe Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations(3) (GSIUR) is required. The flue integrity check, alongside visual checks of the flue system and boiler combustion readings, will provide an additional means of checking the adequacy of the flue system and any joints (manufactured, connection, or telescopic). Note 3: Where an air-inlet test-point has not been provided on, for example, older standard efficiency boilers and gas work has been completed, registered engineers and businesses should continue to check the safe operation of the appliance in accordance with Regulation 26(9) of GSIUR. Note 4: 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)(4) by logging into your Gas Safe Register online account at: www. gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in
Note 5: For general information about the process behind the development of Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins and the expectations for all stakeholders, see TB 1000(5) by logging into your Gas Safe Register online account at: www. gassaferegister.co.uk/sign-in Appendix 1: Manufactured and Connection Joints A manufactured joint for both high-efficiency and older, standard-efficiency chimney/ flues should be considered a continuous length. Where only manufactured joints are present, in a concealed flue scenario, these joints do not normally need to be within 1.5m of an inspection hatch. Please note, this does not preclude the other installation and inspection recommendations in Building Regulations Approved Document J (concealed Flues Section 1.47) and TB 008(6). A connection joint in the chimney/flue system, which is assembled by the installer, will normally require an inspection hatch within 1.5m of the joint. Starting with the original installer of the boiler and/or chimney/flue system, a means should be provided for informing subsequently attending engineers that the chimney/flue system is constructed from a continuous pipe incorporating circumferential manufactured joints (where this applies). It is suggested that this should be provided on/with any consumer work report provided for the installation, to be kept with the manufacturer’s installations and servicing instructions, and provided to the consumer. Figures 1-7 opposite show examples of chimney/flue systems with manufactured seams and joints compared with different types of connecting joints.
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Examples of chimney/flue joints
Figure 1: Laser-welded longitudinal seam
Figure 2: Mechanical lock forming longitudinal seam
Figure 3: Example of a manufactured joint
Figure 4: Example of a connection joint
Appendix 2: Telescopic chimney/flue joints Telescopic chimney/flue joints, as may be the nature of the boiler manufacturer’s horizontal chimney/flue accessory, are not considered to be connection joints. Figures 8 and 9 below show a typical telescopic chimney/flue joint, before (Figure 8) and after (Figure 9) being set and mechanically secured by the installer, in line with the manufacturers’ instructions (specifying sealing tape around the telescopic metal air duct joint, in this example).
Figure 8
Figure 5: Extension of a connection joint
Figure 7: Extension pipe for a connection joint
Figure 6: Extension pipe for a connection joint
Figure 9
Bibliography (1) TB 139 – Room Sealed, Fanned-Draught Vertical Condensing Flexible Flues Concealed Within Voids (2) TB 143 – CO and combustion ratio checks using an Electronic Combustion Gas Analyser (ECGA) when commissioning a condensing boiler incorporating air/gas ratio control valve technology. (3) The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (4) LNIDL – Gas Safe Register Legislative, Normative & Informative Document List (5) TB 1000 – An introduction to Gas Safe Register Technical Bulletins (6) Technical Bulletin 008 (Edition 3) – Existing concealed room-sealed fanned-draught boiler chimney/flue systems in domestic premises
www.gassaferegister.co.uk 23
What’s cooking in I
t’s estimated that there are some 7,000 mobile catering units working at outdoor events around the country. But whether they’re regular traders who know what they’re doing or a one-off van at a local fete, they all have to follow procedures to make sure they’re operating safely and within the law. Outside events such as festivals and street markets come under the jurisdiction of the local authority. It’s the responsibility of their health and safety and/or environmental health teams to make sure that all the safety boxes have been ticked, and a lot of work goes on before mobile catering units can serve food to hungry customers. Health and safety environmental health officers check a raft of paperwork to confirm that vehicles are operating legally and safely. Before a mobile catering unit can go out, it must have:
that all paperwork and certificates are up to date and will check the gas safety records provided, cross-referencing them with the engineer’s Gas Safe registration to ensure that they are both registered and qualified to work on and inspect the appliances on the unit. Mark Jewell is a health and safety inspector at East Hampshire District Council who has become something of an expert in gas safety at outdoor events. He has worked with Gas Safe Register to run gas safety training events for local authority inspectors, helping them understand the dangers of working with gas at public events and how to spot – and overcome – potential problems. His role is a regulatory and enforcement one rather than inspecting the specifics of gas safety, he says, “helping the dutyholder meet its legal requirements and provide a safe
“Gas engineers should get in touch with their local authority if they see a concern. It’s easier for us to sort out something before it happens than afterwards.” • A commercial gas safety certificate (if fuelled by LPG). This must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer who holds the relevant qualifications • Food business registration: owners need to register with each local authority in which they intend to operate at least 28 days before trading • Food hygiene certificate, to ensure that food and drink are handled responsibly by all members of staff • Street trading licence from the local authority • Public liability insurance for the business and its employees. Local authority officers check 24 June 2022
working environment, no matter whether it’s in a field or a fixed premises. We have to have our own knowledge and understanding of what the guidance and legislation say to be able to act in a reasonable manner and within the law.” Local authorities are notified of all public events in their jurisdiction and they advise the organiser of everything they need to do to make sure the event is safe to run – including traffic, crowd control, food safety, health and safety, and crime. When it comes to food vendors, organisers have to confirm which vendors will be attending and whether they will
All photos supplied by Mark Jewell
As we get into the warmer months, festivals and events around the country are welcoming visitors with a range of delicious food and drinks. Here, we look at some of the common gas safety problems that arise in mobile catering and at the work being done to keep visitors and workers safe.
Missing controls on a hot plate grill in use in a burger van
be using LPG. The organisers must obtain the relevant gas safety certificates and provide them to the local authority, which checks the details of the registered engineer who carried them out and ensures that they’re registered, competent and working within scope. Mark says: “I will read the gas safety certificate to make sure that what’s in front of me is what has been seen by the gas engineer. We also look at the engineer’s details and we always make sure they’re [appropriately] qualified: if they’re not, we will refer them to Gas Safe. By reporting to Gas Safe, we make sure that the engineer has not done this elsewhere.” He also checks that the owner is using the equipment for the purpose that they’ve stated. “We know that sometimes the engineer will have seen the equipment with the cylinder and hose attached to it – but not with a gazebo and a tent around it or the fact that the bottle is stored under a table. “I would encourage all gas engineers to get in touch with their local authority health and safety environmental health officers if they see a concern. It’s easier for us to sort out
Missing controls on a gas water heater in a mobile catering van
something before it happens than afterwards. We’re trying to protect gas engineers from further issues because we don’t know what happens after they’ve gone away.” Local authorities want to keep businesses operating safely rather than shut them down. But their enforcement powers are wide-ranging, from requesting information to taking photographs, taking samples,
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | MOBILE CATERING
mobile catering? When things go wrong
Paella plates at a food festival: poor arrangement of LPG cylinders and lack of lower ventilation plus some loose controls
serving notices and seizing, and prosecution. “We base our enforcement decisions around the Unsafe Situations Procedure [IGEM/G/11] and we can use our own assessment system, an enforcement management model, to get the best outcome,” says Mark. When something’s not right, it’s most often resolved by giving advice to the dutyholder. But enforcement powers include two key notices: an Improvement Notice, which might be issued
“Gas Safe Register assisted me on a case where a kitchen staff member had retrieved two barbecues out of the shed where he worked, with some new bottles of patio gas, and took them to cook at a wedding,” says Mark Jewell. “When he got there, he tried to connect the bottle to the gas appliance but it wouldn’t fit on: he’d taken them in the car on their side and they’d shaken up like a fizzy pop bottle and he couldn’t engage them because they were so pumped up. “[Eventually] he got it on but it was leaking gas everywhere and, when he went to light the barbecue, it just exploded. It set fire to him, it set fire to the building, and it destroyed the cylinder and gas appliance. “The surviving appliance was rusty and hadn’t been serviced in years, if ever. It should never have been in use as a piece of commercial equipment or in use at commercial premises. It had no gas paperwork, even from the people who originally owned it.”
