Registration is an important part to ensure continued Gas Safety. Below is information about how you can become CORGI registered.
Applicants from gas installer businesses need to be competent in order to carry out gas work and will need to be in possession of certificates of competence in the areas of gas work they intend to undertake before they can become CORGI registered. Gas operatives are required to demonstrate gas safety competence by successfully completing nationally agreed assessments, carried out at an approved assessment centre.
CORGI will only accept Certificates of Competence that have been issued through the following certification schemes.
Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS)
ACS Certificates of Competence are only issued by Certification Bodies that conform to ISO.17024 and have been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). ACS Certificates of gas safety competence are valid for a maximum of 5 years. There are currently six Certification Bodies with approx' 240 centres around the UK approved to deliver these assessments. The Certification Bodies are:
NIC Certification
Tel: 0500 600 545
Fax:01246 269048
www.niccertification.com
BPEC - British Plumbing Employers Council
Tel: 02476 420970
www.bpec.org.uk
Blueflame Certification
Tel: 01782 576811
Fax: 01782 576819
www.blueflamecertification.co.uk
CITB - Construction Industry Training Board
Tel: 01485 577 700
www.citb.org.uk
ERS
Tel: 01246 252310
Logic Certification
Tel: 0208 839 2439
Gas Services Installation and Maintenance ACS aligned N/SVQ
This method of certification is awarded by City and Guilds and has a scheme number of 6012; this is currently the only N/SVQ that has been aligned to the ACS scheme and is accepted by both CORGI and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
This scheme is for the installation and maintenance of natural gas appliances & equipment and Emergency Service Operations.
The N/SVQ certification is valid for CORGI Registration purposes for a period of five years from the date the certificate is issued and allows the operative to access and take the required ACS re-assessment due at that time.
Entry Routes for Operatives seeking ACS Certification
Prior to assessment every certification body has to ensure that each candidate provides accurate information relating to any gas industry experience and/or qualifications held.
During the processing period each candidate, depending upon their experience/qualification(s) held is allocated into one of three categories, these are -
Category One
Experienced gas-fitting operatives from within or outside of the United Kingdom who are:
- seeking to renew expired or expiring certificates of gas safety competence i.e. HSC, ACoP, ACS or Gas Services N/SVQ's
- seeking assessment and certification to extend their range of gas work;
- foreign nationals seeking to obtain certificates of gas safety competence that will allow them to meet United Kingdom gas work requirements. Operatives in this category need to provide evidence of their gas fitting qualifications and experience and all information needs to be translated into English, where appropriate.
Category Two
Candidates have to provide evidence that qualifications are held which are relevant to the area(s) of gas work where they are seeking to acquire certification. These qualifications must show that competence has been achieved in the generic work activities associated with fossil fuelled appliances/equipment and/or pipe work installation, including any of the following work activities, flueing or ventilation or the installation, maintenance or commissioning of such appliances.
Examples of appropriate qualifications include:
- Plumbing craft qualification or N/SVQ (oil and/or solid fuel options) - suitable initially for domestic or commercial central, water heating or pipe work installation.
- Pipe Fitter/Welder craft qualification or N/SVQ - suitable initially for commercial pipe work, pipe work commissioning and meter installation.
- Heating and Ventilation craft qualification or N/SVQ - suitable initially for commercial pipe work and appliance installation.
- Refrigeration Engineer/Fitter craft qualification or N/SVQ - suitable initially for commercial appliance and pipe work installation.
In addition to appropriate qualifications candidates need to provide written evidence confirming that "on the job" gas installation and/or maintenance training has been undertaken and that any experience of gas work gained has been carried out under the direct supervision of a competent operative, employed by a CORGI registered company. Such written evidence will need to be provided from the employer and detail precisely the areas of gas work undertaken.
Category Three
These candidates are new entrants into the gas industry and are unable to provide details of relevant qualifications and/or experience. These will be individuals who are classed as entering the industry for the first time, or changing career direction.
Candidates in this category should be advised to seek training and experience that will result in the attainment of a National/Scottish Vocational Qualification (N/SVQ) in Gas Services, Installation and Maintenance at Level 2 or 3, or obtain employment with a CORGI registered business who is willing to provide an auditable extended period of company "in house" gas training programme together with the necessary organisational support prior to undertaking ACS assessment.
The duration and content of the training programme will be determined by the scope of gas work being undertaken. Evidence in the form of a portfolio following completion of such training must be presented to the assessment centre before a candidate can undertake assessments.
Alternatively an N/SVQ within the Mechanical Engineering Sector with related on the job gas training and experience in the intended areas of gas work to be carried out will also support a future application.
Application for CORGI Registration
It is important to note that prior to applying for CORGI registration, you or your gas operative must be in possession of valid certificate(s) of gas safety competence for the categories of gas work in which you will be working.
If certificates of competence are not in place CORGI will be unable to process the application.
Once you have passed your assessments, you can apply for an application pack from CORGI. After applying for registration, providing you meet the necessary requirements, a CORGI Inspector will carry out a Pre-registration assessment visit. On completion of the pre-registration process, CORGI decides whether your application will be accepted or not.
CORGI registration is valid for a year from April through to March. All registered installers necessarily renew their registration in March. CORGI sends out notification of renewal in advance.
There are many benefits of being CORGI registered:
- Provision of the CORGI ID card. The card is promoted nationally by CORGI and is clear validation of your skills and experience in your customers' eyes
- Access to exclusive free technical presentations held around the country (including Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
- Free subscription to Gas Installer, the market leading gas-technical magazine created exclusively for Gas Installers
- A technical support line with gas experts at the end of the line to advise on technical matters whilst you are at work
- A copy of the CORGI manual, 'Essential Guide to Gas Safety (third edition)' when you first register
- Exclusive access to the CORGI registered installer web site
- The affects of CORGI's continual work with the media in order to publicise the importance of using a CORGI registered installer
Receipt of a monthly brochure providing exclusive offers on expert publications and other products from www.CORGI-direct.com.
- Access to specialist financial services and affinity schemes tailored to the needs of Registered Gas Installers
- Inclusion in the web site listing of registered installers, 'Find an installer' and lists of installers provided to gas consumers by Customer Services
- Ongoing support from CORGI within the heating industry, within Government and with your customers
To make further enquiries about CORGI registration please call 0800 915 0485
