Gas installation query

[MtB]

Iain,

 

Back at the start of the BSS examiner training in 1996 CORGI were up in arms about examiners not CORGI registered "working" on the gas systems of boats. This work was using a manometer to test system soundness. The then chief exec. of BW was persuaded that, on private boats, the examiner training course and subsequent assessment was sufficient to ensure competence in this testing, and as private boats were outside the scope of the GSI&U regs. he stood behind the BSS and I am led to believe told CORGI and HSE that examiners were not required to be registered. HSE/CORGI disagreed and when a court case loomed the then deputy Prime Minister, in 1997, (so my "deep throat" says) intervened and came down on BW/BSS's side.

 

When did logic ever have anything to do with the drafting of regulations?

 

Paul M

 

That's interesting.

 

This would explain the issue of the new 1998 version of the GSIUR, with the definitions of the scope of the regulations at the start, saying specifically they cover residential boats but not leisure boats. I wonder if the preceding version of the regs was silent on this point, hence allowing the CORGI objection and the court case. The dates certainly fit.

 

Mike

[Radiomariner]

Iain,

 

Back at the start of the BSS examiner training in 1996 CORGI were up in arms about examiners not CORGI registered "working" on the gas systems of boats. This work was using a manometer to test system soundness. The then chief exec. of BW was persuaded that, on private boats, the examiner training course and subsequent assessment was sufficient to ensure competence in this testing, and as private boats were outside the scope of the GSI&U regs. he stood behind the BSS and I am led to believe told CORGI and HSE that examiners were not required to be registered. HSE/CORGI disagreed and when a court case loomed the then deputy Prime Minister, in 1997, (so my "deep throat" says) intervened and came down on BW/BSS's side.

 

When did logic ever have anything to do with the drafting of regulations?

 

Paul M

 

That is exactly my understanding also.

It was me who mentioned "Jobs for the boys" earlier in this thread. (I wish I hadn't) It was a refrence to the original objections by Corgi registered fitters. Agreed, if an examiner actually worked on a gas system there would justifyably be safety issues as he is not trained to do so. However the examiners gas tightness training and assessment is run by the same people at the training establishment in Evsham. It includes removing, replacing and testing the test nipple screw afterwards. (Someone mentioned the older "fibre" washers which examiners may not know about. They do know about them, and BSS freely supply examiners with replacement washers).

Now where many examiners are allowed to check out "commercial" and "residential"boats they can still check out the gas system, ie check that all connections are properly made, burners work correctly etc etc., it is only removing the screw on the gas nipple that is considered to be "work" that they are not permitted to do. I honestly believe that removing and replacing this screw for a test can hardly be called "working on the system" However, I accept the situation and loose jobs because of it.

[pmms]

That is exactly my understanding also.

It was me who mentioned "Jobs for the boys" earlier in this thread. (I wish I hadn't) It was a refrence to the original objections by Corgi registered fitters. Agreed, if an examiner actually worked on a gas system there would justifyably be safety issues as he is not trained to do so. However the examiners gas tightness training and assessment is run by the same people at the training establishment in Evsham. It includes removing, replacing and testing the test nipple screw afterwards. (Someone mentioned the older "fibre" washers which examiners may not know about. They do know about them, and BSS freely supply examiners with replacement washers).

Now where many examiners are allowed to check out "commercial" and "residential"boats they can still check out the gas system, ie check that all connections are properly made, burners work correctly etc etc., it is only removing the screw on the gas nipple that is considered to be "work" that they are not permitted to do. I honestly believe that removing and replacing this screw for a test can hardly be called "working on the system" However, I accept the situation and loose jobs because of it.

Alan

 

I trained at Berkshire college of agriculture in '96, they had a department dedicated to marine engineering and swung fully behind BSS examiner training, their lpg training was first class, the workshop having a petrol inboard cruiser, an outboard cruiser and a 50'(ish) narrowboat to instruct and assess on. The workshop tech was adept at modifying these boats, so that what you saw during the practical instruction phase had been changed when you came to the boat during the assessment. They also had a gas system laid out along the workshop wall that could be modified to include non compliant items as required. Examining the gas system and testing correctly was assessed rigorously.

 

The training we received, was I believed very thorough, as was the cpd we did 5 yrs later. It was a great shame when the college decided the marine training dept. was no longer viable and closed it down.

 

Paul M