Boiler Install Problems

PasPer2

Hello,

I was advised by a friend (corgi registered) that my back boiler was on the way out whilst he was servicing it and suggested a new install. I bought a boiler and waited for him to get back to me with a price for the install. After a week of extreme cold and no word from my "friend" i started the install myself (with the exception of the gas as i am no longer corgi registered). I have the boiler & flue mounted & the CH & DHW & DCW all connected up and the system has been flushed. When my friend eventually re-surfaced he emailed me the following after seeing that i had begun the installation....

"i've had a corgi inspector round at work today and i happened to enquire how i stand in relation to fitting your boiler (i didn't go into details of who it was and where it was), but he has strongly suggested i steer clear of the job as they can not guarantee me the protection i would receive from them should i have done the whole lot myself. For this reason, i am unable to do the job, and am not prepared to jeopardise my good relationship with corgi"

Is this correct or is he just annoyed that i have done the majority of the work myself and there will not be enough money in it for him now ?

Canucklehead

Good morning: CORGI's advice to RGIs (discussed last year here )

HTH

Canucklehead

EliteHeat

Finish the job off yourself and get the building inspector to certify it for you. It should cost about £150 from what I hear.

There do not appear to be any issues regarding competency in your case, so job done.

andrew-b

It's not really surprising your friend wouldn't finish your install. I wouldn't be bitter about it though as i'm sure most corgi's wouldn't touch it either. I expect your friend feels quite badly about it leaving you in the lurch. I expect you'd feel much worse if your friend lost his job as a result though! Shame you didn't wait for your friend to respond - you should really have checked with him first before you got your spanner out! I'm the same though ...i get impatient waiting for people to do things for me and take it upon myself to do it myself instead!! From bad experiences myself as the business , mixing business and friends can be a very dodgy game to play!

I'd build your bridges and phone him up and ask him if he wants to go out for a beer! :beer:

Andy

PasPer2

Thanks for your help & advice everyone, its much appreciated.

With a nagging wife and 2 small children, waiting for a reply for as long as we did was agony, its been freezing these last 2 weeks. The wife & kids have moved to her mums until the work is completed.

I will finish the job and do as EliteHeat says and get the Building Inspector to certify it for me.

Once again, many thanks

moneysavingplumber

As far as I am aware it is absolutely not possible to have any gas work certified by paying the building inspector, although this is the case for electrical work.

This basically means it will affect the whole HiP situation should that become relevant to you, and you may not be able to get warranty cover on the boiler should it break down.

To my knowledge only CGIs can notify and certify gas appliances through Corgi, who then issue the certificate and notify building control.

The only way another CGI is likely to want to (and the only circumstances in which Corgi approve of them doing so) take on responsibility for it is if you fib and tell them that it was fitted by another fitter that did a bunk for whatever reason, and that you need someone to finish and certify it.

EliteHeat

moneysavingplumber wrote: »

As far as I am aware it is absolutely not possible to have any gas work certified by paying the building inspector, although this is the case for electrical work.

It absolutely is possible.

Pssst

If it were in my house Id just fit it and not bother telling anyone. Why pay someone £150 to confirm that your competent when you already know it?

moneysavingplumber

EliteHeat wrote: »

It absolutely is possible.

EliteHeat could you post the details of how this process works because I am unaware of it and not heard of it before, when did this change as it wasn't the case originally? As far as I know building inspectors are not ACS qualified so do they hire a third party to check the installation?

moneysavingplumber

Just found this link so it appears I was wrong (doesn't happen that often ) and it absolutely is possible.

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/environment/building-regulations.cfm

Remind me why I bother being Corgi Registered again.............

EliteHeat

moneysavingplumber wrote: »

Just found this link so it appears I was wrong (doesn't happen that often ) and it absolutely is possible.

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/environment/building-regulations.cfm

Remind me why I bother being Corgi Registered again.............

In practise I don't know how this works as it obviously doesn't affect me.

Personally I worry enough about building inspectors lack of common sense, let alone their ability to check a gas installation for adherence to all current regs.