the rules and how they need to comply, that’s not always the case. Among the many things that local authority health and safety inspectors check are making sure there’s enough ventilation inside the unit and that there’s a gas compartment where the LPG cylinders can be stored safely. “On a cold day, they’ll often light the appliances to warm up the van but don’t realise that they need to open the doors and get some ventilation in. And sometimes we find that the
“Mark Jewell has found instances where a worker has been using a spoon or knife to control the flow of gas because the control knob is missing.” to an At Risk installation, and a Prohibition Notice, which would cover a situation that could cause an immediate danger to life, such as an Immediately Dangerous installation. Nothing surprises Mark, who has been working in this field for 12 years. While many mobile catering units are purpose-built, work regularly at events and know
permanent ventilation is blocked or that there’s not enough of it,” he says. The hose needs to be in good condition, but “we often find it’s out of date, perished or wrapped in tape because it’s been damaged. We find jubilee clips that are over-tightened, no leak detector fluid to see if they’ve got any leaks when the cylinder is > www.gassaferegister.co.uk 25
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | MOBILE CATERING
What’s cooking in mobile catering? (continued)
>
attached, and missing control knobs.” In fact, Mark says he’s found instances where a worker has been using a spoon or knife to control the flow of gas because the control knob is missing. Food catering inside tents and gazebos brings its own challenges, not only because of the risk of carbon monoxide from inadequate ventilation but from burners that are too close to the sides. When it comes to units that cook food using paella dishes on large open pans, Mark says: “They can sometimes have one 19kg bottle feeding three burners in a daisy chain effect. But the pressure drops the further along you go, bringing the risk that the flame will go out but it will still leak gas.
“We see food temperatures that are different on each appliance, which indicates there’s not enough heat getting to it. We found in one that the food temperatures were different in all three pans: the one that was furthest away from the gas bottle was a lot lower than the one closest to it. “But the most important thing is that do those working inside the mobile units know what they should do with the gas equipment in an emergency? Nine times out of ten, it’s a student working at a festival to earn a few quid, enjoy it and go home. “They’re not going to be thinking about that gas appliance that might be leaking and might be dangerous to them.” ■
One of two mobile catering units set up in a marquee with insufficient ventilation
Supporting mobile hospitality businesses NCASS sets out its aims and ambitions for a safe and successful mobile catering sector
T
he Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) is specialist organisation for independent food and drink businesses. It has supported mobile caterers for more 30 years with all aspects of running a safe and successful catering business. From what was once an industry dominated by traditional mobile burger vans either roadside or at outdoor events, the growth of the experience economy and the rise in street
26 June 2022
food has created huge change. From food safety to regulations, from products to techniques and equipment, the mobile catering industry and the businesses that supply and support it have to keep up with a lot of information and put this into practice. While Covid-19 certainly had an impact on mobile hospitality businesses, it also generated a significant number of start-ups. The sector includes around 12,000 micro-hospitality
businesses and is thought to generate £1.2 billion a year. NCASS works with Gas Safe Register and other industry stakeholders to maintain Code of Practice 24 – Part 3 (Liquid Gas UK CoP 24 Part 3); this reflects the risks posed by the expansion of gazebo-based street food traders building their own set-ups at each market or event. It has created a gas safety group for the catering sector, bringing together experts and stakeholders, gas engineers, event industry associations, event professionals, NCASS members, trailer manufactures, environmental health and Calor Gas, Festival Gas and Hamilton Gas Products. The group’s objectives are to: • Review current gas safety regulations and guidance to gain interpretation continuity • Define catering set-ups, including blue sky, temporary structure, and vehicle, and to create best practice standards
for inspection and use • Raise the profile of LGP safety • Create resources and disseminate them • Design and implement an accreditation system for NCASS gas engineer members • Signpost to lead gas engineers across the 12 government regions to ensure that NCASS members and the wider catering industry are able to access the right engineers • Educate NCASS members and the wider catering and events industries so as to mitigate risk, assure the future of the industry and ensure that start-ups are following best practice from day one. NCASS and its partners are working together to reduce inconsistencies in LPG safety, provide the necessary clarity and enable the sector to grow with confidence and professionalism. • If you would like to provide LPG services to NCASS members, email: demi@ncass.org.uk
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Mobile catering: the > Qualifications The gas qualification for working in commercial mobile catering is a specific one that covers the pipework and cylinder installation. Depending on the catering equipment you work on, additional appliance qualifications are COMCAT1-5. If you already hold a core gas qualification such as CCN1 (core domestic gas), or COCN1 (commercial heating), you will need to take CODC1 (domestic NG core to catering core changeover) and COCATA1 (domestic NG appliances to catering appliance changeover – equivalent to COMCAT 1-3) plus CoNGLPG1 CMC1 (changeover from NG to LPG mobile catering units) with COMCAT 2, 4 & 5 if needed – depending on the catering appliances you plan to work on. If you are a commercial catering engineer with CCCN1 and COMCAT 1-5, you will need CONGLP1 CMC (changeover from NG to LPG mobile catering units).
Storage of LPG cylinders As with all LPG installations, cylinders should always be stored outdoors in a well-ventilated area, above ground level in an upright position and have a minimum clearance of 1m from any sources of heat, sources of ignition, re-entry points into property and from combustible or ignitable materials. The storage area should be flat and level without any unventilated cavities and a minimum of 2m away from any untrapped drains or gullies. This distance can be reduced to 1m if there is an unperforated diversion wall not less than 250mm high. Cylinder compartments must be adequately ventilated through the access door at high and low level (not under) directly to outside. Each vent should not be less than 1 per cent of the compartment floor area. These vents must be provided in addition to windows and doors. Screens need to be used to prevent access by pests. These should be accessible for inspection and cleaning and should be of sufficient gauge to minimise the build-up of dust and dirt. Access to the cylinder compartments should be from outside the vehicle. They should be designed to allow easy access for changing cylinders and for their quick removal in an emergency. Compartments must not be blocked with rubbish or other items. Cylinders must always be stored with valves uppermost so that only vapour will be withdrawn in use. Cylinders not in use should be capped or plugged, and cylinders that are no longer required should be returned to the supplier or the event central storage facility.
