Council for Registered Gas Installers

The Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) operates a voluntary registration scheme for gas installers in Jersey[1]. From 1991 to 2009 registration with CORGI was a legal requirement for gas operatives and businesses throughout the UK, and before April 2010 in Northern Ireland [2] and Guernsey [3].

CORGI registration requires (beside payment of fees) that gas operatives hold a certificate of competence under the Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) demonstrating an appropriate level of competence and experience in particular types of gas work. The ACS replaced a number of different certification schemes in 1998.

CORGI lost its status as official registration body in England, Scotland and Wales on 1 April 2009 and in Northern Ireland and Guernsey [4] in April 2010, with this role being taken on by the Gas Safe Register, run on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by Capita Group.^[1]

Background

CORGI was originally established in 1970 as the Confederation for the Registration of Gas Installers to operate a voluntary register. This followed a gas explosion in 1968 which led to the partial collapse of Ronan Point, a tower block in London.

Notwithstanding gas explosions, the greatest danger to the public in using gas is from Carbon Monoxide (CO), which is a highly toxic by-product of the combustion process. Most of the concern for gas safety focuses on avoiding excessive production of CO through adequate ventilation and correct combustion, and the safe dispersal of the small amounts produced by correct combustion through effective flue systems. Modern room-sealed gas appliances are much safer in this respect and the number of fatalities from CO poisoning has greatly declined. Each year in the UK around 30 people are killed as a result of CO poisoning.

Previous Responsibilities

Registration with CORGI was a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 for any gas installation business and there were around 55,000 CORGI registered businesses in the UK employing nearly 110,000 gas operatives.

CORGI was answerable to the Health and Safety Executive, which is the Government watchdog on all safety issues, including gas. The HSE has the authority to appoint CORGI and/or other agencies to operate the Register of Gas Installers. In 2006 another body (NAPIT) made an application to the HSE to operate a rival registration scheme. This application was turned down by the Health and Safety Executive. It is the CORGI view - a view that is supported by many other organisations too such as the All Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group - that introducing another gas registration body would cause confusion. However some registered gas installers believe that CORGI's decision to run schemes for plumbing, electrics and ventilation will itself create public confusion, as well as taking away its focus from the prime consideration of gas safety. However, CORGI has been clear that gas safety is at the core of its business and will remain so. CORGI realises that gas installers often do jobs other than just gas and the decision to offer plumbing, electrical and ventilation schemes was made to help installers that are CORGI registered for gas to comply with Building Regulations in areas closely related to gas work.

Controversy

Some gas installers felt that the organisation was overbearing and an excessive financial burden, and that little is being done to stop unregistered installers operating. There were also concerns that it abused its monopolistic position as the sole awarding body for UK gas installers. The reality was somewhat different to this however and similar accusations are being made about Gas Safe Register, the replacement body which took over from CORGI in 2009.

CORGI Trust

In 2005, CORGI set up the CORGI Trust, which sees all profits from the commercial side of the business being donated to the Trust. These funds will then be used to help advance gas safety within the UK. Recommendations for the use of these funds has ranged from getting the Government to change the law so that only CORGI registered installers can buy gas appliances, through to doing a national television campaign to increase awareness on the need for customers to only use CORGI registered installers and the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Gas Safe Register

From 1 April 2009 the operation of the HSE register of gas installers that covers England, Wales and Scotland will pass to Capita, after nearly 20 years of operation with CORGI. At the time of writing it is not too clear how this transition will work - it is likely that around 250 or so staff at CORGI who are directly involved with the Gas installer registration scheme would be transferred to the new body, to ensure continuity of operations.

According to HSE, the new registration body will be called Gas Safe Register.^[2]

CORGI Services, CORGI's commercial arm will still continue to operate and offer such services as:

• Competent Person Schemes for electrical, plumbing and ventilation
• CORGIdirect
• Gas Installer magazine
• Insurances
• Consultancy and incident investigation

The profit made from CORGI Services Ltd will be gift aided to the CORGI Trust to continue its work with Gas Safety.

One of Capita's main challenges will be in creating a new 'Gas Safety' brand for the trade and public from April 2009. Currently CORGI has over 93% public awareness across the UK

Trivia

In the 2005 album Achtung Bono by British Band Half Man Half Biscuit, an album track is entitled "CORGI Registered Friends". This track is an allusion to those being of working-class but of substantial wealth; the fact that, as a member of CORGI, some tradesmen saw it as almost 'a licence to print money', since no equivalent 'DIY' option was available to the homeowner.

Notes

1. ^ "Public Safety Top Priority for New Gas Safe Register". Gas Safe Register. 2009-02-02. https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/PressReleases/PressRelease143.htm. 
2. ^ Source: Telephone call to HSE Information 20 Feb 09 / HSE website

See also

• Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
• Landlord's gas safety certificate
• Health and Safety Executive
• Natural gas
• British Gas
• Gas Safe Register
• Organisation of Professional Gas Operatives

External links

• Official website
• HSE gas