Gas Safe or ACS

[Gagakev]

Thought of using a mobile engineer for this years service, he comes highly "recommended".

But when I asked if he was Gas Safe registered he said he Held an ACS certificate, does any one know was it is?

Belive the ACS stood for Accredited Competence Scheme, is this to do with any of the caravan governing bodies?

Perhaps I should stick to the main dealer as used previously.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Gagakev,

Technically to work on a privately owned caravan not used for hire or as a permanent dwelling, all a gas fitter has to be is competent. The Gas safety(Installation & Use) Regulations specifically exclude such work to need a Gas Safe registration.

Competency is difficult to establish unless you know the scheme of work that is required and how it relates to the agreed codes of practice in the industry.

I am not familiar with the ACS scheme so cannot offer an opinion as to its efficacy, but I can say that a fitter who is registered with Gas Safe for LPG work will know the required elements.

A quick google search has found the following document, which you may find helpful.

http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/upload_pub/Guide_to_Initial_ACS_Assessment.pdf
Such scheme's are only as good as the organisation that underwrites or manages the scheme, and I do not know who does operate this scheme.

The mobile engineer whom you employ is required by Health and Safety at work regulations to ensure that he or any of his employees are suitable assessed as competent if they are working on gas fittings.

 

[Damian]

Work on privately owned and used caravans and motorhomes do not need Gas Safe qualified fitters.

The minimum requirement for workshops is ACOPS which is what the majority of dealers have and ALL NCC Approved Workshops.

ACS is the next level and is the requirement to become Gas Safe registered, however, not everyone who has ACS then goes on to register with Gas Safe as they do not see any practical use for doing so, just another organisation wanting large amounts of registration fees to be on a register.

The only time Gas Safe comes into play in relation to caravans and motorhomes is on those used for hire or reward.