New NH law?

Al K._2

The last oil-to gas conversion I did, the fire dept. inspector was more concerned with emergency swithes and other electrical issues (electrical work, except for boiler termination/pumps/controls, done by "others") than the gas piping and testing.

I agree the inspectors need to know what's required to make this all worthwile. We can only hope...

Thanks,
Al K.

Guy_6

Sad

Following is an excerpt from www.AmiliasLaw.org, a website dedicated to the safety of.....well, everyone. I have ties to the Lakes Region so this caught my attention.


Welcome to Amilia's Law
During a tranquil evening at their vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee, the Luhrmann family was watching a movie; they turned on their dryer to finish the laundry. Without warning, due to an improperly repaired and open gas line, the house was rocked by a massive explosion, felt for miles around. With continuing explosions, in minutes, a raging inferno consumed their entire 3-story home. Five year-old Amilia was killed and the lives of the surviving Luhrmann family members were altered forever.

If your New Hampshire home uses natural or propane gas, you and your family may also be at risk. That's because in New Hampshire, unlike other states, workers hired by your builder or contractor are not required to be trained and licensed, to work on potentially explosive gas systems.

Amilia's Law, formally known as House Bill #1711 , would end this hidden threat to your New Hampshire home or rental. Join concerned citizens and property owners in supporting Bill #1711, to require all workers handling fuel gas be properly trained and licensed.

jim lockard

Lets hope

that they require testing and training for everyone and not just grandfather all the bozo's. J.Lockard

lchmb

Living here

I hate to say it, but I do not see the law doing anything other than making someone get a piece of paper. What does it take to get a license? What is considered acceptable training? How much will be required? And as Jim pointed out, will they simply grandfather everyone in?

In the case of the Amila's, I pray the family can find some peace from what happened. There were a lot of mistakes made by alot of people. It does prove that safety is our first and biggest priority!!

Unknown

I know exactly

what kind of training they need. The problem is no one will bother to institute that sort of program.

The program I am now conducting for the State of RI covers everything you need to know to work on gas equipment both service and installation.

brucewo1b

NH Law

I am told that they are trying to get just plumbers grandfathered and unnfortunatly I have had more training than most plumbers when it comes to gas and combustion. Don't get me wrong I know of some plumbers that have training but for the most part not really.

B.S.

lchmb

That's my point

I agree with Bruce, grandfathering someone in does nothing. I cannot tell you how many home's I go to, because the plumber "setup" a boiler and told the owner to contact his supplier for testing. We find them all the time that have been running for weeks with the wrong nozzle, or in one case I had, NO nozzle.

In the case of gas, I find them that have never been fully converted or they replaced the orifice and never changed the gas valve over. I am not saying all plumber's, I see guys on here all the time that do some outstanding work, and they test and do setup system's. But in my area of NH I don't believe the average plumber would have a clue what he's doing. Or they or their company does not want that responsibility.

In the case of Amelia Luhrmann, they had a worker in to do some renovations to the house. He cut the gas line to the stove, and shut the tank off and notified his employer. The employer attempted to contact the owner of the home and failed to get anyone. Now if they had notified the supplier and they had removed the regulator and capped the tank, we would not be discussing this. I work for a supplier and we take any and all call's to this nature very serious. Our first step is to secure the tank and tag it. We also tag the front door and attempt to notify the owner's of the situation.

As to a license, I can agree with it 100%, and requiring a a minimum amount of training also. If and when they (state of NH) can get someone in to set up a system that make's sure you know what your doing. If they simply create a "license" and you pay 20 buck's a year, what does it do? If everyone who tinker's with it now can say they are grandfathered then it will be another 30 years before it does any good. That's just my .02 cents on the subject.

Guy_6

Agree

I agree to a point, but what other option is there? Licensing is at least the first step towards a safer world. Yes, it has become a revenue generator, but if you make someone have to exert SOME effort to perform their daily job, perhaps it will weed out some of the hackers.

I have my CDL, which costs me dearly to renew, but I have had training and years of experience. Yet joe college student can rent a 26 foot truck and roam the highways as long as he has a credit card. As can the octegenerian who had difficulty getting a Buick around town, yet will buy a 30 foot motor home and head south. The laws and rules are there, but MONEY will always shape them and allow loopholes.
Like most of us here, I choose to do it right, play by the rules, and sleep well at night knowing that I do.

Al K._2

licensing

I also am in NH, and my impression is that a person would need to at least complete some specific training modules. No straight grandfathering. And, this licensing isn't being pushed by the Plumbing board but through the Fire Marshall's and Attorney General's offices (at least according to those I've spoken with).

I agree that cash-for-paper licensing won't change anything for many years. Hopefully enough enforcement will be supplied to assure compliance. Perhaps the wholesalers and "youcandoit" retailers could collect and channel permit fees at the time of sale (for water heaters,etc.) much like sales taxes are handled?

Thanks,
Al K.

Al K._2

licensing

I also am in NH, and my impression is that a person would need to at least complete some specific training modules. No straight grandfathering. And, this licensing isn't being pushed by the Plumbing board but through the Fire Marshall's and Attorney General's offices (at least according to those I've spoken with).

I agree that cash-for-paper licensing won't change anything for many years. Hopefully enough enforcement will be supplied to assure compliance. Perhaps the wholesalers and "youcandoit" retailers could collect and channel permit fees at the time of sale (for water heaters,etc.) much like sales taxes are handled?

Thanks,
Al K.

lchmb

curious Al

How many time's have you gone to the local fire department to pull a permit and have the "inspector" ask you if everything was to code? That's really my biggest issue, I just wish I knew a way to make it work. If they could hire in people with experience then it may make a difference. I'll have to try and keep up with this, this is the first I have heard of it.

Al K._2

Inspection

The last oil-to gas conversion I did, the fire dept. inspector was more concerned with emergency swithes and other electrical issues (electrical work, except for boiler termination/pumps/controls, done by "others") than the gas piping and testing.

I agree the inspectors need to know what's required to make this all worthwile. We can only hope...

Thanks,
Al K.

tony the tech

Hey Tim,
What kind of program are you working on for RI??
-Tony

tony the tech

Hey Tim,
What kind of program are you working on for RI??
-Tony

S Ebels

Grandfathered

That's what happened here in Michigan in 1984. If you could show that you were actively engaged in the trade prior to the effective date of the legislation, you didn't have to take any tests. You didn't have to prove you were competent in any way shape or form. They just gave (sold) you a license. We are still dealing with the effects of that yet today, 20 years later. There are gobs of guys in their 40's-50's who still don't have a clue. The fact that you have a license doesn't mean you are any good at what you do. Sad but true.