corgi gas course

[ChrisR]

Interesting thread.

How come when we are falling over ncs situations all the livelong day we aren't allowed a single one. Whereas in truth many ncs's are in no way any danger and we should be credited with sufficient intelligence to decide for ourselves when we consider a situation economic to fit to full standard, or to compromise in the interests of practicaliy and economy.

A long quote, but I couldn't agree more. How often have I said "No sir, I can't install a hob there without replacing the gas pipe back to the front of the house because the boiler's sharing it and it's too small. So get a Polski in to do it then I'll do a Landlords Cert saying it's only NCS."

Lets not pretend Gas is exactly difficult. You need the knowledge and understanding, but not much experience, imho. (Unlike combi boilers, where I still flounder about)
When I did ACS there was no need of "80 hours per appliance" nonsense. I probably still haven't spent 80 hours on some of the categories I'm qualified for - warm air for one. I had no experience, took the lessons (about 10 days for CCN1 and appliances) and passed the tests without any bother, then paid Corgi and they said Welcome - all over in about 4 weeks flat.
I phoned Corgi Tech a few times in the early days, and mates occasionally (still do) but I don't think I did anything bad, or was likely to.

Well the worst I think, was getting home and realising I'd left my U gauge on a meter. Went back and the place was empty for the weekend. But that wasn't to do with lack of training/experience!

 

[DP]

How true.

I boiler I fitted some years ago developed a fault couple of weeks ago (PCB dead). Boiler was switched by the no volts aux switches on the MVs. UF guys who laid the slab hooked their unit to the wiring box and with one leg of their MV aux switch connected to live.

Result is boiler is switched off at the front panel, but the pump (internal within the boiler) still runs. Clearly the spark's mind was elsewhere (SUN page three?)

 

[Paul Barker]

Also worth noting my advice to op is man to man trying to help in get a leg up in life. Many times we all need that, I've had to drag myself out of the mud 3 or 4 times that's why I'm so multi skilled.

This time though I plan to jump ship before it sinks, experience has taught me to recognise a worstening spiral before it damages me. Well I hope so at last.

My posts above are not about the rights or wrongs of time served experience thay are about how a person who needs a lift can get one, exploiting the available options.

But consider this, if an electrical apprenticeship is so necessary, then how come every spark I ever meet in this town does things different to every other, and I don't agree with any of them over most of the searching questions I ask, though I don't reveal my hand. It pays to play the dumb plumber when gathering experience by question and answer sessions. Most sparks reveal more if they have a chance to puff out their chests and show how great they are.

 

[voiceofthemysteron]

I would like some advice on the best way to become a corgi registerd plumber. which way is best, costs, etc, any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks

I have been a plumber/gas fitter for over 3000 years and can assure you there is no fast track.
I can however give you various books (19) and folders + videos (3) on gas safety,central heating and gas appliances.
These were given out to all gas fitters taking the Acops examination about 8 years ago.
All you have to do is pay the postage and they are heavy !

 

[Paul Barker]

Not entirely off topic, I did assess the option to train as a home inspector when I worked out neither the government nor corgi value us. However as events unfolded I was gald to have got cold feet.

BUT this is not over yet. yesterday I called on a man who did go into it. e is now teaching for bri I think they're called, and though a few people came unstuck many of those who did the training have found related jobs in he industry. they feel that sooner or later a version will come about, and voluntary schemes proliferate the country, solicitors are asking for certificates, and very soon an energy certificate will be a legal requirement.

As he said to me he will certainly refer to me all requests for electrical and gas inspection and testing, but he said also get the energy qualification because while you're at the house you can get paid for doing that one too.

You have to think out of the comfort zone and find other avenuse when things get too bad where you are. The gas industry is not a comfortable place, the way they (the government and corgi between themselves) have chosen to lead us I have no desire to follow any longer than I have to.

 

[corgiman]

When I did ACS there was no need of "80 hours per appliance" nonsense. I probably still haven't spent 80 hours on some of the categories I'm qualified for - warm air for one.

They dont stipulate "per appliance" at our training provider just 80hrs general experiance

 

[ChrisR]

That sounds like a couple of weeks hanging round a fitter, Things have changed!