Pressure Cylinder gas pressure must be reduced to the correct appliance pressure by a suitable single or two-stage pressure regulator reduction system. Regulators shall comply with BS EN 16129 and have an output pressure and gas rate to suit the appliance(s) installed when running simultaneously. Appliance pressure is usually 37mbar for propane or 29mbar for butane. Where other pressures are used, they should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
28 June 2022
Pipework system design requirements Unless the cylinder valve is adequate for isolating the installation pipework in an emergency, a separate gas emergency control valve (ECV) must be installed and clearly marked. All installations shall have a final stage low-pressure regulator (29mbar for butane, 37mbar for propane) and incorporate an over-pressure shut-off (OPSO) device where required. The size of the pipework should be adequate to ensure that the flow and pressure at each appliance at the anticipated maximum system load is within the limits specified by the manufacturer. The pipe size shall ensure that the pressure drop between the outlet of the pressure regulator and any appliance inlet when the installation is subjected to the anticipated maximum load shall not exceed 2mbar. The installation pipework, fittings and jointing compounds used shall be suitable for LPG. Consideration should be given to protecting the pipework and fittings against corrosion, heat and cleaning. The number of pipe fittings should be kept to a minimum and changes of direction should be avoided as far as possible, allowing for flexing. Pipe bends should be used where practicable rather than fittings. Compression fittings or hard soldering should be used to make joints; soft soldering should not be used to make joints because of possible movement during transportation. Final hoses for cookers and ovens should be as short as practicable but in no case exceed 1.5m in length. They should be either: a) Flexible hose or tubing to BS 3212 or BS EN 16436-1. Such hose and tubing should be protected by armour or overbraiding. It should not be used where it could be subjected to temperatures above 60°C. b) Stainless steel hose assemblies to BS EN 10380 c) Corrugated metallic hose and end fittings to BS EN 14800. Appliance restraint such as a stainless-steel chain should be provided to prevent excessive movement which could cause damage to the flexible connection. Restraints should not be fixed to gas supply pipes. Non-permanent installation pipework from external cylinder supply to single or multiple appliances can use flexible hosing to BS 3212-2, BS EN 16436-2 or BS EN 10380, so long as it meets the following criteria: a) The design does not exceed the pressure drop does not exceed 2mbar b) The end connections are attached by factory-assembled swaging or crimping c) Interconnecting hose lengths use quick-acting couplings, suitable for use with LPG, ensuring upstream gas flow has self-sealing mechanism preventing an open-ended pipework on installation or disconnection d) Rubber hoses should have armoured metallic braided protection e) All hoses shall have PVC or other suitable material outer covering to protect the hose.
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | MOBILE CATERING
technical checklist Over-pressure shut-off protection
Ventilation
All regulators and changeover devices shall have overpressure shut-off protection (OPSO) to protect the downstream pipework and appliances from a maximum incidental pressure greater than that for which they are designed. Portable and outdoor appliances with pre-installed regulators and hose supplied by the manufacturer, with heat input of 1.5kg/h (21kW) or less, may have no OPSO fitted and shall only be connected to a single cylinder. Operation shall be in accordance with the appliance manufacturer’s instructions with consideration to the location of use and ventilation requirements. Pressure regulators and safety devices incorporating full vent relief valves that could discharge LPG vapour inside commercial premises or an event premises must not be used. Where changeover devices are used, non-return valves at the high-pressure inlet need to be incorporated to prevent gas discharging when
In mobile units, free ventilation should be provided at a rate of at least 250mm2 for each kW input rating of all appliances, or 1000mm2, whichever is the greater. This should be divided equally between ventilation openings at high and low level. However, there may be no requirement for additional ventilation if there is a serving hatch that is interlocked with the gas supply so that appliances may not be used with the hatch closed. It is strongly recommended that every mobile unit has a CO alarm that complies with BS EN 50291. CO alarms should always be installed and checked in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) detection shall be installed inside the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
changing cylinders. Automatic changeover devices shall have an indicator to show when the reserve cylinder is in use and whether it has exhausted the service cylinder. Regulators shall be securely fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This can include purpose-made portable cylinder stand assemblies, ensuring that the regulator is fitted in the correct position. High-capacity regulator installations using more than 12kg/h (167kW) must be fitted with an emergency control valve (ECV). Cylinders will normally consist of one or more banks of
cylinders that must be adequately segregated and secured to prevent access by the general public. Any appliance provided for mobile or temporary catering shall be suitable for the purpose for which it is intended. All parts and accessories necessary for its correct operation should be present. LPG appliances must be approved by the manufacturer for use with propane or butane as appropriate and should conform to relevant British Standard. If they were manufactured after 1 January 1996, they must carry a CE mark.
Tightness testing
Appliances
Tightness testing should be carried out in accordance with either IGEM/UP/1B or an equivalent standard whenever fixed pipework connections are made. After it has been confirmed that the connections are leak-free, the leak detection fluid should be washed away with clean water. Where an appliance is connected to a cylinder via a flexible hose, all joints should be leak tested by a competent person using proprietary leak detection fluid prior to use. The connection between the cylinder and regulator should also be checked. Whenever cylinder connections are broken and remade, the joints should be leak tested.
All appliances shall be installed in accordance with the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, the manufacturer’s instructions, and any other relevant British Standard(s). All appliance burners shall be protected with flame supervision devices. Flexible hoses should be examined regularly for damage or wear and tear and replaced as necessary. Appliances should be fixed firmly to prevent movement when the vehicle is in motion.
Maintenance Gas appliances and flues must be maintained in a safe condition. It is recommended that servicing is undertaken in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, with a minimum frequency of 12 months. Where appliances and flues are subjected to frequent use, servicing every six months should be considered. All maintenance work must only be undertaken by a registered gas engineer with the appropriate mobile catering qualifications.
www.gassaferegister.co.uk 29
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | CO ALARMS
New rules on the way for CO and smoke alarms Aico’s National Technical Manager Andy Speake looks at the requirements of forthcoming updated legislation on CO alarms and how to comply with them.
