| By :
Martin Hofschroer
Homeowners need to check that plumbers are fully qualified before they undertake gas related jobs. Chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) Blane Judd has expressed his concern that people do not realise that Gas Safe registration on its own is not enough to prove that a plumber is professionally qualified. Some people incorrectly believe that Gas Safe registration covers other aspects of plumbing in addition to handling gas, according to Mr Judd. He said: "Gas Safe registration relates to gas, and only gas. All other aspects of pubic safety relating to plumbing and heating engineering are covered by competencies and qualifications that installers should hold to carry out work safely." The media exposed an under qualified plumber when it was discovered that a widow had been using unhealthy water for two years because an installer had wrongly connected mains taps to a stagnant tank of water after fitting a new boiler. The prospective Labour party candidate for Solihull, Ed Williams took up the case and wrongly urged that there should be an investigation to see if the installer involved was Gas Safe registered. Mr Judd said: "Safe handling of water is an essential part of a professional plumber's training. It is vital that consumers ask to see proof of plumbing qualifications before engaging an installer to carry out any work involving water. "I applaud the efforts of anyone who joins us in our campaign to drive up the standards within the plumbing and heating engineering industry, but urge politicians and others who advise members of the public to remember that Gas Safe registration only covers gas. For everything else consumers must ask to see proof of qualifications or a valid CIPHE membership card." Complex gas installations should only be undertaken by people who have completed gas training courses. Commercial gas courses have been devised for people already working within the gas industry and can provide them with the skills and knowledge to undertake ACS assessment. Training programmes are tailored for holders of Domestic ACS certificates, which require a change over and existing commercial gas operatives. Undertaking commercial gas courses does not automatically entitle a candidate to undertake ACS Assessment; however, a candidate will be assessed in order to establish their progress and suitability to undertake ACS Assessments. CORGI gas registration was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in Britain last year as the official industry stamp for gas safety.
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