[Increase]

One of my installers is going self employed. He has only worked on water plumbing and some gas pipework. He has passed his gas qualifications. He wants to go self employed and start his own business.

What will Gas Safe Register ask him on his first home visit? I have heard they ask technical questions and as he has not had much experience will this be a issue?

I didn't have an inspector ask me many questions, this was 9 years ago.

I want to help him get a good start, need advice on the above.

thanks

[plumbing philosopher]

Gas safe register will most likely let your mate on, even if he fails to answer the questions they ask. Gas safe are owned by capita and it is in their interest to sign up as many people as possible.

The thing that is a sad reflection on our industry is that this person, with no gas experience will be become a 'gas safe engineer', this take bonifide gas installers and plumbers four or five years to get.

Furthermore, think of this from the customer's perspective, do they want someone to work on their boiler or gas fire to be:

a) someone with no experience on gas appliances, that has only passed a short assessment and answered a few questions given by a gas inspector.

OR

b) someone who served an apprenticeship, working with gas, then has built up 27 years experience fixing boilers and doing endless manufacturers courses and other cpd (and is registered with a chartered institute, and has engineering qualifications).

The two examples above describe two different installers who would be classed as a gas safe engineer - I know which I would rather have.

This is why our current system, lets down more experienced installers and puts new installers in a dangerous position.

Mark my words, its only a matter of time before we see the death, and accident rate explode in the plumbing and heating sector (in terms of installers themselves and the people they work for).