Answer.

If your ACS certificates expire then you are removed from the Gas Safe Register and not allowed to work on Gas until you undertake your re-assessment.
If your certificates have expired you are allowed to sit the Re-assessment up to 12 months after the expiry date.  If you allow more than 12 months to pass then you must undertake all of the Initial Assessments again.
Another crucial fact that all engineers must be aware of is once you allow your Gas Safe Registration to lapse, even for one day, when you apply for reinstatement The Gas Safe Register will treat you as a new applicant and carryout all of the initial inspections on you as well as charging you accordingly (£375.00).  In my opinion that is very harsh but no more than I have come to expect from the GSR.

Answer.

An experienced Gas Engineer who is undertaking a Re-assessment for CCN1 should be able to carryout the re-assessment comfortably in 2 days.  An engineer undertaking Initial Assessment for CCN1 should be able to complete in 3 days.
After that the time allowed for individual Appliance Assessments varies depending on the number of appliances being undertaken and whether or not some of the criteria for CCN1 can be cross referenced.
As a guide a Re-assessment in CCN1 and 4 Appliances will take no more than 3days while the same Assessments as Initial should not take more than 4 days.

Re-Assessment Refresher training, which is not compulsory, lasts for 2½ days.

Training for Initial Assessment, which is compulsory, lasts for 5 days in our centre together with On the Job Training under supervision in the market place.

Answer.

At Technical Gas Training we try to start all of days at 08.30hrs.  On average we try to complete the day about 16.00hrs as we feel that is long enough to be in a learning and assessment environment. We do take regular tea breaks and usually stop for a 30min lunch break about 12.30hrs.

Answer.

On completion of your assessment all of the paperwork is sent away for verification and checking.  After checking you are issued with a Certificate and the information is downloaded electronically to the Gas Safe Register database.  This process usually takes 3weeks.  There is a Fast Track system available for the engineers in a hurry but that incurs an extra cost of £85.00
Remember that you are not entitled to work until you receive your certificate.
In my opinion the whole process takes far too long and I know that one of the aspects that the Certification Bodies are looking at is how to make it quicker.

Answer.

At Technical Gas Training we supply all of the tools and equipment that you will require to complete your training and assessments.  We also supply all relevant safety equipment with the exception of Safety Boots.  It is not a regulation that within the centre workshops you wear safety boots but if you wish to then please feel free to do so.  You may bring your own Calculator and Flue Gas Analyser if you wish.

Answer.

Under the new regime you are allowed to undertake you re-assessment up to 6 months before your expiry date and your new certificate will still run from the original expiry date.  Please advise us if this is the case when you book.

Answer.

This is very topical at present.
The regulations are quite clear.  Anyone who undertakes an ACS assessment in ether CEN1 (Central Heating Boilers) and/or HTR1
(Gas Fires) must also undertake or already posses CPA1 (Combustion Performance Analyser.) This becomes mandatory on Feb 1st 2010
Anyone who already possesses CEN1 and / or HTR1 has until April 1st 2012 to obtain their ACS in CPA1.

Answer.

When you fill in your application form you must indicate if you need any special requirements.  Before your assessment the Assessor will ask you if you have any reading or writing problems. If necessary a reader can be allocated to you to help with any problems and in some circumstances extra time can be allowed for your assessments. Anybody who is taking any medication or is suffering from a condition that could impair the integrity of their assessment MUST notify the centre immediately.

Answer.

There are a couple of places on our forecourt for smaller vans.  Our main car park is on the gravel area immediately opposite the centre.  Please park as close as possible so as we can get everybody off the road.