Bldg regs compliance / Interlock

[Luke78]

You understand perfectly, Chris.

I have no intention of "signing off" another persons work; I simply want to be clear about exactly what I need to do to leave the customer with a safe and compliant installation.

It seems from posts above that I can fulfil my professional responsibilities without notifying the installation to building control and, -for the very reasons stated and UNDERLINED by Vee- that is something I would prefer to avoid.

I have been called to a property with 2 appliances that have been turned off and classified "At Risk", and asked by the customer to -if possible- correct the faults and recommission the appliances.

I just want to be clear that if I do that (assuming, as stated above, it is possible) and ONLY that, but do not address the "non Gas-Safe" related defects, that I am not leaving myself open to charges of incompetence or penalties in the event of a future inspection...

 

[Luke78]

Seems our posts crossed there, Vee!
So... Correct the defects, but don't notify to building control as that is the previous "engineer's" responsibility.

 

[Vee]

Yes. Absolutely. Correct defects, but no notification to Building Control. If there is refusal to correct gas safety issues, make sure to get a notice signed by customer. Hopefully they are sensible enough to get the pipework issue addressed.

 

[Luke78]

Thanks Vee!

I also see reading back that I didn't answer this point:

In that vain, did the inspection state the amount of drop on the gas or did you check what it was?
A lot of boiler manufacture allow more than the 1mbar at the boiler but you would need to check the M.I's.

The inspector's report reads: "...inlet working pressure of 17 mbar was recorded at the inlet test point on the Baxi boiler... and operating pressure of 19.76 mbar was recorded at the gas meter".

On the day I visited I tested pressure with boiler in service mode and water gauges connected at the meter and boiler simultaneously; results I got were 20mb at the meter and 18.75mb at the boiler, which is a significantly lower drop than the inspector found, but still exceeds 1 mb.

Take your point re: manufacturer's tolerances but I guess the only way to build a better picture would be to check working pressures at the meter and other appliances in the house (cooker, gas fire); which I have not yet had the opportunity to do.

If there is refusal to correct gas safety issues, make sure to get a notice signed by customer. Hopefully they are sensible enough to get the pipework issue addressed.

Concern is that the customer has recently had a new kitchen fitted and is proving reluctant to let me pull the back out of all of the cupboards to trace the route of the incoming gas pipe! I will continue to press the issue, of course, but if they ultimately refuse, I guess my only option is to turn the supply off and classify the installation "At Risk"... Which leaves them back at square one!