Gas Safe Register replaces CORGI

Tuesday, 31 March 2009 9:47 AM

The Gas Safe Register will replace CORGI from tomorrow, launching a campaign to make the nation 'gas safe'.

Research from the Gas Safe Register suggests Britons are far too trusting regarding gas safety, with over half those polled saying they never checked whether their gas engineer was registered.

From tomorrow the 'make Britain gas safe' message will be launched, to propound Brits to "be safe, use a registered engineer and always check the card". The Gas Safe Register say, with 14 people dying from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning last year due to badly installed, repaired and maintained gas appliances, keeping the public safe is their top priority.

Pete Eldridge, chief executive of Gas Safe Register, said: "As the new hallmark for gas safety in Great Britain, Gas Safe Register will make it much easier for the public to be gas safe because in the wrong hands, gas can kill. Our message is simple. To keep you and your family safe, always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when you have any gas work done in your home.

"We will raise public awareness of the importance of always asking for the ID card and checking the unique licence number. Different types of gas work require different skills, so it's important that you check the back of the ID card to make sure your engineer is qualified to carry out the work you want them to do."

Gas Safe Register say they will offer the public an improved service making it easier to find and check an engineer. Every Gas Safe registered engineer has a photo ID card with a unique licence number, and details of the work they are qualified to do.

The new register will aim to reduce the number of gas-related deaths and injuries every year caused by incorrectly installed, badly repaired and poorly maintained gas appliances, by raising awareness appliances should be inspected regularly by a qualified engineer. Some 19.05 per cent of households with a gas boiler had not had it serviced for at least three years, according to the research, rather than the recommended once a year.

Leaders Estate Agents, managing director, Paul Weller, said: "There is a risk that some landlords and letting agents may not be aware of these changes, and will continue to use CORGI engineers. If this is the case, the gas safety record issued by them would not be valid and the landlord would be responsible if anything went wrong during the tenancy.

"If your letting agent has not made you aware of these critically important changes, we would urge you to question whether you are using an appropriate agent, and strongly suggest you move to one who specialises in lettings, has decades of experience and is a member of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), and can keep you fully advised. Penalties for not complying with the Gas Installation (Safety and Use) Regulations 1998 for landlords are severe, and include imprisonment."

From April 1st, all work on gas installations or appliances must only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

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