L
ast autumn, the government published the results of a consultation proposing an extension to the regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, applicable to all rented properties in England. The consultation proposed to amend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 and Approved Document J, to extend existing private rented legislation requirements to socially rented properties; it also considered the important question of whether the existing legislation was sufficient. In addition, the consultation looked to remove the word ‘solid’ from the requirements for CO alarm installation. The change would also be included in the Building Regulations (Approved Document J). These regulatory updates are the first part of several reforms outlined in the Social Housing white paper.* Requirements for CO alarms There are several amendments in the updated Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 to the requirements for CO alarms, aimed at bringing greater protection to residents. The first requires all private and social landlords to fit a CO alarm in any room of a rented property that contains a fuel-burning appliance, such as gas boilers, fuel-burning stoves, oil burners, biofuels, coal boilers/stoves, wood pellets, etc. Cookers are excluded from this requirement but the use of CO alarms in rooms with fuel-burning cookers is still recommended in BS EN 502921. The extended requirements also state that all new-build and materially altered properties in England should have a CO alarm installed wherever a fuel burning 30 June 2022
Testing and maintenance All landlords will also be required to repair or replace alarms when they are notified of a fault. Regular alarm testing will remain the residents’ responsibility but the landlord must ensure that every alarm in the property is working correctly at the beginning of each new tenancy.
“New legislation is expected to come into force in England shortly, with no grace period for compliance.” appliance is present (excluding cookers), as per the Building Regulations. Any CO alarm installed must comply with BS EN 50291-12; this standard shows that the alarms have been extensively tested to ensure their quality, including sensor reaction times, minimum alarm sound levels and temperature resistance. Landlords can use either battery or mains-powered alarms in their properties in order to meet the requirements stated in the updated legislation. There is no requirement for CO alarms to be interconnected with a property’s existing smoke alarms, although this remains an option if the landlord wishes to do so. Requirements for smoke alarms The requirements for smoke alarms in social housing are to be aligned with the private rented sector to improve fire safety for all
tenants. Social landlords will be required to install at least one smoke alarm on each storey of their property where a room is used for living accommodation. Most social landlords already exceed the proposed requirements by installing smoke alarms as per BS 5839-6:2019+A1:20203. Any smoke alarms installed must comply with BS EN 146044.
British standards For fire alarm installation, it is recommended to follow BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020. The standard lists three categories of system to describe the level of protection that provide – generally, the higher the category of system, the higher the level of protection. For CO alarms, it is recommended to follow BS EN 50292 for installation. The standard states that CO alarms should be installed in any room that has any fuel-burning appliances; rooms where people spend the most time (such as a living room); rooms where people sleep; and any room that has a flue running through it. This means that CO can be detected from all potential sources and the alarm will be heard throughout the property. This new legislation is expected to come into force in England shortly, with no grace period for compliance. n
Bibliography * www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-charter-for-social-housingresidents-social-housing-white-paper 1 BS EN 50292:2013 – Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises, caravans and boats. Guide on the selection, installation, use and maintenance 2 BS EN 50291-1:2018 – Gas detectors. Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises. Test methods and performance requirements 3 BS 5839-6:2019+A1:2020 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. 4 BS EN 14604:2005 – Smoke alarm devices
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A sustainably sensible heating solution There’s a heat pump solution for most homes, says LG’s Heating Products sales manager Peter Spurway – and the price of running one can now be less than that of a gas boiler.
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here will always be more than one solution to renewable heating. While boiler manufacturers are understandably pushing the benefits of hydrogen – and there will be room for it in various formats in the future – the case has already been proven for heat pumps to deliver heating and hot water in countries with climates that are far more testing than ours. Most importantly, it’s available now and seeing a huge increase in interest Heat pumps, particularly air-to-water models, have seen huge take-up in northern Europe, Scandinavia and Canada, all of which experience lower temperatures than we do in the UK, and they seem set to grow in importance here. Air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) systems – monoblocs or splits – provide a variety of proven energy-saving options for heating and hot water. Replacing a traditional gas, oil, or solid fuel system with an AWHP can significantly reduce carbon emissions and energy usage. And they can operate successfully at low temperatures. Split vs monobloc The terms split and monobloc refer to how the system is set up in the home. A monobloc is a bit like a combi boiler and is a single-block system, in which all the components are inside one unit outside the property, with a separate hot water cylinder inside. Monoblocs do not use refrigerants and so installers do not need F-Gas qualifications to fit them. A split heat pump unit has both an outside unit, which incorporates the heat exchanger and refrigerant, and an internal unit which sits inside the property, usually in a utility or boiler room. Most UK homes are ideal for a monobloc heat pump, while a split system is an option generally for more complex installations – it
can be installed up to 30m away from the home. According to the MCS Installation Standard, lowtemperature AWHPs produce an indoor heat exchanger outlet temperature of 35°C, mediumtemperature produce an outlet temperature of 55°C and high-temperature 65°C. These systems don’t produce water as hot as a traditional boiler will, as they generally only reach around 50°C at a maximum. Air source heat pumps are perfectly suited to new-build homes that tend to be well insulated. To be at their most effective, they operate well with either larger capacity K3 design radiators or a higher number of radiators and/or underfloor heating. High-temperature heat pumps are designed for poorly insulated or particularly large properties and those where replacing existing radiators or improving the insulation isn’t possible. These heat pumps can heat water up to 80°C. Now cheaper to run For the first time, efficient heat pumps are now cheaper to run than gas boilers, mainly because gas prices have increased more than those for electricity. This new analysis comes from RAP – The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) – an independent organisation dedicated to accelerating the transition to a clean, reliable, and efficient energy future. With a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3, a heat pump starts to become cheaper to run than a gas boiler. In the past, a COP of around 3.7 was required to achieve the same running costs. Heating with a gas boiler will cost households an average of £934 per year, up from £579. A very efficient heat pump will cost £723 per year, up from £536 per
LG’s R32 Monobloc S eliminates the need for refrigerant pipework. Hydronic components like the improved plate heat exchanger, the expansion tank, water pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, air vent valve and safety valve are all built in into the outdoor unit – pre-installed and ready to run. year. For the average household, that’s a 27 per cent saving of £261 per year. A COP of 3 can be relatively easily achieved by an AWHP and 4 or above is possible for very well-designed systems. We believe it’s possible to achieve a COP of around 4.5 if the system installed is designed properly. We know that when heat pumps perform below these levels, it is often the result of poor design, installation and maintenance. This is an important tipping point and can make the case for heat pumps even stronger as the volatile price of gas continues to increase.
Higher prices for gas and electricity help no one but the prices reflect the global issues that confront the costs surrounding fossil fuels. While electricity is needed to run heat pumps, their ability to deliver up to four-and-a-half times as much energy in the form of heat and hot water as they consume clearly makes them a very serious option to traditional gas and oil-fired boilers. The impending ban on fitting gas boilers in new-build properties from 2025 looks ever more likely to be rolled out to replacement heating systems in existing homes as well. ■ www.lg.com/uk/heating-awhp www.gassaferegister.co.uk 33
REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | HEAT PUMPS
What’s on the horizon? Martyn Bridges, director of Technical Communication at Worcester Bosch, looks at where we are with the roll-out of heat pumps and what might change in the coming months.
