Essential Electrics and Safe Isolation of Electrical Equipment

Domestic electrical certificates, known as Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR), must be reviewed every 5 years in rented properties and are valid for up to 10 years for homeowners.

Part P of the Building Regulations in the UK ensures electrical safety in residential buildings. It requires that all new electrical work is designed, installed, and tested to meet safety standards. Work must be carried out in accordance with BS 7671 - the IEE 18th Edition Wiring Regulations. Installers must be registered with an electrical self-certification scheme.

Yes, gas is still a popular choice. The majority of UK homes are still heated by gas, which means even after new gas boilers stop being installed in 2035, there will still be around 23 million homes using a gas boiler. These boilers will need servicing and maintenance for many years to come. Gas also provides the perfect stepping stone into heat pumps and other renewable technologies. LCL Awards' Level 3 heat pump courses are designed for qualified heating engineers (gas or oil).

To become a gas installer you need to undertake specific qualifications, have relevant experience and join the Gas Safe register. You can achieve Level 3 gas qualifications through an apprenticeship scheme, which usually takes two to three years, combining a work placement with college, or you can complete a Managed Learning Programme (MLP), which covers everything you need to become a gas engineer without going through an apprenticeship. The MLP also includes a portfolio which demonstrates 'real-world' experience, mentored by an existing Gas Safe installer. At the end of a MLP, you would usually complete ACS certification in your chosen areas of gas. All gas installers must complete a core gas safety element (for example CCN1) and then specific modules such as catering, metering or gas fires, for example. Once you have successfully completed ACS assessments, you can join the Gas Safe register - this is a legal requirement for all gas installers. ACS certification must be renewed every 5 years.

To become a qualified gas engineer in the UK, follow these steps:

1. Train - either as an apprentice, where you will complete a Level 3 gas qualification and combine time in college with work with an employer, or through a Managed Learning Programme (MLP). An MLP is an alternative route to becoming a qualified gas engineer usually completed through a private training centre.
2. Gain hands-on experience - through your employer as an apprentice, or by completing an on-site portfolio, a key part of the MLP. Any work experience must be supervised by a Gas Safe registered installer.
3. Undertake an ACS Training and Assessment: Achieve the relevant Core Gas Safety element (for example CCN1) and elements for specific appliances (e.g., boilers, cookers, fires).
4.  Register with Gas Safe: This is mandatory for all gas engineers.