 

[corgiman]

your not wrong mate

but theres money in them thar fast trackers aint there?

 

[cjb1971]

Im just going through process of registering with corgi and its taken me less than 12 months starting from scratch to gain my acs certification.
I did the bpec gas foundation course-you didnt need any experience to join this course when i did it-but hear they mite be changing rules of entry so that youll need a nvq level 3 in plumbing but not sure how true that is.
The course took 9 months/1 day a week during which time you had to gain onsite work with a corgi reg installer to complete a protfolio of evidence,which i managed to do.
When course had been completed this allowed you to take your acs exams which i also did and then aply to corgi if you wish to-a few who did course with me are allready corgi reg all in about 12 months.
but.....................nothing is guaranteed youll either take to the course like a duck to water or you wont have a clue-was amazed how some of the corgi blokes taking an acs re assesment were strugling-one spent 5 hours naming the gas valves etc on the rig!
So as long as your willing to put the work in-i was doing 5 days at my own job,working every sunday to get every monday off for college,and the remaining day off wrking with corgi installer-so no days off for 9 months! it is a quick way to get your corgi reg.

 

[Paul Barker]

The reason it takes fitters with current experience 5 hrs to recognise the stuff on the rig is because the assessment process is about 20 years behind the time.

I actually saw a bimetallic strip out in the field for my first time ever the other week.

I wish you well, if you don't mind me saying so I wouldn't advise anyone to follow your footsteps. If you gave mne my money and time to start again I'd be off doing the electrical courses or I'd be up a roof.

Don't forget to register with corgi for toilets and ventilation, don't forget you basically can't function until you have a part p qualification and please do register with corgi for that aswell. Don't forget the multi tester that goes with electrical side, and pretty well going to have to get a gas tester/electronic guage when you have ot do parts swaps on the current production boilers, and for commissioning some but not all.

I estimate you'll need about another 10 grand before you aren't a cowboy by the government and corgis current galloping rate.

But don't expect any more remuneration than the guy who hasn't bought all these necessary bolt-ons. Never has it been a better time to be a cowboy.

Trust me I'm not a bitter person, I am a realist. The government and their advisers have done the damage not me, I'm just making you aware.

Combine that with their impressive ability to import 10's of thousands of cheap semiskilled labour from countries where our weeks wage is 6 months mortgage payments and feeds the family for a year, and enter the new low cost workforce to replace us, so that the upper middle classes can get all their jobs done around the house cheap, because everyone knows plumbers are on 60k which is far too much for just jhoining a few pipes together innit?

 

[ChrisR]

Look at being a Tiler. I don't mean roofs! Respect and skill, but few tools and no regs. How much you earn depends on how well you can get the right work, same as any other trade.

 

[Paul Barker]

Or stand at airports and mainline stations with a sign saying

I have no money need the fair home please?

 

[cjb1971]

I think it depends on what job youre doing at moment as to whether a job in gas is suitable-at moment i wrk weekends/late shifts and because of crap bonus scheme earn less than 18k a year-allready been offered 2 jobs servicing-1 £520 a week and another through an agency which would mean me getting own van/insurances and thats £18 an hour so vast improvement on what i have been earning!

 

[Paul Barker]

I would have kept the 18k job. You wait and see.

 

[newcomers]

FYI There is a fast track course, I did one myself and got my corgi early this year.

The course was 30 weeks (1 day a week) and we all passed quite easily.

Only problem is is that it costs £3,500 + exam fees and you have to lose 1 day a week in wages

I'd highly recommend it

Im not saying its enough to do this course and go out on your own straight away (I was lucky, for the whole duration of the course I was with an old timer who taught me so much, so much so that my company have already sent me out on my own doing breakdowns) Im not saying I know everything I need to know, I still need loads of experience but Im well on the way.

But I also still read loads and often phone the manufacturers to find out how the components of a particular boiler work and what would cause them to go wrong. I also bought myself a couple of cd's with the Manufacturers instructions of over 1500 appliances and read them before I attempt to changes a part on a boiler that Ive never worked on

Good luck, I'd highly recommend doing it