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eat pumps are certainly making the headlines currently: stories about heat pumps and hydrogen seem to be appearing every day in the newspapers. They have had various degrees of success in uptake, and it looks for sure that, by 2025, most new-build homes are highly likely to contain a heat pump of some description. I would not say it is guaranteed, but there is a strong likelihood, which means that straight away we are looking for 200,000250,000 heat pumps being specified. That’s the easiest change to make: adding a heat pump is easier in brand new homes, where space can be allocated for all the equipment as part of the specification. It is less clear what is going
1 34advert.indd June 2022
to happen in existing homes, and this is where heating engineers will be interested as most of their work is in these older properties. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme promises that 30,000 heat pumps a year for the next three years will receive a £5,000£6,000 contribution towards the cost of installation. As generous as this is, with only 30,000 grants available per year, the money will run out and applications will be turned down. Tough sell Heat pumps in an unfunded or grant-assisted applications are a tougher sell. They cost anything from £10,000 to £15,000 and sometimes more, so to see those heat pumps retrofits growing to 600,000
annually by 2028 [the government’s stated ambition] looks extremely challenging. There is hope that costs will come down: the government has pinned its policy proposals on a 50 per cent reduction in heat pump costs. However, I cannot foresee that much of a reduction. Raw material prices are rising on a weekly basis. Many of the same components that a boiler uses – heat exchangers, circulating pumps and mild steel casings – are also used to manufacture heat pumps. That’s why it is unrealistic to see costs cut by 50 per cent. There will have to be some other form of contribution from the government or some other policy intervention. A push towards heat pumps without policy intervention could result
in losing votes by asking homeowners to buy something that costs five times more than their current technology. That could lose an election. We know that heat pumps are a great technology and they really are here to stay. They provide a reliable source of heating and hot water but they are just so expensive in comparison to a boiler that it is difficult to see high implementation in the long term without some policy intervention. It looks unlikely that heat pump sales will increase to the 600,000 or 700,000 a year that the government is looking for in less than six years’ time. But we will continue to monitor movement and changes as we move towards that goal. ■
18/10/2021 15:40
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eat pumps are included in the H3 product list of Rinnai’s present and future lowcarbon products. H3 stands for hydrogen, hybrid and heat pump. The H3 line of products builds on its high-efficiency hydrogen blend-ready and BioLPG-ready molecule powered systems. Monobloc air source heat pumps are available in variants ranging from 4kW to 110kW. Up to seven units can be cascaded together for multiple heat pumps working in tandem, allowing for a level of functioning synchronicity that produces greater operational performance for larger applications. Heat pumps can satisfy domestic through to large commercial hot water and heating requirements, switching between heating, hot water and cooling. The HPI models emit minimum
noise via an installed ultra-low sound capability, making them suitable for areas with prohibitive sound legislation. The company has also introduced a new free carboncost calculation service that can help customers identify a low-carbon, high-efficiency system that’s right for them. The Rinnai Carbon Cost Comparison Form offers a free appraisal of the current hot water delivery system, along with recommendations for reducing the carbon load. It looks at design from a holistic perspective of capital expenditure, operational expenditure and carbon savings. It compares the customer’s current heating system to Rinnai’s low-carbon heating systems. All that’s needed is the current
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | HEAT PUMPS
Installers look to a heat pump future One in four plumbing and heating installers (25 per cent) believe that up to half their business will come from installing heat pumps and hybrid heat pumps in the next five years, according to Daikin UK.
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he company’s latest Installer Confidence Monitor, which surveys members of its Sustainable Home Network, found that nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) see the government’s commitment to net zero and the recent launch of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme as an opportunity for business growth. But nine out of ten (91 per cent) say more must be done to make heat pumps affordable and accessible. More than two-thirds (67 per cent) agree that the government should support hybrid heat pumps as an important transitional technology. Iain Bevan, commercial manager, heating and renewables, says: “It’s
encouraging that Sustainable Home Network installers are seeing the road to net zero as an opportunity, and are confident (91 per cent) about the future of their businesses. “Training is high on the agenda for many, who plan to invest time and money in installation training for both heat pumps (85 per cent) and hybrid heat pumps (51 per cent) over the next 12 months. “Hybrid systems can play a big role in advancing mass market take-up of renewable heating technologies. We believe that including hybrids in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme would help it to reach its full potential.” Daikin UK’s research found that more than half of its
Sustainable Home Network members (55 per cent) would be very likely to recommend a career as a heating installer to friends and family, and four out of five are looking to recruit in the next five years. More than four out of five (87 per cent) agree that educating consumers about renewable options will increase momentum further, while half (53 per cent) believe that homeowners’ understanding of renewable technology is below par at present. Iain Bevan added: “Educating homeowners is an important part of what we do – whether that’s through the housebuilders, social housing providers and energy
suppliers we supply with heat pumps, or through our Sustainable Home Centres. “Becoming a Daikin Sustainable Home Centre is the top tier of Sustainable Home Network membership, whereby we partner with plumbing and heating businesses to create a local heat pump showroom and installer training centre – so we can lead the movement towards a low-carbon future together.” ■ sustainablehomenetwork. daikin.co.uk
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inadvertent closure, so that gas engineers are working in accordance with the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and guidance from Technical Bulletin 118: Safe electrical isolation of gas appliances. Neo’s company Nemo Solutions has been developing Spurlok for two years, having been commended by Electrical Safety First for the concept in 2019. Prototypes have now been devloped and assembled into kits that also contain a padlock, safety tag and permanent marker pen – and you’re invited to test them for yourself. The trial would last for two weeks and involve using a Spurlok prototype on fused units where isolation is required, ie, FREE.pdf 16/07/2021 09:45 before and1 during boiler servicing
and installation. You’ll then have an informal discussion and share your opinion on how easy you find it to use, branding and aesthetic appeal, how much you would pay for it, and any potential improvements you’d like to see. All participants will receive a
free Spurlok kit as a thank you when the first manufacturing run has been completed. If you’re interested in taking part, please email: neo@nemosolutionsltd.com • Trial numbers are limited. *UK patent application publication GB2586573
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Arming gas engineers against tool theft As tool theft continues to affect tradespeople, Registered Gas Engineer speaks to Stephen Holland, co-founder of ARMD, a new platform that aims to protect them from thieves.
Q
you are covered 24/7, with tools in transit. We also give you access to security products for the van, protecting your tools with a range of powerful locks, alarms and even smart sensors that automatically call you when someone tries to break in. Then ARMD lets you replace and insure your tools via a tool shop; the replacements are automatically added again to your tool inventory.
