Gas Safety Testing/Certification

Simondjuk

Simondjuk

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I've just arranged a full survey and valuation report on my boat as required by my insurers. It was mentioned to me during the phone call to arrange the appointment that the surveyor needs sight of a current gas safety certificate for the vessel's LPG installation, as otherwise he'll have to record against the installation a 'Recommendation (essential)' for testing/certification, which in turn the insurance company will want carried out before they insure. Long and short of it, I may as well get it done sooner rather than later.

This raises a couple of questions:-

1. Can anyone suggest someone in the Chichester to Portsmouth area who is registered to inspect the installation and issue such certificates (in accordance with PD5482-3:2005(BS5482-3:1999) /BS EN ISO 10239:2000 I believe) ?

2. How much is it likely to cost?

I've trawled Google but don't seem to be having much luck so any pointers would be much appreciated, and nothing beats a personal recommendation anyway.

Thanks.
 
I think you will have to find a Gas Safe registered fitter who is registered to work on LPG systems on boats.

There is a "find a Gas Safe registered business" facility on the website if no one comes along with any recommendations

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/
 
VicS, Thanks for the link. I'd taken a look already but hadn't seen anything marine specific so to speak. I may have to call a few of them to check if they do boaty stuff.

Twister Ken, Thanks. That was the only one I'd found in the area on Google. I was a bit put off by the very out of date reference to Corgi on their website though. Have you used them? If so, I'm happy to overlook the out of date website as I appreciate that e-commerce stuff isn't always high priority to a gas fitting firm.


Hmmmm. From the lack of "This year I used so-and-so" type replies, I'm getting the feeling this isn't something that's always asked for. Has anyone else had the need for such certification mentioned as a requirement for completion of a survey and subsequent insurance?
 
Is your boat on the inland waterway system or has your insurance company specifically asked for a gas safe certificate?
 
Chrissie, No, the boat is not on inland waterways, nor have the insurers asked for a gas safety certificate.

It was the surveyor's office who mentioned the need to see a gas safety certificate. I thought this unusual at first, so read through another survey, carried out by a different surveyor, and found the following:- "Recommendations. 16.0 (Essential) The gas system should be serviced and tested/ certified by a qualified (Gas Safe/Corgi Registered Engineer to PD5482-3:2005(BS5482-3:1999) /BS EN ISO 10239:2000). (Advised – every three years).

I presume therefore that by giving my surveyor sight of the gas certificate at the time of survey, he'll not have to include a recommendation such as the above, which will be one less I have to resolve to satisfy my insurers that "all recommendations have been carried out", as their policy wording requires.
 
pvb, Well that's what I wondered, but what's in it for them to ask me to have a gas safety certificate?

Also, it seems it's not just the surveyor I'm considering using, the survey from which I quoted the 'essential recommendation' above was carried out by a different firm.
 
pvb said:
I think I'd be looking for a different surveyor!
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Me too. Once a surveyor makes an essential recommendation it'll be hanging over the OP as long as he owns the boat.

I had enough hassle convincing an insurance company that it was OK just to have an ordinary VHF after my surveyor recommended a DSC.
 
Simondjuk said:
pvb, Well that's what I wondered, but what's in it for them to ask me to have a gas safety certificate?

Also, it seems it's not just the surveyor I'm considering using, the survey from which I quoted the 'essential recommendation' above was carried out by a different firm.
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For various reasons, some surveyors are, shall we say, "overly zealous". Ask your local friendly marina/boatyard/broker for a few recommendations of sensibly practical surveyors, then ask the surveyors whether they routinely include a recommendation for a costly gas inspection.
 
pvb, dt4134,The surveyor I'm considering has been recommended by multiple sources; the marina where my boat is, a local boat builder, and he's been given favourable write up on these pages. I'm not inclined to name him as it seems unfair given the slightly negative slant creeping in about this requirement. The other survey I mention which made a gas inspection related recommendation was carried out by a large Gosport based firm of good repute. So, perhaps it's simply something which is becoming more common.

I'm not looking to spend more than I must in order to have a gas safety check performed on an installation in which I have 100% confidence and has been thoroughly manometer and bubble solution tested to my satisfaction, but neither am I inclined to do the opposite of finding an apparently 'over zealous' surveyor and search out one who is 'less than zealous'. To do so would feel rather like using a particular garage for an MOT on a car because they give 'an easy pass' - not reassuring.

If the gas inspection is of reasonable cost and someone can suggest an approved person who will do an honest assessment without seeking to find problems simply because they didn't do the install themselves, I'm happy to have it done. I just don't want some chancer turning up who tries to write the whole lot off for no good reason other than because they're looking for every opportunity to get some work lined up.

ostell, Thanks for that. I came across them but rather lost confidence when I saw their website still mentioned Corgi and then checking their Gas Safe number against the Gas Safe register gave a result of 'operative not found', as pointed out by Twister Ken. Maybe just that they've not updated their website in a few years and the number is their old Corgi number not their new Gas Safe number. I presume the registration number you have on your certificate for them is not 2122114. Perhaps I'll give them a call and have a chat.
 
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number is close: it is 212214.

I'd just had a gas locker installed and wanted them to connect the new pipework in gas locker to the old pipework already in the boat, as well as the inspection. They did that, tightened up one of my joints, inspected and charged the inspection fee. No payment up front or after the work, wait for invoice and pay by bank transfer.

Not an immediate turnout, they seem to be busy, so book well in advance.
 
You can get a list from Calor Southern in Southampton - it is somewhere on their website, but rather obscure and I can't remember the link. Dave at Gascheck is the best known in the area, but as said he is not the easiest person to tie down. He wrote the long article on gas installations in a recent PBO.

A Gas certificate is compulsory for coding a boat, so like many things the requirement filters down as good practice.
 
Simondjuk said:
Twister Ken, Thanks. That was the only one I'd found in the area on Google. I was a bit put off by the very out of date reference to Corgi on their website though. Have you used them? If so, I'm happy to overlook the out of date website as I appreciate that e-commerce stuff isn't always high priority to a gas fitting firm.
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Yes, they sorted out a problem for me on the old boat, and rearranged the manufacturer's installation on the new one. Pleased with both their advice (free) and their service. Nice people but not exactly a marketing-led organisation, so the customer experience isn't slick. Calls can take a while to be returned, that sort of thing.
 
I was a bit put off by the very out of date reference to Corgi on their website though.
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I'd not be put off by an out of date reference to Corgi. Corgi still exists, although not now responsible for the registration scheme, and they could still be members!

Provide they are registered with Gas Safe, which they are and it can be verified from the Gas Safe website, there is no problem!

Darned if I saw any reference to Corgi. Darned if I can find it either! ( Oh I have now !)
 
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Simondjuk said:
VicS, Thanks for the link. I'd taken a look already but hadn't seen anything marine specific so to speak. I may have to call a few of them to check if they do boaty stuff.

Twister Ken, Thanks. That was the only one I'd found in the area on Google. I was a bit put off by the very out of date reference to Corgi on their website though. Have you used them? If so, I'm happy to overlook the out of date website as I appreciate that e-commerce stuff isn't always high priority to a gas fitting firm.


Hmmmm. From the lack of "This year I used so-and-so" type replies, I'm getting the feeling this isn't something that's always asked for. Has anyone else had the need for such certification mentioned as a requirement for completion of a survey and subsequent insurance?
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No demand from G&JW when my boat was surveyed - the surveyor did pick up that all the tubing was out of date and I had the very devil's own job to find any stocks that weren't already near expiry.
 
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