'a proper Corgi registered guy'
Discussion
Visual inspection... and a tightness test. As mentioned before, a fitting can become loose when it's previously been gastight. Only 21mB..
Having said that, it's rare. I tend to run a hand over compression/union fittings to see if there's anything obvious.
The bottom line though is that Landlords baulk at servicing and the yearly 'legal' check. Ask them for more money to check the integrity of every joint and they'd cough.
Having said that, it's rare. I tend to run a hand over compression/union fittings to see if there's anything obvious.
The bottom line though is that Landlords baulk at servicing and the yearly 'legal' check. Ask them for more money to check the integrity of every joint and they'd cough.
Oh right, so 'visual inspection' quite literally means looking at the pipework just with your eyes and going "yep, that's a pipe that is"? God forbid someone puts a bit of effort in to ensure it's actually tight.
And if a fitting can become loose after previously being gastight then why is eccles arguing about having these things checked every year? Apparently he thinks they don't come loose.
And if a fitting can become loose after previously being gastight then why is eccles arguing about having these things checked every year? Apparently he thinks they don't come loose.
Ferg said:
Visual inspection... and a tightness test. As mentioned before, a fitting can become loose when it's previously been gastight. Only 21mB..
Having said that, it's rare. I tend to run a hand over compression/union fittings to see if there's anything obvious.
The bottom line though is that Landlords baulk at servicing and the yearly 'legal' check. Ask them for more money to check the integrity of every joint and they'd cough.
I'm sure mine does some sort of emission check as well? Year before last he suggested the burner in one of the gas fires was faulty and needed replacing.Having said that, it's rare. I tend to run a hand over compression/union fittings to see if there's anything obvious.
The bottom line though is that Landlords baulk at servicing and the yearly 'legal' check. Ask them for more money to check the integrity of every joint and they'd cough.
He does a service/gas safety cert combined so maybe that involves more work ?
No.
What we do is inspect for corrosion and sleeving etc.
I'm sure that Gas Safe fitters out there would gladly inspect every joint on the pipework if the Landlord would like it done.
Landlords have the Safety Check because the Law requires it, in most cases, and begrudge even that. We inspect the items which the Law requires and put our name to it. We DON'T go looking for any other items as a charity effort.
Does an MOT tester go by the book..or does he just get out the old 11mm spanner and go 'round the brake union? Perhaps check the tightness of the hoses.
I'm at a loss as to why anyone thinks that if you are paid to do a check on all the items on the Safety Certificate, you should check everything else as well. If you aren't happy about this particular piece of legislation complain to the H&SE about the Gas safety (installation and Use) Regulations, not the people who carry the checks out LAID DOWN AND AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
What we do is inspect for corrosion and sleeving etc.
I'm sure that Gas Safe fitters out there would gladly inspect every joint on the pipework if the Landlord would like it done.
Landlords have the Safety Check because the Law requires it, in most cases, and begrudge even that. We inspect the items which the Law requires and put our name to it. We DON'T go looking for any other items as a charity effort.
Does an MOT tester go by the book..or does he just get out the old 11mm spanner and go 'round the brake union? Perhaps check the tightness of the hoses.
I'm at a loss as to why anyone thinks that if you are paid to do a check on all the items on the Safety Certificate, you should check everything else as well. If you aren't happy about this particular piece of legislation complain to the H&SE about the Gas safety (installation and Use) Regulations, not the people who carry the checks out LAID DOWN AND AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
Countdown said:
I'm sure mine does some sort of emission check as well? Year before last he suggested the burner in one of the gas fires was faulty and needed replacing.
He does a service/gas safety cert combined so maybe that involves more work ?
That's right. Decent Landlords have the stuff serviced at the same time and some manufacturers will require a ratio reading as part of that (for which there is a box on the certificate). We ALWAYS ask, "Do you want it serviced too?" Many don't...there's money to be saved. He does a service/gas safety cert combined so maybe that involves more work ?
Oakey said:
Oh right, so 'visual inspection' quite literally means looking at the pipework just with your eyes and going "yep, that's a pipe that is"? God forbid someone puts a bit of effort in to ensure it's actually tight.
And if a fitting can become loose after previously being gastight then why is eccles arguing about having these things checked every year? Apparently he thinks they don't come loose.
I didn't say they don't come loose at all. And if a fitting can become loose after previously being gastight then why is eccles arguing about having these things checked every year? Apparently he thinks they don't come loose.