Tool theft is still a major problem in the heating and plumbing industry and it isn’t going away, is it? No it isn’t. There is one tool theft every 23 minutes, which equates to approximately 23,000 a year – and that shocking figure is only those that are reported. When tools are stolen, the average daily loss of income is around £350, not including damage to vehicles and reputation. Around half of all tradespeople do not even have insurance to cover them if they suffer a tool loss. We have also heard horror stories about tradespeople who have been unable to claim after a theft has occurred because they were unaware that their insurance policy required them to take their tools out of the van at night.
A
Q A
How can heating engineers protect themselves from tool theft? Ultimately, insurance is the key to protecting your business. We’ve been speaking to tradespeople and we realised that things have to change and insurance has to be easily accessible. Our CEO Devin Chawda was previously at a smart home security business and kept getting asked by installers if they could use the technology in their vans. From this, an idea was born and consequently the ARMD app and website were developed to address the many different pain points that people experience when trying to protect themselves and their tools.
Q A
What are those pain points when it comes to insurance? One major issue is recording your tools in such a way that helps you make a claim when something bad happens. If you don’t do this, then it could delay
Q A
or even stop a claim from being approved. Some tradespeople who make an insurance claim can get caught out because they don’t realise that the value of their tools depreciates over time. Another factor is the speed of claim processing. If you have not recorded your tools anywhere – with a proof of purchase, for instance – then it can be difficult for an insurance company to process the claim, which means you might lose other work while you wait for the result. You also need to consider security products for your van:
some alarms may not go off, especially when the sides of vans are peeled away by thieves to access the interior.
Q A
How can we tackle these issues? We designed ARMD to give people four ways to protect their business: Record, Insure, Protect, Replace. The free tool inventory lets you easily record and see your tools in one place. When you buy a tool, you record it here. The insurance is fit for purpose: you do not have to take tools out of your van at night and
“There’s one tool theft every 23 minutes, which equates to approximately 23,000 a year – and that shocking figure is only those that are reported.”
How much does it cost and how long does it take to claim? The app is free to download and the tool inventory is also free. You can get an instant, no-obligation quote on any tools you own as well. The dedicated tool insurance is underwritten by Royal Sun Alliance and can be bought in-app or online alongside power tools. If you need to make a claim and your tools are in the inventory, you can create and submit a claim report in a few simple steps and submit it to the insurer from the app. There’s no need to talk to a claim handler. One of our latest claims was approved in less than 72 hours. That meant no business was lost and tools could be replaced really quickly.
Q A
What other plans do you have in the pipeline? We are developing our wireless IoT hardware, which will protect your tools while they are in your van. The ARMD smart van alarm uses motion sensors to send immediate phone notifications to tradespeople when their van is attacked, among other security innovations. We hope to launch this in late 2022. ■
• You can find ARMD Ltd on the App Store and Google Play or go to www.armd.uk www.gassaferegister.co.uk 39
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | PRODUCTS
Productnews Navien adds more models to complete NCB range
Condens 7000 WP replaces Worcester’s GB162 V2
Navien has added new highefficiency NCB500 and NCB300 gas boilers to its range, following the recent launch of the NCB700 combi. The new boilers are of the same high-quality construction as the NCB700 and can fit inside a cupboard because of their compact 280mm depth. Each is available as a combi, and there are also system and regular versions of the NCB500. All models can achieve outputs of up to 41kW.
The Condens 7000 WP is the latest commercial boiler from Bosch Commercial & Industrial. It replaces the Worcester Bosch GB162 V2, with a new design developed to reduce installation time by up to 60 per cent. The range is available as a single boiler or a cascade pack, to suit a wide variety of system outputs and hydraulic requirements. A new frame kit design makes installation straightforward with minimal tools required and the PCB is easily accessible. The Condens 7000 WP is available in 50kW, 65kW, 85kW, 100kW, 125kW and 145kW. Boilers can be cascaded up to 860kW, so that heat will still be available when a boiler needs to be serviced. The series is suitable for larger domestic properties as well as commercial, hybrid and communal solutions. Simon Tarr, national projects director, says: “Our new range has been developed with installers’ time in mind. “We have taken the complexity
The NCB500 provides lots of hot water, with no changes in temperature or flow rate. It has a built-in, text-driven digital display panel, is simple to program and use, includes a two-channel timer and allows users to monitor their energy usage easily. It comes in outputs of 37kW and 41kW and has a keyless filling link for repressurising. The NCB300 is a pared down version of its larger cousins, in outputs of 28kW, 37kW and 41kW. Models come with an LCD control panel for comprehensive management of heating and hot water temperatures. As with the NCB700, both the NCB500 and NCB300 are hydrogen-ready and can operate using up to 20 per cent hydrogen. National business manager Jason Davies says: “These two new models complete the range. We can now offer exceptional boilers capable of fitting inside a cupboard with ease, without compromising on energy efficiency or performance.” www.navien.co.uk
away from each step of the product journey. When specifying, each pack contains all the base components required, sitting under one part number. “Packs are available as either a single pack or cascades of multiple boilers with various hydraulic options. The installation is very intuitive and shows a real evolution to cascade frames.” www.bosch-thermotechnology. com/gb/en/commercialindustrial/condens7000
Simple boiler replacement with Viessmann’s new heat pumps
Heat pumps get their own magnetic filter
Viessmann has launched two new monobloc air source heat pumps, which it says are easy to install and ideal for replacing boilers. The Vitocal 150-A and Vitocal 151-A are available with outputs of 10kw, 13kW and 16kW. The wall-mounted Vitocal 150-A and the floor-standing Vitocal 151-A have a high maximum flow temperature of 70°C (at an outside temperature down to -10 °C), meaning that in most cases they can use existing radiators. Both integrate previously separate system elements in the indoor unit, reducing installation time, and use the same control platform as Viessmann’s boilers. The Vitocal 151-A has a built-in 190 litre DHW cylinder and both heat pumps take up 60 per cent less space in the home. The buffer tank, expansion vessel, and overflow valve – which usually have to be installed and connected separately – are integrated in the indoor unit. Installation training courses are available now through the Viessmann Academy.
Intatec has launched what it says is the first specialist magnetic filter for heat pump systems. The IntaKlean HP magnetic filter has been specifically engineered for use with heat pumps, which have different flow rates, operating pressures and can require greater levels of protection than traditional heating systems. As well as separating magnetic debris and trapped air in circulating system fluid, the IntaKlean HP includes a direct filtration system containing a multi-layered stainless steel 300 micron fine gauze. System debris that is carried in the fluid is actively forced directly into the filter, separated from the fluid and captured by the filter, while ferrous particles are taken care of by the strong internal magnet. Intatec MD Stuart Gizzi says: “We believe this is the first filter
specifically designed for heat pump installation and certainly the first that features direct filtration. “This is the ideal solution to costly and unnecessary system breakdowns caused by both magnetic and non-ferrous particulate in central heating systems.” The IntaKlean HP can be serviced without having to drain the system. www.intatec.co.uk/product/ intaklean-2/ www.gassaferegister.co.uk 41
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | PRODUCTS
Productnews Lock up electrical safety with Martindale Electric
Modutherm adds to commercial boiler range
Martindale Electric’s lock-out kits make it easy to ensure that all types of circuit can be safely isolated before maintaining plant and equipment. The range starts with the LOKKITBASE and extends to the LOKKITPRO, which enable circuits to be locked off once de-energised, ensuring safe maintenance schedules and compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations.
