European Codes and Regulations

Andy Byrnes

I can only speak about the regs in the UK not to sure about the rest of Europe but I dont think they are as stricked as ours.

Firstly every 5 years you have to attend and pass writen and practical assesments which are known as ACS. These cover all the main gas appliances and also deals with gas safety. If for example you which to install just gas cookers you will have to pass CCN 1 which covers basic gas safety and dangerous situations and then CKR which covers the installation and service of cooking equipment.

But like myself if you want to work on all appliances you would have to take all the elements which are.

CCN 1 gas safety
CKR cookers
CEN Central heating boilers
WAT water heaters
WAH Warm air heating
Laundry equipment like gas tumble dryers
LPG LPG gas equipment
Range cookers

I have forgotten the codes for some they may come back to me later. The are always looking at increasing the elements and I have heard they will add ones for flue gas analysers and CO investigations.

All the above assesments cost money as well, around £1000 which includes the week you have to take off work to take them.

If you want to work for your self you have to be a member of CORGI this costs £180 per year which includes a visit from a CORGI inspector so you can show him you are competent to work. You can not be CORGI registered unless you have your ACS. The first time you join CORGI there is an extra fee of £200 for administration costs.

The following are competent persons schemes that you must join to install heating.

To install boilers you have to have been on a 1 day course called about energy efficiency. Basicly it tells you why we fit condensing boilers and that we must update the heating controls.This is called Part L

To touch any electrical connections you have to have done Part P. This is about a 4 day course and trains you on installing a fuse spur for a boiler,connecting room stats and other aspects of electrical installations and safety.
This costs about £280 a year to be part just so you can wire up the boilers your self ( some times it is cheaper just to hire an electrician.)

Hope I'm not sending you to sleep keep with me I have nearly finished.

Every new boiler or gas applinace installed has to be notified with CORGI. To notify CORGI you give them your credentials and they will know whether you are competent to do so because they have access to the above information. This then costs you £2.50 and the customer gets a letter saying they have had thier boiler fit by a jolly nice chap who is legal to do so.

You can also notify your installations to the local building control but to be honest its easy through CORGI.

Some manufacters will not visit a boiler unless it has been notified to CORGI. As you can see they are trying to stop illegal installers. But unfortunatly it costs the legal installers more money.

There is also a 1 day course for unvented hot water systems which you have to retake every 5 years. They are getting more popular now especially since the availability of solar panals.

There is some more odd bits but I will stop boring on now. This is just about the jist of it. I am no expert on all the training courses you have to attend and what they are all about, just some one who has to go on them and shell out a lot of money so I can earn a crust.

Hope this helps.

AndyB.

Rich Kontny_3

European Codes and Regulations

With the high quality equipment that comes from Europe and other countries there must also be somewhat stringent licensing or certifications for the craftsmen who install this equipment.

Are there any contractor's or tradesmen who visit the "Wall" willing to share with us how things are done in Europe, Austrailia, Asia etc.?

There must be some firm rules to insure proper installs.

Rich K.

Rich Kontny_3

Not Boring!

Andsom,

I wish you and your counterparts(fellow tradesmen) would jump in more often!So many here in the US seem to tink we are over regulated. Many of us know that strict codes require strict enforcement and therefore higher quality and more efficient equipment.

We have do-it-yourself centers and people overselling themselves. This has and will continue to cause many safety and health problems.Government provides us with the rules and enforcement, however the tax revolt has resulted in a lack of resources to go after violaters.

With energy prices and commodities such as steel and copper skyrocketing we too must have stricter standards and a much better system of enforcement.

We have much to learn yet and appreciate your input!


Rich K.

Make Peace Your Passion!