I'm just arguing about the practicality of checking every union from the meter to the boiler as part of an annual check when they are buried in the fabric of the house, a point you seem to be deliberately avoiding!
Like every safety check you have to balance up the risks versus the cost of checking.
If I disturb any systems piping (Hydraulic/Oxygen/Nitrogen/Fire etc) on an aircraft I work on the unions I disturb are leak checked and the system checked for correct function, but you don't check every union on the aircraft!
JDRoest said:
The original poster said "Landlords Gas Safety Check" so I'd expect everything from the customer hand off at the meter (and maybe including the meter if it's inside the property) to every device in the property. And if it takes them a couple of hours and getting a bit dirty, well tough s
t.
But who'd have thought that people try and cut corners on a job....I'm sure that never happens.
Gas Safety Check is just that. A check.t.But who'd have thought that people try and cut corners on a job....I'm sure that never happens.
Not an in depth inspection into every aspect of the gas installation. If you want that doing, pay someone to do it.
Oakey said:
Ray paid someone to check his boiler,
Did he? Or did he pay someone to carry out a Gas Safety Check as laid down in the Gas Regulations? Did the leak show on the mandatory Tightness Test? Who knows? I don't. If it did the fitter is negligent. If it didn't he's done nothing wrong.obob said:
Ray shmay, the police want to ask the neighbour questions plus reports of a disturbance the night before. Was it an argument with the neighbours and he sabotaged their gas, or was he stealing their gas...........
No he wasn't stealing their gas or anything like that. There was a disturbance the night before though from what I've been told.CHIEF said:
obob said:
Ray shmay, the police want to ask the neighbour questions plus reports of a disturbance the night before. Was it an argument with the neighbours and he sabotaged their gas, or was he stealing their gas...........
No he wasn't stealing their gas or anything like that. There was a disturbance the night before though from what I've been told.Hello chaps 
I see my post has caused a bit of consternation and discussion...
So, to comment on my position. I see that Landlords have been 'knocked' a bit for being tight and unwilling to pay for things. I can imagine that a lot of them are like that, yes!
The flat I described is a lovely unit in a fairly recent, reasonably upmarket New build. It attracts decent people and professional, clean, tidy folk (as does the area in general).
I have kept the place immaculate, and with well-appointed fixtures and white goods. The tenants have all, so far, also been absolute stars - paying rent on the button and keeping the place lovely.
Hence, i'm not an 'uncaring or slum landlord' type. Keeping the place in top order, and the tenants and neighbours happy, is my prerogative.
I am no expert on domestic supplies, services and fittings - and especially where Gas is concerned (see the recent News story on an exploding property...) I WILL NOT take chances or cut corners. ESPECIALLY as the property is in a block of 12 units - a Gas fire or explosion emanating within my property will basically give 11 other people a very bad day - or worse cause injury and death, as well as damage and destruction.
For this reason, I rely on, employ, and willingly pay 'Gas professionals', who all trumpet their credentials, (plus registration and membership of regulatory bodies) in their advertising. As in - 'don't worry, leave it all to me - I am a registered professional who will go out of my way to ensure your safety and the integrity of your appliances...'
Despite what other posters have commented upon, I personally DO NOT accept that missing a loose sealing ring on a main gas inlet joint as a throrough, professional inspection from an 'expert.' (The joint is easily accessed by the way, as the boiler is bolted to the kitchen wall with no covers or panels over the pipework underneath - it's all extremely visible and easy to see and touch)
With regard to cost. I contact, instruct and trust what I think is a registered professional to conduct legal checks on the integrity of my gas fittings - in order to ensure the safety of my tenants, and eradicate the possibility of fire and explosions. It's not rocket science - they either make sure it's all safe, or they don't.
IF AT ANY POINT one of the tradesmen had said to me 'you know what - I should warn you that this CP12 inspection covers a 'legal' appliance check so I can issue a certificate, but doesn't actually cover checking the exposed fittings themselves, or any other supply pipework that we can get to easily' then I would have happily said 'oh, well that seems to be a shortcoming - ok, in that case, please go over all the other fixtures and fittings too as best as you can.'
In the flat we're discussing, that would take another - what - being generous, half an hour at most, costing me, what, another £50?
£50 to stop my tenants dying, or the property heinously exploding, taking out other flats with it - is money I would be quite willing to spend!
