News

A New Regime For Domestic Gas Safety

On the 8th September 2008 the HSE signed a contract with Capita Group Plc. to run the new gas installer registration scheme from 1 April 2009 The following provides the background on why the competition took place, and the way in which the procurement exercise was conducted.

Background

Domestic (piped and LPG) gas is widely used in GB (about 21 million homes). However, its increasing use over the years has coincided with an improving trend in the official statistics on gas deaths. Whilst the Gas Safety Regulations have provided a framework for improving safety in gas work, other factors have contributed to this trend.

2006 Review of domestic gas safety

HSE believes there is no room for complacency and during 2006 a review of the domestic gas safety regime identified a case for change. It was felt that more should be done to raise public awareness of gas and CO risks. The core recommendation from this review was to deliver added value to consumer gas safety and benefits to gas installers through a reformed gas installer registration scheme.

Background to the gas scheme competition

In December 2006, HSE set out proposals for change, principally involving changes to the gas registration scheme managed by CORGI. On the 6th December, the Board agreed that there should be a "competition for the market" to find a single provider to run a new registration scheme. The HSE announced on 28 August 2008 that it had awarded the contract to run the new gas installer registration scheme from 1 April 2009 to Capita Group Plc.

Why do we need a new gas installer registration scheme?

The CORGI statutory registration scheme for gas installation businesses has been operating for 17 years. During that time, the number of gas related fatalities has fallen significantly. Although stakeholders involved in the review overwhelmingly supported the continuation of a gas installer registration scheme, they identified areas where improvements could bring potentially significant benefits to both gas consumers and gas installers.
This is a great opportunity to build on the successes of the existing scheme and at the same time introduce innovation to further develop the existing arrangements and add value to gas consumer safety.

Won't there be extra costs to installers and the public from the additional functions of the new scheme and the changes?

Most change involves some level of investment. For instance, there will be costs associated with developing and launching the new gas safety brand. However, because we are offering the new provider a long-term concession agreement, this gives the scheme provider time to recoup their investment. An important requirement with the new scheme is that fees for installers should be fixed at affordable levels and come down in real terms during the period of the agreement.

Who is affected by the new scheme?

All installers who are currently carrying out gas work should be registered now and will need to continue to be registered in the future. The scope of registration will not change and will still require installers working on domestic, non-domestic, commercial, natural gas and liquid petroleum gas installations to be registered.

Link to Gas Safe Register - http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/