| If your home is heated by gas central heating | | | | work on a gas appliance should be Gas Safe |
| then you should be aware that only a qualified | | | | registered. If they are not registered they are |
| engineer should attempt to undertake any | | | | breaking the law and can be prosecuted. |
| installation, safety checks and routine boiler | | | | The Gas Safe register currently contains over |
| servicing. Gas appliances that are not installed or | | | | 120,000 approved engineers so you should have |
| maintained correctly could prove to be lethal so | | | | little problem finding a qualified engineer. The work |
| there really is no point trying to undertake this | | | | undertaken by the Gas Safe approved engineer is |
| work yourself. | | | | routinely and randomly inspected. Anyone found |
| Until March 2009 qualified heating engineers had to | | | | to be completing sub-standard work is removed |
| be Corgi registered. However, you should be | | | | from the register. |
| aware that in March the Corgi register was | | | | The Gas Safe identification card is an easy way |
| replaced by a new scheme called Gas Safe. The | | | | of identifying if your heating engineer is qualified. |
| Gas Safe register operates in a similar manner to | | | | However, if you do not yet have a heating |
| the Corgi scheme and you should not allow any | | | | engineer or have not chosen the company you |
| engineer to install or service your gas central | | | | wish to undertake your gas installation or |
| heating system unless they can prove they are | | | | maintenance then you can refer to the Gas Safe |
| on the new register. The Corgi scheme is no | | | | website. This website allows you to search from |
| longer recognised by UK law, so always ask to | | | | a database of Gas Safe approved engineers and |
| see your engineers Gas Safe registration card | | | | organisations so you can chose with confidence. |
| before allowing them to start any work. | | | | You should never attempt to undertake this kind |
| Why do I need to use a qualified and approved | | | | of work yourself. This includes not only central |
| engineer? | | | | heating installation and repairs but also fitting gas |
| The register is in place to provide protection for | | | | hobs and ovens. DIY gas installation and servicing |
| yourself, your home and your family. It helps to | | | | can lead to carbon monoxide leaks, which kill |
| ensure that any work done is carried out by a | | | | around 14 people each year. An additional |
| professional person who has been fully trained and | | | | safeguard against carbon monoxide poisoning |
| inspected. This is vital because work not carried | | | | includes buying and fitting a carbon monoxide |
| out correctly can be dangerous and can lead to | | | | detector. Many local councils offer carbon |
| gas leaks and potential explosions. | | | | monoxide detectors free of charge so check with |
| It is actually a legal requirement that anyone | | | | your local authority to see if you are eligible. |
| undertaking any kind of installation or maintenance | | | | |