Becoming a Gas Safe registered Engineer will require:
- Training - Undertake comprehensive training, by way of an accredited Managed Learning Programme (MLP)
- Portfolio - Prove competence in real working environments by completing a portfolio of related gas works, under supervision of a Gas Safe registered Engineer
- ACS Exams - Undertaking ACS gas assessments
Able Skills offers 3 different packages of learning:
Gold Package – This includes the Gas Managed Learning Programme, Work Placement (Portfolio Completion) with an Able Skills gas engineer, ACS Exams and our 5 day boiler fault finding course.
Silver Package – This includes the Gas Managed Learning Programme, Work Placement (Portfolio Completion) with an Able Skills gas engineer and ACS Exams
Bronze Package – This includes the Gas Managed Learning Programme, and ACS Exams
Stage 1: Gas Managed Learning Programme (MLP)
This comprehensive 6 weeks (dependent on experience) of training provided by Able Skills will teach you a wide range of skills and knowledge which you will need in order to become a safe, competent, and successful heating engineer.
This package of learning has been designed to cover all the theory and practical knowledge that you will need to move you through the process of becoming Gas Safe registered such as:
- Safety, legislation and standards
- Gas emergency actions and procedures
- Products and characteristics of combustion
- Ventilation for domestic gas burning appliances
- Installation of pipework and fittings (including copper/low carbon steel bending and jointing)
- Tightness testing and purging
- Checking and setting appliance burner pressures and gas rates
- Checking and/or setting meter regulators
- Re-establish existing gas supply and re-light appliances
- Operation and positioning of emergency isolation controls and valves
- Operation and checking of appliance gas safety devices and controls
- Chimney standards, installation, inspection and testing
- Unsafe situations, emergency notices and warning labels
- Cutting and measuring copper tube accurately
- Pipe-work preparation and Soldering techniques
- X and Z dimension calculations
- How to assemble compression fittings / compression fitting assessments
- Cutting and treading low carbon steel pipe
- Jointing steel pipe
- Heating Controls – theory
- Different types of heating systems, controls and their functions
- Gas rates / Heat inputs
- Gas safety controls
- Combustion Performance Analysis
- Flueing
- Appliance installation and servicing
There will be written exams and practical assessments throughout the training period. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be provided with a LCL Awards Candidate Workbook (Portfolio) and guidance for completion.
Stage 2: Work Placement (Portfolio Completion) - Work based Competence and Gas Portfolios
Included with Gold & Silver packages
Following completion of this domestic gas programme, you will be deemed competent to undertake supervised gas work and so the next step towards Gas Safe registration will be to demonstrate your competence in the workplace and you do this by working alongside a Gas Safe Registered Engineer who acts as your on-site recorder/verifier, helping you to build a portfolio of evidence and prove your competence and safety working with Gas.
You can complete your portfolio working alongside any Gas Safe Registered Engineer, if you opt for either our Gold or Silver package you will be placed you with an Engineer from WrightWay Gas Services who wors exclusively with Able Skills, and with their assistance, you will undertake a variety of gas work on a variety of appliances to meet the requirements of the portfolio to move you on to your formal gas assessments (ACS). You will receive guidance throughout on how the portfolio evidence should be recorded.
You are allocated a 2-year window to complete your portfolio although many of you will achieve this in a much quicker time. Please be advised that from the point of completing your training, you will not be permitted to assess for ACS until a minimum of 6 months has passed.
Stage 3: Boiler Fault Finding / Wiring and Controls Course (1 week)
Included with Gold package
Having provided portfolio placements for quite some time now, it has become very apparent that despite comprehensive training and a work placement, candidates knowledge of boiler service, repair and maintenance is quite minimal. To combat this, we are introducing this additional week of training to cover:
Boiler Fault Finding:
- Safe and correct use of a multimeter
- Safe electrical testing
- Identifying boiler components and their function including:
- Pumps
- Switches
- Fans
- Gas valves
- Temperature sensors and stats
- How to test these components
- Outline common faults and remedial steps on:
- Diverter valves
- Expansion vessels
- Domestic heat exchangers
Wiring & Heating Controls:
- Introduction to different heating system controls, their function and how they work
- How to wire up a range of heating systems
- How to test correctly and identify faults
- Learn about Smart controls
This course can be completed at any time during or after the portfolio placement.
Stage 4: ACS (Approved Certification Scheme) - Core Domestic Gas Safety including CENWAT (Boilers/Water Heaters)
Following successful completion of the portfolio, you will return to able Skills for ACS assessment covering:
- Core Domestic Gas Safety (CCN1) and
- Central Heating Boilers / Water Heaters (CENWAT)
ACS will need to be completed before you are eligible for Gas Safe registration, and this is a requirement for all operatives involved in the installation, maintenance and servicing of domestic gas appliances and pipe-work installations.
The purpose of this Training/Assessment is to provide operatives with the knowledge and skills relating to safety regulations, procedures, and British Standards, which must be applied when working on Gas Installations.
Initial assessment for CCN1/CENWAT will require 5 days and will cover:
- Gas Safety Regulations, British Standards and Manufacturers' Instructions
- Emergency Procedures, Labels and Warning Notices
- Unsafe Situations, and Related Documentation
- Combustion, Gas Rates, Burner/Installation Pressures
- Testing for Tightness, Purging and Relighting Appliances
- Pipework and Fittings
- Operation of Appliance Gas Safety Devices and Controls
- Ventilation
- Flueing Standards, Installation and Testing.
*If candidates fail to achieve the required level of competency in either the practical or theory assessment, it may be necessary for them to re-sit the sections which they have failed. If this situation arises an additional cost will be incurred.
Gas Engineer
