When it comes to Gas Safe engineers and electrical safety, the rules are changing – from July you will need to prove your electrical competence and knowledge
The subject of Gas Safe engineers and electrical safety has been a hot topic for many years. Modern gas appliances and equipment are almost always powered by electricity, which inevitably means increased risk to the gas engineer when installing, servicing and repairing said appliances.
Therefore, it is not surprising that after years of talks, the gas industry has decided that gas engineers need to make sure that they and their customers remain safe during any works to their home or premises. This will be done by the Gas Safe engineer undertaking safe electrical isolation.
Gas Safe engineers and electrical safety – the new procedure
Starting from July 2020 (planned to be consolidated by July 2025), a Gas Safe engineer working on a gas appliance or installation with a 230 Volt electrical supply will need to undertake appropriate checks before commencing any work or leaving the installation operational. These checks should include ensuring that the appliance is:
- safe to touch
- and/or safe isolation
- and/or electrically dead
This is in line with completing GSIUR Regulation 26(9) checks.
This will be done by changing the Gas Safe requirement process. Anyone who enters or renews their Gas Safe registration via ACS or a GCS (Group Competence Scheme) will be legally required to show that they have the knowledge and competence to safely isolate the electrical supply to a gas appliance.
How will this happen?
Gas engineers will need to prove their competence through self-validation when going through the ACS assessment or reassessment process.
If they don’t feel confident enough to self-validate, they will need to gain the necessary knowledge through self-learning, external or in-house learning.
If you are in a Group Competence Scheme, you will still be expected to undergo competence training from July 2020, as well as technical knowledge checks.
The five year ACS cycle will have been completed by 2025, which means that all Gas Safe registered engineers will have undergone the required checks to ensure they can safely isolate the electrical supply to a gas appliance.
After 2025
There is a possibility that the Standard Setting Body (SSB) will include electrical isolation as part of the practical competence assessment; this is to be determined after consultations with the gas industry.
GTA – ensuring Gas Safe engineers and electrical safety go hand in hand
Gas Training & Assessment has been delivering first class gas training courses for decades. These include IGQ New Entrants courses, LPG courses, refresher training, appliance training and electrical safety. We run certified courses in Electrical Safe Isolation, which are a proof of competency. These courses take place over either a half or full day, dependent on the course chosen.
We are dedicated to making sure that gas engineers gain the knowledge, skills and qualifications to work on gas professionally and safely.
Please call Gas Training & Assessment on 01268 727797 you would like to find out more.
We hope you found our article ‘Gas Safe engineers and electrical safety – new rules’ of interest. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or want to know about Gas Training & Assessment’s range of courses.
