Pat Lehane, Publisher & Editor, Building Services News
Registration of Gas Installers — We Must Get it Right!
The competitive designation process to appoint Ireland’s Gas Safety Supervisory Body (GSSB) was announced on Friday, 13 March last with Thursday, 7 May next being the deadline for completed tenders.
The present incumbent is the Register of Gas Installers of Ireland (RECI) and its primary role is to supervise the work of gas installers with regard to safety, principally by ensuring that all who carry out gas-related works are properly registered.
However, the reality is that after nearly seven years since the introduction of this new registration scheme to replace the voluntary register previously operated by Bord Gais, some estimate that only half of those carrying out gas-related works in Ireland are actually members of RGII.
Who is responsible for this situation is debatable but it really does not matter at this stage. What is far more important going forward is that whoever wins the current competitive designation process is held accountable for – but also given the legal authority – to tackle the issue.