The Genesis FS ULTRA is Modutherm’s latest range of floor-standing gas boilers. Suitable for larger commercial heating applications, including schools, offices, retail outlets, hotels or heat networks, the flagship FS ULTRA is available in eight models, with outputs ranging from 334kW to 2,666kW from a single unit, or cascade installations up to 16 boilers. All models can operate at a ΔT up to 30°C and 6-bar pressure, and with turndown ratios up to 30:1. The boiler range delivers durability and efficiencies up to 109 per cent thanks to a stainless steel heat exchanger, and the premix burner provides high flame retention and stability. The FS ULTRA range has a low water content design for rapid heat-up times as well as reduced fuel consumption. The design keeps unit weights and dimensions to a minimum, making them suitable for roof-top plant room installation and where space is at a premium. The FS ULTRA heat exchanger has a five-year guarantee, and an extended 10-year parts and labour guarantee is available with an annual Modutherm service plan. www.modutherm.co.uk
LOKKITBASE and LOKKIT2PLUS kits include standard miniature circuit breaker (MCB) locking-off devices, and the small LOK10 and LOK11 for when access is limited. The kits include a PAD10R padlock with a unique key, plus a marker pen and tags to ensure immediate and clear identification of circuits, work areas and people. Each lock is supplied with just one key, to ensure the circuit cannot be unlocked inadvertently by another user. The LOKKITPRO is suitable for industrial and commercial sites. It provides a locking-off solution for all sites and applications from MCBs with integrated test buttons through old-style fuse holders, to switchgear requiring a cable-lock approach. www.martindale-electric.co.uk
Keep up to date with your app In these fast-moving times your Registered Gas Engineer app can help you stay up to date with all the latest news, wherever you are. We’ve made important updates to your FREE app. So please make sure you choose ‘Update’ at your app store to unlock some great new features. Stay up to date – choose Latest News Feeds to see the latest news from Gas Safe Register and around the industry PLUS the newest products and jobs.
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42 June 2022
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recruitment.bcs@baxi.co.uk * subject to location
GAS ENGINEER (WHITE GOODS) Gas Engineer (White Goods) required for busy Domestic Appliance Sales and Repairs company based in Harrow. Working from home covering London and the Home Counties. Training will be given on unfamiliar brands
You must have experience of installing and repairing gas cookers and hobs together with CCN1 and CKR1 gas qualifications. As a Gas Engineer (White Goods) you will have excellent customer service/organisational skills and ability to work on own initiative. In return we offer remuneration of between £40,000 and £50,000 per annum (depending on experience) this is including a bonus based on parts fitted to complete a call first time. Company Pension Scheme and an £800.00 per annum bonus for good attendance. A company van will be provided (available for personal use), together with a mobile phone/PDA and full uniform (including PPE and safety equipment). Please be aware we do not fix or service boilers or heating systems, this position is to repair white goods appliances only.
Please apply for the position of Gas Engineer (White Goods) with your current CV to dan.george@capitalrepairs.co.uk or call 0208-866-6699
Head Office: Telephone: Facsimile:
Units 2/4 Superabbey Industrial Estate, Off Beddow Way, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7BH 01622 717177 01622 790348
A RARE OPPORTUNITY exists for an AMBITIOUS CATERING EQUIPMENT ENGINEER The current Directors of Keemlaw Ltd, Derrick and Harry Law have run the business for over 50 years and unfortunately need to retire. Because Keemlaw has some excellent staff who have been with us 25 plus years, we would prefer the business to continue in its present form rather than sell it. To do this we need a skilled Catering Equipment Engineer to head up the Installation and Service side of the business and become our Technical Services Manager. In order to keep travelling to site times down to an hour, Keemlaw generally operates only in and around Kent. Keemlaw is a well-established and respected business in its own freehold property comprising:– Offices/ Shop/Warehouse/Fabrication Workshop/ Wood Workshop/Service Workshop. We have a complete range of Skills required to support the Hospitality Industry from designing and fitting an empty shell, to supplying teaspoons. The successful applicant is likely to have Gas or Electric qualifications and experience in Catering Equipment Installation and/or Service. If you would like to find out more, please telephone for an appointment with Derrick Law at Aylesford 01622 717177 Please make the appointment for an evening or weekend if you want it to be confidential.
NATIONWIDE
Gas | Electrical | Plumbing | Renewables | OFTEC Oil
ACCREDITATION THAT COUNTS We have been delivering building services qualifications since 2004 with a commitment to quality and innovation.
Find an Approved Centre for your next course LCLawards.co.cuk | 020 8839 2439
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NATIONWIDE
Learn from a company that has over 100 years experience.
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Viessmann Academy
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Tel: 01952 675032 Email: academy-uk@viessmann.com
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Online course booking: www.viessmanninstallerportal.co.uk
Book your place at a time to suit LONDON AND SOUTH EAST
Training Services
A friendly and professional service for all your Electrical and Gas Training and Assessment requirements.
We offer short courses in the following
Electrical Part P full scope 17th Edition Pat Testing
Basic electrical safety Essential electrics
ACS for Natural Gas and LPG All Domestic elements All Industrial/Commercial elements Commercial Catering Elements Mobile Catering Commercial Laundry Commercial Meters Emergency Service Providers Flue Gas Analyser
(Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment) (Initial and Re Assessment)
Other Courses Unvented Hot Water Systems Water Regulations Energy efficiency Plumbing to Gas Engineering
New Entrant Basic Gas Utilization Course For Domestic or Industrial / Commercial Training Needs Analysis Bespoke Training and Assessment courses for Managers/Landlords/Agents
Legionella Water Hygiene Oil Basic Pipe Skills Basic Understanding of Central Heating Systems 1 Day Gas Safety Awareness
For further information on any of our courses please
Fax 01322 Phone 01322 524 792 Email paul.chambers@egtrainingservices.co.uk
310 223
EG Training Services Ltd - 3 Mulberry Court - Bourne Industrial Park Bourne Road - Crayford - DA1 4BF
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LONDON AND SOUTH EAST
Boiler Breakdown and Fault Finding
PLUS Parts Replacement and Service Course Learn how to repair ALL types of combi/system boilers PLUS way, PLUS MUST know
NEW
• Parts Replacement and Service Day – get hands-on experience removing and replacing boiler parts • Parts and Service days – max 3 people • Both courses can also be booked 1 on 1 to suit you • Company discounts available
WOODYS TRAINING Special offers on the day, FREE tea & coffee all day. FREE parking. LOOK ON WEBSITE FOR DISCOUNT CODES
www.boiler-training.co.uk
Online shop at www.boiler-training.co.uk/shop
Tel: 01375 841804 Mob: 07958 783 681 Email: info@boiler-training.co.uk Woodys Training, Unit 62c Thames Industrial Park, Princess Margret Road, East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8RH
BTAAC offer a full range of Domestic and Commercial Gas training and re-assessments in a well-equipped training facility at very competitive prices.