So to say it's a 'cost issue' is bks. I have 5 properties around the country, and have had for the last 12 years. On not one occasion at any of them has any of the Gas guys I've instructed to do the CP12, told me that I should really pay them for extra checks that don't cover the bleeding obvious. Or I would have done so!
I see my post has caused a bit of consternation and discussion...
So, to comment on my position. I see that Landlords have been 'knocked' a bit for being tight and unwilling to pay for things. I can imagine that a lot of them are like that, yes!
The flat I described is a lovely unit in a fairly recent, reasonably upmarket New build. It attracts decent people and professional, clean, tidy folk (as does the area in general).
I have kept the place immaculate, and with well-appointed fixtures and white goods. The tenants have all, so far, also been absolute stars - paying rent on the button and keeping the place lovely.
Hence, i'm not an 'uncaring or slum landlord' type. Keeping the place in top order, and the tenants and neighbours happy, is my prerogative.
I am no expert on domestic supplies, services and fittings - and especially where Gas is concerned (see the recent News story on an exploding property...) I WILL NOT take chances or cut corners. ESPECIALLY as the property is in a block of 12 units - a Gas fire or explosion emanating within my property will basically give 11 other people a very bad day - or worse cause injury and death, as well as damage and destruction.
For this reason, I rely on, employ, and willingly pay 'Gas professionals', who all trumpet their credentials, (plus registration and membership of regulatory bodies) in their advertising. As in - 'don't worry, leave it all to me - I am a registered professional who will go out of my way to ensure your safety and the integrity of your appliances...'
Despite what other posters have commented upon, I personally DO NOT accept that missing a loose sealing ring on a main gas inlet joint as a throrough, professional inspection from an 'expert.' (The joint is easily accessed by the way, as the boiler is bolted to the kitchen wall with no covers or panels over the pipework underneath - it's all extremely visible and easy to see and touch)
With regard to cost. I contact, instruct and trust what I think is a registered professional to conduct legal checks on the integrity of my gas fittings - in order to ensure the safety of my tenants, and eradicate the possibility of fire and explosions. It's not rocket science - they either make sure it's all safe, or they don't.
IF AT ANY POINT one of the tradesmen had said to me 'you know what - I should warn you that this CP12 inspection covers a 'legal' appliance check so I can issue a certificate, but doesn't actually cover checking the exposed fittings themselves, or any other supply pipework that we can get to easily' then I would have happily said 'oh, well that seems to be a shortcoming - ok, in that case, please go over all the other fixtures and fittings too as best as you can.'
In the flat we're discussing, that would take another - what - being generous, half an hour at most, costing me, what, another £50?
£50 to stop my tenants dying, or the property heinously exploding, taking out other flats with it - is money I would be quite willing to spend!
So to say it's a 'cost issue' is b
ks. I have 5 properties around the country, and have had for the last 12 years. On not one occasion at any of them has any of the Gas guys I've instructed to do the CP12, told me that I should really pay them for extra checks that don't cover the bleeding obvious. Or I would have done so!With all due respect, the Landlords Gas Safety Certificate does NOT certify that all the joints have been checked. If it was intended to, we would.
We do the job we are requested to do and stop short of doing other work which we HAVEN'T been requested to. It's a very simple principle.
I still believe your fitter should have given the joints a hand tightness test as it's simple and shows up loose fittings. To start taking a spanner to joints that may well be sound (according to a tightness test) is asking for trouble. Overtightened compression fittings leak. However, that's a personal preference and NOT part of the Safety Check AS LAID DOWN IN THE GAS REGULATIONS.
As I stated earlier, in what job do you do a check which has carefully laid out criteria, THEN do lots of other work too. "Yes Sir, the MOT's done, it passed, but we've been 'round the whole car and torqued up all the nuts and bolts for you and greased everything."...
Strange.
We do the job we are requested to do and stop short of doing other work which we HAVEN'T been requested to. It's a very simple principle.
I still believe your fitter should have given the joints a hand tightness test as it's simple and shows up loose fittings. To start taking a spanner to joints that may well be sound (according to a tightness test) is asking for trouble. Overtightened compression fittings leak. However, that's a personal preference and NOT part of the Safety Check AS LAID DOWN IN THE GAS REGULATIONS.
As I stated earlier, in what job do you do a check which has carefully laid out criteria, THEN do lots of other work too. "Yes Sir, the MOT's done, it passed, but we've been 'round the whole car and torqued up all the nuts and bolts for you and greased everything."...
Strange.
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