Gas Safe News

FROM THE EDITOR

Comment

There’s a distinct sense that people have been waiting with bated breath for the government to hurry up and publish its long-awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy.

There’s already been a lot of speculation – some informed and some not so much – about what it might contain. But the government has already indicated that big changes are coming to the way we heat our homes in the future, and much of it does not involve gas.

What’s not so clear right now is whether heat pumps will be mandated, and in what scenarios, and when; or whether the government has listened to those who have been championing the role that hydrogen could play in decarbonisation.

And what part could hybrid heat pumps play? They look and feel to consumers like a familiar boiler, and can be fitted in a similar way. They can be seen as a natural stepping stone on the path to net-zero 2050, and could have a valuable role to play.

It’s likely that the strategy will be published some time after we’ve gone to press on this issue, but we’ll be making sure we delve into the detail – and what it means for you – as soon as we can, online and in print.

Nicki Shearer, editor

The quickest way to reach the magazine team is via email.

Gas Safe Register, PO Box 6804, Basingstoke, RG24 4NB.

Email: enquiries@gassaferegister.co.uk, register@gassaferegister.co.uk or technical@gassaferegister.co.uk Managing editor: Scott Darroch scott.darroch@gassaferegister.co.uk Editor: Nicki Shearer editorial@registeredgasengineer.co.uk News: Jennie Ward news@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Publisher: Peter McCreary publisher@registeredgasengineer.co.uk Technical consultants: Gary Aymes, Carl Banister, David Smith, Jonathan Stirling Production: Mark Turpin Advertising enquiries only: Ian Carter ian@rgemagazine.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Gas Safe Register. The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to it at its absolute discretion and without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. ABC membership approved 19 March, 2009. Calls to phone numbers starting 084 and 087 cost up to 7p per minute plus your service provider’s charge.

Registered Gas Engineer is written, designed and published by The Team on behalf of Gas Safe Register. 30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ

CIRCULATION: Jan-Dec 2020 77,332

Engineers give their feedback on virtual inspection pilot

Around 50 gas engineers have taken part in a trial of virtual inspection events. From the comfort of their own homes, they joined an online classroom to undertake their inspection and gave their feedback on the process to Gas Safe Register afterwards. And an overwhelming majority – 97 per cent – said they would be happy to complete an inspection virtually in the future.

As part of the pilot, they had carried out an e-learning module two weeks before the inspection. Then on the day they used their tablets or laptops with a webcam to log in securely via a link sent to them in advance by Gas Safe Register.

Their ID cards were checked and identity confirmed and then they started their knowledge check, a set of 30 multiplechoice open-book questions.

Most gas engineers said they found the system easy to access: 68 per cent said they either had no challenges setting it up or had only minor issues that they could resolve themselves.

Almost all (92 per cent) said they felt that the process went smoothly or worked well overall, from getting ID confirmed to undertaking the knowledge check. Just 13 per cent said they needed support during the knowledge check, all of whom were happy with the support they then received.

The virtual classroom aimed

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to mirror the experience of a group inspection event, in which gas engineers attend a half-day inspection session, often held at a hotel in their area.

Gas Services Director Bob Kerr says: “We know that taking part in a virtual inspection event could save gas engineers time and money. There’s no travel to a venue, and it takes less than an hour to do, so they’ll lose less of their working day.

“And best of all, they can have their inspection from the comfort of their own home. After they’ve left the virtual classroom, they can go and carry on with their day.”

The trial was a pilot to assess how a virtual inspection could work in the future and doesn’t replace routine inspection for some engineers. But in any future virtual inspection events, Bob says, “we’ll review the results of the knowledge check and assess whether gas engineers have passed or failed their inspection. If they have failed, we’ll get in touch with them and arrange a face-to-face inspection.”

Gas Safe Register is now analysing the results of the pilot scheme and the feedback from the gas engineers who volunteered to take part.

97%

would be happy to complete an inspection virtually in the future

92%

said the process went smoothly Engineers’ feedback

“Seems a positive step for reviewing the knowledge of engineers but they would need to be computer literate.” “Very good. It’s great that you can print off and see every question afterwards to pinpoint knowledge gaps or misinterpretations.” “It was an overall good experience and enjoyable.” “Good as a supplementary resource, but not a substitute for real-life interaction.”

Get ready for Gas Safety Week

It’s well and truly summer, and that means one thing – Gas Safety Week is just around the corner. Preparations for the industry’s biggest gas safety initiative are well under way, with an updated supporters’ toolkit to help you join in.

As in previous years, the gas safety squad will be leading the campaign to make sure that people, their families and the communities in which they live and work stay safe from the dangers of gas.

Gas Safe Register is busy working on its plans for the week and putting the final touches to the supporters’ toolkit.

The toolkit helps you get involved and show your support online, through social media and in print and contains logos, banners, images, leaflets and posters, pre-written social media updates and gas safety articles for your own website or that you can share with local news and community organisations. There’s also a quick kit, which contains some key materials to get you up and running quickly if you’re pressed for time.

As always, gas engineers are at the very heart of Gas Safety Week, and when you pledge to support, you’ll be joining thousands of others to talk about gas safety with one unified voice, helping to keep your customers safe.

And being a part of the campaign can help you raise the profile of your own business too. You can: • Show your social responsibility and help to protect your customers and save lives • Use the free materials in the toolkit in your customer communications, online and in your social media • Improve awareness of you and your business – all supporters will appear on the Gas Safety

Week website. You can pledge your support at

www.GasSafetyWeek.co.uk

but if you supported last year, there’s no need to do so again: you’ll automatically receive the 2021 toolkit when it’s available.

13-19 September 2021