the co origi urs na e l
Give us a call and we will help you:
ACS, NG, LPG Domestic, Commercial, Industrial Safe Electrical Isolation Un-vented Hot Water & Water Regs
· All ACS Domestic Gas – core + appliances ·All ACS Commercial Gas including CMDDA1,BMP1,LPG · Unvented Hot Water & Water Regs · Essential Electrics & Heating Controls · Highly knowledgeable trainers with years of experience
Training & Assessment Specialists For more information and to book your course contact us on:- Email: sarah.bygraves@bromleytraining.co.uk Telephone: 0208 315 5678 Bromley Training & Assessment Centre (BTAAC) Unit 4 Ashgrove Industrial Estate Ashgrove Road, Bromley Kent, BR1 4JW
• • • • • •
Domestic gas & appliances Commercial gas Commercial catering ACS re-assessments New entrants to gas (GGFO) Unvented hot water
• • • •
Water regulations LPG changeover Legionella 18th Edition Wiring Regulations • Electrical Testing and Inspection
020 8394 3280 gascentre @ nescot.ac.uk Reigate Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT17 3DS
✔ FREE PA R K I N G ✔ COMPETITIVE PRICES ✔ N O V. A .T. ✔ F R I E N D LY S TA F F
www.nescot.ac.uk
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LONDON AND SOUTH EAST
Celebrating 25 years of Quality Training & Assessments in Gas, Electrics, Plumbing & Heating and renewables Gas Training & Assessment Ltd Basildon, Essex SS13 1EU
1997 - 2022 Water Regulations
Gas Safe Register number 170909
For more information visit www.gas-training-and-assessment.co.uk Telephone 01268 727797 Email gastraining@btconnect.com MIDLANDS G.T.A 1/8 page.indd 1
SOUTH WEST
Primary Assessments
15/12/2021 14:51
EXTENDED HOURS AND SAFETY DUE TO COVID-19
Offering training and assessments in: DomesCc Gas Commercial Gas LPG
Unvented Hot Water Water Regs Legionella
OFTEC Oil
For all enquiries please contact our team: 0115 9201144 ptas44@aol.com
No3ngham, NG5 6BB
www.primaryassessments.co.uk
F-Gas training for air-con, refrigeration and Heatpumps Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre, Block 3, Studio 6. Walkers Rise, Rugeley Road, Hednesford, WS12 0QU One Planet Renewables offer in depth F-Gas training at level 3, Categories I - IV
WHAT WE OFFER
Serving London and the surrounding counties. With over 27 years training through expertise. Over 10,000 engineers through our doors. State of the art facilities. A name you can trust.
* 3 Day Introduction to F-Gas * 5 Day Category 1, Level 3 F-Gas * 1 Day F-Gas Servicing Course * 1 Day Essential Basic Electrical Course * Hot Water Systems and safety (Inc. Unvented) * Flammable Refrigerants (Hydrocarbons) * WRAS water regulations * Energy Efficiency * Oxy-fuel brazing
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US: 07828 144258 oneplanetrenewables@gmail.com www.oprtraining.co.uk
• All domestic and commerical gas qualifications covered. • All LPG qualifications covered. • A large range of electrical qualifications covered.
• All solid fuel qualifications covered.
COMING SOON HEAT PUMP COURSES WEEKEND ASSESSMENTS
• All domestic and commerical Oftec oil qualifications covered. • Hot Water Systems & Safety • WRAS Water Regulations. • System controls.
www.gastectraining.co.uk
01784 246 247 ENQUIRIES@GASTECTRAINING.CO.UK
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)
SOUTH WEST PENINSULAR TRAINING LTD Westover Trading Estate Langport, Somerset TA10 9RB Tel: 01458 253493 Email:info@swptraining.co.uk www.swptraining.co.uk
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REGISTERED GAS ENGINEER | COMPETITION
Competition Win PipeSnug goodies Wor and core drill set th
£35 0+
We’ve teamed up with Dragons’ Den winners PipeSnug to offer a great prize bundle to one lucky Registered Gas Engineer reader.
Your chance to win
P
ipeSnug and FlueSnug are the only pipe seals and collars that provide an all-in-one solution to sealing pipework and flues where they enter and exit the building – without the need for sealant, mortar or expensive air sealing tape. They meet the forthcoming requirements under Part L of the Building Regulations to seal around pipework inside and outside the building. The products form an airtight seal against the wall where pipes enter and exit and, because heating engineers don’t need to mix any mortar or use sealant, they
save time, money and mess while keeping warmth in and energy costs down for homeowners. PipeSnug caught the eye of TV entrepreneurs Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones on Dragons’ Den in March, when co-founders Alex and Chris appeared on the hit show: the Dragons saw the potential and made an offer to invest in the company. Now it’s your chance to try PipeSnug and FlueSnug for yourself, as endorsed by Worcester Bosch, Ideal Heating, ATAG and major boiler manufacturers. www.pipesnug.co.uk
You could win a Makita power tool, Marcrist core drill and a PipeSnug kit, including FlueSnug, which is designed for use on 100mm boiler flues internally and externally. For your chance to win this prize bundle, all you have to do is answer the following question correctly: PipeSnug’s founders Chris and Alex recently appeared on which TV show? A) Ready Steady Cook B) Homes Under the Hammer C) Dragons’ Den Send your answer, plus your name, address and registration number to competition@ registeredgasengineer.co.uk One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received by the closing date of Thursday 30 June 2022.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS By entering this prize draw, you agree to these terms and conditions: • Registered Gas Engineer and PipeSnug do not accept responsibility for lost, delayed, corrupted or invalid entries. • The winner will be chosen at random from all correct answers submitted in accordance with these terms and conditions. • The winner will be notified by email. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. • The prize cannot be substituted or upgraded.
• The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. • Registered Gas Engineer and PipeSnug 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 PipeSnug, Gas Safe Register or Registered Gas Engineer or their direct family members or agents. • Registered Gas Engineer and PipeSnug 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 PipeSnug, which may use them for marketing purposes. By entering this competition, you agree that you may receive communications from PipeSnug. If you do not wish to be contacted, please add NO COMMUNICATIONS in your email entry.
www.gassaferegister.co.uk 47
Whatever you win, you’re sure to be going places. With everything from cash to an incredible holiday up for grabs – and targets tailored to your business – isn’t it time you got involved? Get started now. Scan the QR code or visit glow-worm.co.uk/mysterytrip