As reported previously here on CORGI seem set to press ahead with their new mandatory system of gas work notification. On Friday of last week this new system cam under fire from the BBC’s “You And Yours” show on Radio 4.
You & Yours reports that the system, which is due to be introduced in April 2005 will see the introduction of the Registered Gas Installer (RGI) having to pay CORGI each time he or she installs or exchanges a gas fuelled appliance. Thus far the charge is stated to be “not more than £5” per appliance we presume. However this does not take account of the aditional administrative work that will have to be carried out by the RGI.
The presenter of the show then went on to say that the total cost to UK gas consumers, who have already been hit with increased gas prices on the fuel itself, could face a bill of £10 million a year to fund this new scheme.
Steve Bratt from CORGI stated that this is due to a change in the law with regards to Building Control and to safety concerns. Essentially CORGI wish to have a database of customer who have a gas appliance installed so that they may inspect any work without the installers knowledge.
He stated that where CORGI carry out random inspection that they find more flaws in the work carried out by RGIs.
Jack McDavid from the Heating And Ventilation Contractors Association stated catagorically that the new scheme would have no effect on gas safety, nor would it adress the issue of “cowboy” installers.
Steve Brett stated that gas safety works in this manner all around the world and that the majority of RGIs work was without flaws.
It was also stated by Jack McDavid that this scheme was suggested to the Health & Safety Executive four years ago and rejected as being “too radical”.
However what was not addressed is that the scheme may well be rolled out to cover service calls and scheduled maintenance as well as installation and exchanges and this will add great cost to any service visits to a gas appliance. CORGI seem unconcerned with the potential cost of the scheme and seem determined to plough ahead with it, regardless of almost universal disapproval of the scheme from within the gas industry.
It has already been dubbed as being yet another “Gas Tax” by some.