Chief Executive of the CIPHE, Blane Judd is becoming increasingly concerned that people who should know better seem to believe that Gas Safe registration covers other aspects of plumbing in addition to handling gas.
It doesn’t. Explained Blane Judd: “Gas Safe registration relates to gas, and only gas. All other aspects of pubic safety relating to plumbing and heating engineering are covered by competencies and qualifications that installers should hold to carry out work safely. Gas Safe registration on its own is not enough to prove that a plumber is professionally qualified.
This was highlighted in the media recently after it was discovered that a widow in the Midlands had been using unhealthy water for two years because an installer had wrongly connected mains taps to a stagnant tank of water after fitting a new boiler in her home at Fordbridge.
Her case was taken up this week by the prospective labour party candidate for Solihull, Ed Williams who has wrongly urged that there should be an investigation to see if the installer involved was Gas Safe registered.
Continued Mr Judd: “Safe handling of water is an essential part of a professional plumber’s training. It is vital that consumers ask to see proof of plumbing qualifications before engaging an installer to carry out any work involving water. The lady in the Midlands was lucky – drinking unsafe water can lead to serious illness or even death. I am horrified to hear that a person calling himself a plumber could make such a dangerous mistake.
Mr Williams should have been better briefed. I applaud the efforts of anyone who joins us in our campaign to drive up the standards within the plumbing and heating engineering industry, but urge politicians and others who advise members of the public to remember that Gas Safe registration only covers gas. For everything else consumers must ask to see proof of qualifications or a valid CIPHE membership card.”